ROGERS -- Droplets rolled down Willie Hernandez's face after he was doused in a victory celebration.
It was water from a drink bottle and not champagne, but the taste was just as sweet for the Rogers High senior.
As his teammates basked in the glory of Saturday's 1-0 win against Little Rock Catholic in the Class 7A state boys soccer tournament, Hernandez reflected on a season that at one time looked bleak, but has spun completely around at the end.
"I have been praying for this day and hoping so much for this moment," he said, wiping away moisture that was an equal mix of water, sweat and maybe a few joyful tears.
Rogers (14-10-1) is headed back to the state championship match to defend its title. A historic season last year ended with the Mounties winning the first boys' soccer title in school history. This season will also be historic as the team is the first to go to back-to-back championship matches.
The Mounties will take on Fort Smith Northside at noon Friday at Razorback Field. Northside advanced to the final after knocking off Springdale High 2-1 last week in the other 7A state semifinal.
For a team that lost 10 matches, including back-to-back losses to end the regular season, this championship run has been a big surprise.
Arkansas State Championships
Friday Softball
At Benton High School
Class 2A Poyen vs. Quitman, 10 a.m
Class 4A Bauxite vs. Pottsville, 12:30 p.m.
Class 1A Taylor vs. Concord, 3 p.m.
Class 7A Bentonville High vs. Bentonville West, 5:30 p.m.
Baseball
At Baum Stadium, Fayetteville
Class 3A Horatio vs. Harding Academy, 10 a.m.
Class 5A Sylvan Hills vs. Watson Chapel, 12:30 p.m.
Class 1A Woodlawn vs. SS Bee Branch, 3 p.m.
Class 7A Conway vs. Springdale Har-Ber, 5:30 p.m.
Soccer
At Razorback Field, Fayetteville
7A Girls Bryant vs. Rogers High, 10 a.m.
7A Boys FS Northside vs. Rogers High, noon
6A Girls Siloam Springs vs. Benton, 2 p.m.
6A Boys Siloam Springs vs. Russellville, 4 p.m.
Saturday
Softball
At Benton High School
Class 5A Farmington vs. Greenbrier, 10 a.m.
Class 3A Rosebud vs. Harmony Grove-Haskell, 12:30 p.m.
Class 6A Marion vs. Sheridan, 3 p.m.
Baseball
At Baum Stadium, Fayetteville
Class 4A Nashville vs. Shiloh Christian, 10 a.m.
Class 2A Parkers Chapel vs. Spring Hill, 12:30 p.m.
Class 6A Benton vs. Greenwood, 3 p.m.
Soccer
At Razorback Field, Fayetteville
5A Girls Pulaski Academy vs. LR Christian, 10 a.m.
5A Boys Lakeside vs. Valley View, noon
4A Girls CAC vs. Berryville, 2 p.m.
4A Boys Warren vs. Berryville, 4 p.m.
"We lost a lot of seniors last year and we have a new team," Hernandez said. "A lot of people were saying we were not going to be on top. So we just had to prove them wrong. And now we're the only team from the 7A-West to make it to the finals.
"We've worked really, really hard for this."
Rogers coach Stephen Peck has used Hernandez (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) in a variety of roles this season. Although he is primarily a defender, Hernandez often moves up to the attacking end to provide another scoring weapon for the Mounties.
In the semifinal win, his penalty kick less than two minutes into the match was the only goal scored. With Hernandez providing a strong defensive presence, Catholic could not penetrate the back line for most of the match.
"I've said all along we have a good defense," Peck said. "We just had to put it all together and the guys were able to do that."
When a Rogers player was taken down in the box and the Mounties were awarded a penalty kick, Peck did not hesitate in calling up Hernandez to take the kick. Hernandez delivered, sending a bullet into the lower left corner of the goal for the only score of the match.
Coaches in the 7A-West recently selected Hernandez as the Defensive Player of the Year, an honor Peck said was very deserving.
"He does so much for our team," Peck said. "He goes sideline-to-sideline. He makes runs up into the offense, then comes back. He's an important part of our corner kicks and free kicks, whether he's kicking it or getting it back."
Hernandez said the Mounties began to turn the corner on their season when they knocked off nationally ranked Springdale High back in April. That win bolstered the team's energy and showed them they could stand toe-to-toe with the best teams in the state, he said.
"A lot of people said we did not have a chance to beat Springdale, but we did," he said. "It gave us a lot of confidence. Our pressure, our communication, our ball movement was a lot better after that. We lost to Har-Ber after that, but we were still able to keep our momentum."
Hernandez is also a member of the Mounties' football team as a kicker. He is considering playing college soccer, possibly at Neosho (Kan.) Community College next fall, where former Springdale High standout Nelson Landaverde is on the coaching staff. Hernandez said he will make that decision later this summer.
Before then, he and the Mounties have one more match to prove the doubters wrong again.
Sports on 05/17/2018