PREP SOCCER Springdale pours in five goals in win

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Springdale High School Irvin Sotero (19) reacts after a score during a soccer game, Friday, March 15, 2019 at Bentonville West in Centerton.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Springdale High School Irvin Sotero (19) reacts after a score during a soccer game, Friday, March 15, 2019 at Bentonville West in Centerton.

CENTERTON -- With his team winning 5-1 over Bentonville West on Friday night, Springdale High coach D.J. Beeler has his team headed in the right direction.

The win marked the second straight game Springdale has scored five or more goals, and the team has outscored conference opponents by a wide 11-1 margin. The Bulldogs dropped two of their first three matches, only scoring three goals in regulation in that span.

"When you get to conference games, it's about results," Beeler said. "However it happens, whether you win in penalties or win by six goals you got to get a result. I'm just happy we've been able to get two results so far."

Beeler was pleased with how his team finished scoring chances against West as the Bulldogs converted four out of five opportunities in the first half.

All-State forward Jose Vega opened up the scoring for the Bulldogs about 11 minutes into the first half. Vega flicked a shot over the head of West's keeper who got caught out of position after he ran up to meet Vega in the box.

Rene Recinos added two more goals after Vega's in the 19th and 25th minute after two West defenders failed to make a play on the ball, letting Recinos behind the back line for two easy shots.

"They were setting in pretty well and getting behind the ball, but there were a few moments in the first half where they got a little stretched out," Beeler said. "When they did, they stepped a little higher up the field, and we were able to play in behind them and get a couple of goals."

Irvin Sotero scored the last goal for Springdale in the first half a minute later after he drilled a shot from 12 yards out off an assist from Javier Solis, another returning All-State player for the Bulldogs.

"We just didn't do a very good job of defending and putting bodies on players," West coach John Marshall said. "Individual mistakes too just cost us big. They did a great job of finishing their opportunities."

Vega scored again in the 33rd minute of the second half to become the Bulldogs' leading goal scorer with five. Recinos assisted on the shot.

"They're very technical, and they have some speed," Marshall said. "They're very mobile. They have two or three players who were moving quite a bit. It cost us a bit of adjustment to try to get to them, gave them to much space and kind of picked us apart from distance."

The loss ended West's three-match winning streak and gave the Wolverines its first conference loss of the season. The match marked the second straight game West has put up one goal in regulation as the team struggled to connect on scoring opportunities.

The Wolverines avoided being shut out in the 25th minute of the second half after Blake McDoulett, the Wolverines' leading scorer this year, hit a shot from around 10 yards out off a free kick for West.

Girls

Bentonville West 3, Springdale High 0

Rachel Higgins scored a pair of goals to lead West evened its 6A-West Conference record with a win over Springdale at Wolverine Athletic Complex.

Sydney Williams had the other goal for the Lady Wolverines (4-3, 1-1).

Sports on 03/16/2019

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