BENTONVILLE -- Mount St. Mary Coach Brian Clark added another description to the list of superlatives for Bentonville's McKenzie Dixon.
"She is a headliner," Clark said. "We played as a team, but they have the headliners."
Dixon scored both of Bentonville's goals as the Lady Tigers defeated the Belles 2-1 Saturday at the Tigers Athletic Complex to advance to the championship game of the Class 7A girls soccer state tournament. Dixon scored goals in each half as Bentonville overcame an early 1-0 deficit.
Bentonville (13-4-1) will defend its state championship against Bryant on Saturday at Razorback Field in Fayetteville. Bryant advanced Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Little Rock Central.
Bentonville will make its eighth consecutive appearance in the championship game. The Lady Tigers have won four state state championships, including the past two.
"We're playing the best soccer we've played all year," Bentonville Coach Kristina Henry said. "That's what you want to be doing in the state tournament."
Dixon has 35 goals -- scoring twice against Mount St. Mary after scoring twice in a 3-0 victory over Cabot on Friday. The Lady Tigers needed Dixon's productivity after Mount St. Mary took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Cally Cochran less than two minutes into the game.
Cochran held a defender off and delivered an accurate shot on goal to put the Belles in front.
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"Mount St. Mary is fast, and that's the kind of play I expected out of them," Henry said. "It didn't surprise me, honestly, that they'd get off to a good start."
Dixon tied the game on a header with 12:03 left in the first half and the junior midfielder struck again with 24:56 left in the game to put Bentonville ahead for good. Dixon muscled past two defenders and got off a shot that was partially blocked by the goalie, but the kick was strong enough that the ball trickled into the net as Dixon fell forward onto the turf.
"She's a competitor," Henry said. "All of our girls are competitors, but she is one determined kid."
Dixon missed an opportunity for a third goal when she hurried a shot in the second half.
Bentonville controlled field position and ball possession but Mount St. Mary (14-4-1) had a few opportunities, including three goals that were nullified by penalties. Two of the calls came after players got tangled up inside the goalie's box.
"Referees never win or lose a game," Clark said. "But to have three goals called back or not allowed, that's tough to swallow."
BRYANT 2, LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL 0
Freshman Caroline Campbell score two goals to lead Bryant (23-0-3) past Little Rock Central and into the title game against Bentonville.
Campbell put Bryant ahead 1-0 on a goal with 9:45 left in the first half and added a second goal with 4:32 left left before halftime.
Sports on 05/18/2014