SPRINGDALE — Springdale Har-Ber will find out quickly how much it has improved over last year.
That’s because the Lady Wildcats will play a benefit game on Tuesday against Bentonville, the defending state champions in Class 7A. Har-Ber will then open the regular season at Rogers Heritage on Feb. 25.
Har-Ber is coming off a disappointing season and a good showing against the Lady Tigers could serve as an early confidence-builder. Bentonville returns eight starters from a team that defeated Conway 1-0 for the state championship last spring.
Springdale Har-Ber Girls 2013 Soccer
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Feb. 19 Bentonville 5:30 p.m.*#
Feb. 25 at Rogers Heritage 6:30 p.m.
March 1-2 NWA Showcase TBA
March 8-9 at Fort Smith Southside Tournament TBA
March 11 Van Buren 6:15 p.m#.
March 13 Fayetteville 7:30 p.m.#
March 14 at Tulsa Union 6:30 p.m.
March 25 Springdale 7:30 p.m.#
March 29 at Bentonville 5:30 p.m.
April 5 at Rogers Heritage 6:30 p.m.
April 9 at Van Buren 6:30 p.m.
April 11 Siloam Springs 6:30 p.m.#
April 18 Fayetteville 7:30 p.m.#
April 26 Rogers 5:30 p.m.#
May 3 at Springdale 5:30 p.m.
'*' Benefit Game
'#'Har-Ber will play its home games at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium in Springdale
“We know Bentonville will be very good again, but I think it would be huge for us to come out and play well against them,” Har-Ber coach John Marshall said. “I think we can do very well if we manage the ball the way we want and defend strongly.”
Har-Ber will be bolstered by the return of senior Sarah LaChance, who missed half of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament against Fayetteville. LaChance, a midfielder, had 11 goals last season after scoring 14 as a sophomore. She signed a letter of intent earlier this month to play next season at John Brown University.
“Getting Sarah back is huge,” Marshall said. “She’s a competitor and she’s even joined the track team. She’s tall and she’s strong and it’s great for us to get her back out on the soccer field.”
LaChance will rejoin a Har-Ber lineup that includes junior Makayla Wilson, senior Rachel Lovell, and junior Samatha Weber, a starting guard for the Har-Ber basketball team. Freshman Elise Reina could develop as a top defender after running cross country for Har-Ber during the fall.
“Makayla is always strong for us on the outside with the way she attacks and we can count on Rachel to take some good shots,” Marshall said. “Samatha brings a lot of leadership and some toughness to our team and Elise is a new defender who can also attack.”
Marshall also like the potential of sophomore goal-keeper Maddie Slaton.
“She’s an intimidating goal-keeper,” Marshall said. “She does a good job of taking control of the defense and moving them around. She communicates well with them.”
Following Tuesday’s game with Bentonville at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium, Har-Ber will go on the road for the first time at Rogers Heritage on Feb. 25.
“Bentonville, Rogers Heritage, Fayetteville, they’re all strong,” Marshall said. “Whoever gets off to a good start will gain some momentum and do well, I think. Our goal is to be one of the top seeds in the conference and get to the state tournament. I think we can be a team to be reckoned with.”