SILOAM SPRINGS LADY PANTHERS
COACH: Jason Bowen
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 14-9 (2-5 7A/6A-West
Conference, sixth)
PLAYERS TO WATCH: M Annika Bos (Jr.), F
Odalys Palacios (Jr.), M Ingrid Gibson (Sr.),
M Kaylie Lane (Jr.).
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: F Ana Linch
(Soph.), GK Anna Claire Lewis (Fr.)
THE SKINNY: The Lady Panthers were
the surprise team of the Class 6A State
Tournament last year, winning three
straight games to reach the Class 6A State
Finals. Siloam Springs lost its fi rst-ever
state championship game appearance to
Searcy 3-1 in the Class 6A State Finals.
- GRAHAM THOMAS◊@NWAGRAHAM SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME
March 3 Harrison 5 p.m.
March 7 Huntsville 5 p.m.
March 14 Westville, Okla. 5 p.m.
March 15 at Harrison Invitational TBA
March 17 Fort Smith Southside 6 p.m.
March 18 at Green Forest 5 p.m.
March 20 at Morrilton 5 p.m.
April 1 at Berryville 5 p.m.
April 4 at Springdale* 6 p.m.
April 7 Van Buren 6 p.m.
April 11 at Bentonville* 6 p.m.
April 12 at Harrison ReMax Cup TBA
April 15 Fayetteville* 6 p.m.
April 18 Springdale Har-Ber* 6 p.m.
April 23 at Rogers* 6 p.m.
April 25 Russellville 6:30 p.m.
May 1 at Rogers Heritage* 6 p.m.
May 8 at Van Buren* 6 p.m.
SPRINGDALE LADY BULLDOGS COACH: David McKellips LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 9-9-1 (1-6 conference, 7th) PLAYERS TO WATCH: M Taylor Wyatt (Sr., team-high 27 goals, 11 assists in 2013); D Blanca Barroso (Sr.); M Amanda Martinez (Sr., 9 goals and 12 assists in 2013) NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: F Yani Bravo (Jr.), GK Teagan Hendrix (So.).
THE SKINNY: Wyatt signed with Delta State and has switched to an attacking midfi elder position this year to better utilize her athleticism and skill. … Springdale scored 49 goals and allowed 35 last year. … Lady Bulldogs have five seniors and nine returnees, including seven starters.. - JIMMY CARTER◊@NWAJIMMY SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT TIME March 4 Conway 4 p.m.
March 6 Rogers Heritage 7 p.m.
March 7 Cabot 4:30 p.m.
March 12 at Springdale Har-Ber 7 p.m.
March 13 Tulsa (Okla.) Edison 6 p.m.
March 14-15 Harrison Tournament TBA March 18 Harrison 5 p.m.
March 20 Van Buren 5:15 p.m.
April 1 Rogers* 5:15 p.m.
April 4 Siloam Springs* 6:45 p.m.
April 11 at Green Forest 5:30 p.m.
April 15 at Rogers Heritage* 5 p.m.
April 17 at Van Buren* 6:30 p.m.
April 24 Bentonville* 6:30 p.m.
April 25-26 Neosho Tournament TBA May 1 Fayetteville 6:30 p.m.
May 9 at Springdale Har-Ber 5 p.m.
- 7A/6A-West matchHAR-BER LADY WILDCATS COACH: John Marshall LAST YEAR’S RECORD: N/A (4-3 in 7A/6AWest) PLAYERS TO WATCH: MF Maklayla Wilson (Sr.), MF Adeline Williams (Sr.), D Elise Reina (So.), G Maddy Slaton THE SKINNY: Har-Ber should be a top contender this year with a veteran team led by Makayla Wilson, who will continue his college career at Central Arkansas next year. Wilson was the team’s leading scorer until she suffered a knee injury as a junior…. Top newcomers Adeline Williams and Elise Williams return for second season. Williams led Har-Ber with eight goals.
RICK FIRES◊@NWARICK SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT TIME Feb. 27 Broken Arrow 4:45 p.m.
Feb. 27 Tulsa Union 6 p.m.
March 4 Rogers 7 p.m.
March 7-8 at FS Southside Tourney TBD March 12 Springdale 7 p.m.
March 14 at NWA Showcase TBD March 18 at Van Buren 6:30 p.m.
April 3 Bentonville* 7 p.m.
April 7 Rogers* 7 p.m.
April 9 Rogers Heritage* 7 p.m.
April 15 Van Buren* 6:30 p.m.
April 18 at Siloam Springs* 6:30 p.m.
April 24 at Fayetteville* 7 p.m.
May 2 at Rogers* 5:30 p.m.
May 9 Springdale* 5:30 p.m.
*- 7A/6A-West match
FAYETTEVILLE LADY BULLDOGS COACH: Joe Thoma LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 13-6 PLAYER’S TO WATCH: D Ellie Breden (Jr.);
MF Kara Tubb (Sr.); F Cassidy Sykes (So.) NEWCOMER TO WATCH: GK Gracie Kate (Fr.) THE SKINNY: All-state selection and top scorer Taylor Ward has graduated and Fayetteville feels the loss of others to injuries and transfers. But the Lady Bulldogs still should be a contender for one of the top spots in the conference once again this year after finishing tied for second in the 7A/6A-West in 2013.
- VERNON TARVER◊@NWAVERNON SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT TIME Feb. 27 Purple-White Game TBD March 4 Rogers High 7 p.m.
March 7-8 at Fort Smith Tournament TBD March 11 Van Buren 7:30 p.m.
March 14-15 at Harrison Tournament TBD March 20 Bentonville 7 p.m.
Apr. 3 Rogers Heritage* 6:30 p.m.
Apr. 11 at Van Buren* 6:30 p.m.
Apr. 15 at Siloam Springs* 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 18 Rogers High* 6:30 p.m.
Apr. 25 Springdale Har-Ber* 7 p.m.
May 2 at Springdale High* 6:30 p.m.
May 9 at Bentonville* 6:30 p.m.
- 7A/6A-West matchBENTONVILLE LADY TIGERS
COACH: Kristina Henry, 15th year
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 16-4, (7-0 7A/6A
West Conference)
PLAYERS TO WATCH: F McKenzie Dixon (Jr.,
5-8, 18 goals, 12 assists in 14 games); UT
Dyann Shade (Sr., 5-3, 12 goals, 7 assists),
MF Carly Henry (5-5, Sr., 12 assists), GK
Gabby Miller (Soph., 5-9, 41 saves, 9 goals
allowed, 5 shutouts).
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: D Gia Diaz (Jr.,
5-6), MF Lauren Hargus (Fr., 5-7)
THE SKINNY: Bentonville is the two-time
defending Class 7A state champion … The
Lady Tigers have gone the last two seasons
without losing to an in-state school and
enters the season with a 42-match win streak
in conference play - a stretch of six full
seasons … Dixon, an all-state selection, was
the team’s second-leading scorer last year.
- HENRY APPLE◊@NWAHENRY SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME
March 3 at Fort Smith Southside 6 p.m.
March 6 Springdale Har-Ber 6:45 p.m.
March 7 at Broken Arrow, Okla. 6 p.m.
March 12 at Harrison 5 p.m.
March 14-15 NWA Showcase TBD
March 17 at Little Rock Central 5;30 p.m.
March 20 Ozark, Mo. 6:45 p.m.
April 3 at Springdale Har-Ber* 6:30 p.m.
April 4 Heart of America Classic TBD
April 9 at Rogers High* 6:30 p.m.
April 11 Siloam Springs* 6 p.m.
April 18 Rogers Heritage* 5 p.m.
April 25 at Springdale High* 5 p.m.
April 29 at Carthage, Mo. 6:30 p.m.
May 2 Van Buren* 5:30 p.m.
May 9 Fayetteville 5 p.m.
- 7A/6A-West Conference match
HERITAGE LADY WAR EAGLES COACH: Craig Frank LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 18-6-2, (4-3 7A/6AWest Conference) PLAYERS TO WATCH: F Gina Britton (Sr., 9 goals, 12 assists), F/M Raya Jones (Sr., 7 goals, 4 assists), D/M Bailey Black (Sr.), GK Stacey Schimmel (Sr., 8.5 shutouts).
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: M Alexis Godsey (Fr.), D Ella Mauck (Fr.), F Amy Perez (Fr.).
THE SKINNY: Heritage lost in the state quarterfinals to eventual state champion Bentonville. … Returns seven starters.
… Lost all three conference matches in penalty kicks. … Must replace Ellen Lundy, who finished with 32 goals and 10 assists. … Returning starter Shannon Stribbling is lost for the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee.
- PAUL BOYD◊@NWAPAULB SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT TIME Feb. 27 at Harrison (benefi t) 5 p.m.
March 4 at Springdale Har-Ber 6 p.m.
March 5 at FS Northside 5:30 p.m.
March 6 at Springdale High 5:30 p.m.
March 13 at Jenks, Okla. 6 p.m.
March 14 Muskogee, Okla. 6 p.m.
March 15 Cabot Tournament TBD March 19 Mountain Home 4 p.m.
March 20 Cabot 5:30 p.m.
April 3 at Fayetteville* 5 p.m.
April 11 Nixa, Mo. 5 p.m.
April 15 Springdale High 6 p.m.
April 16 at Springfield Kickapoo 5:30 p.m.
April 18 Bentonivlle 5 p.m.
April 24 Van Buren 6 p.m.
May 1 Siloam Springs* 5 p.m.
May 2-3 Camdenton, Mo. Invitational TBD May 7 Rogers High 6:30 p.m.
- 7A/6A-West match
ROGERS LADY MOUNTAINEERS COACH: Taylor Hayes-Vaccaro LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 12-6-2; 4-3 7A/6AWest Conference PLAYERS TO WATCH: D MC Childress (Sr.), MF Allie James (Jr.), MF Tiffany Caceres (Sr.), MF Madison Dake (Sr.), K Alyssa Corral (Sr).
NEWCOMER TO WATCH: F Abby Revior (Fr.).
THE SKINNY: Corral allowed fewer than one goal per match last season. … Dake recently signed to play soccer at Ouachita Baptist University. … The Lady Mounties will have good team speed and the defense is experienced.
- PAUL NIELSEN◊@NWAPAUL SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT TIME Feb. 27 at Greenwood 5 p.m.
March 4 at Fayetteville 5 p.m.
March 7-8 Fort Smith Tournament TBD March 11 at Pryor, Okla. 5 p.m.
March 18 at Mena 6 p.m.
March 20 at Harrison 5 p.m.
April 1 Springdale High* 6:30 p.m.
April 3 at Van Buren* 7 p.m.
April 7 at Ozark, Mo. 5 p.m.
April 9 at Bentonville* 7 p.m.
April 11-12 Ozark, Mo. Tournament TBD April 17 Fayetteville* 7 p.m.
April 23 at Siloam Springs* 6 p.m.
May 1 Springdale Har-Ber* 7 p.m.
May 7 at Rogers Heritage* 7 p.m.
*7A/6A-West Conference Game
Sports, Pages 11 on 02/16/2014