BENTONVILLE--Eli Jackson seemed surprised to be so wide open, but he knew just what to do.
Bentonville High keeper Santiago Vallejo initially stopped Jackson's first shot on goal, but the ball squirted free. Jackson made sure he didn't miss twice. After the ball got away from Vallejo, Jackson had another opportunity from point-blank range, where he deposited a shot from just inside the right post to give the Panthers a 2-1 victory in the first game of the Northwest Arkansas Showcase at the Tiger Athletic Complex.
Jackson was last spring's Class 6A state tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the Panthers to the state championship.
"Eli, that's what he does, he's our goal scorer," Siloam Springs coach Brent Crenshaw said. "We played a defensive style and looked for a counter attack. It worked out."
The goal, which came in the match's 58th minute, came exactly three minutes after Bentonville put home the equalizer to knot the score at 1-1.
"That's the point I made to the kids. 'You've just thrown away all your hard work,'" said Bentonville coach Mike Devaney of Jackson's goal. "We worked really hard to get back in the game, and made it a contest at 1-1, and we had a lapse in judgment against a good team and we got punished for it. We got punished for letting the ball bounce and a lack of communication."
Bentonville's (0-1) lone score came in the 55th minute when Rodrigo Mouron sent a cross to teammate Harrison Dickerson. Dickerson's shot was blocked by Siloam Springs keeper Wyatt Church but the ball bounced to Anthony Mancia, who drilled it home from just outside the goalie box.
Siloam Springs (2-0) got on the board in the match's early minutes when Luke Gumm corralled a loose ball from just inside the penalty box to beat Vallejo in the fifth minute.
Siloam Springs advances in the winner's bracket and will play Hot Springs today. Bentonville will play the winner of the Putnam City, Okla. vs. Conway match in the loser's bracket.
Preps Basketball on 03/03/2018