U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Championships

Slip-up can't deter Comets goalkeeper

Arkansas Comets goalkeeper Benjamin O’Brien (right) makes a diving save in front of teammate Angel Herrea (20) and FC Dallas’ Darius Strambler (21) during Friday’s game in the U.S.Youth Soccer Region III Championships at Burns Park in North Little Rock. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/galleries.
Arkansas Comets goalkeeper Benjamin O’Brien (right) makes a diving save in front of teammate Angel Herrea (20) and FC Dallas’ Darius Strambler (21) during Friday’s game in the U.S.Youth Soccer Region III Championships at Burns Park in North Little Rock. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/galleries.

What started out as a basic, garden variety save for goalkeeper Benjamin O'Brien turned into the most impressive play of the day for the under-19 Arkansas Comets.

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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Arkansas Comets player Angel Herrera (right) battles FC Dallas’ Nicholas Lozada-Smith for the ball during Friday’s game in the under 19 division at the U.S.Youth Soccer Region III Championships at Burns Park in North Little Rock on Friday. FC Dallas won 2-0.

Late in the first half of Friday's game against FC Dallas Premier on the opening day of the U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Championships at Burns Park Soccer Complex, O'Brien seemed poised to make a clean grab of a softly headed ball approximately 15 yards in front of the Comets' goal.

But when O'Brien raised his arms to collect the save, he slipped on the rain-soaked field.

"He got a little unlucky there," Comets Coach Scott Collins said. "He came out for a routine save and his feet came out in front of him."

With the ball slowly inching toward the net, O'Brien scrambled to his feet, raced back toward the net and made a diving stab to steer the ball away from crossing the goal.

"It wasn't like a ball I had misjudged," said O'Brien, who graduated from Springdale Har-Ber High School and currently plays for Ouachita Baptist University. "It was just above my head, but I was still moving toward it. My feet just came out from under me.

"I just had to sprint back and keep it out of the goal. ... That doesn't happen a lot. I can't remember that ever happening to me."

"I thought he did a fantastic job of getting back and making the save," Collins said. "He kept us in the game at that point."

O'Brien's hustling save turned out to be the highlight of the day for the Comets, who suffered a 2-0 loss in the qualifying round. The Comets will attempt to earn a victory today in a 1:45 p.m. matchup against MS Rush Premier of Jackson, Miss.

Dallas midfielder Yannick Koffi scored his team's first goal 23 minutes into the game, scoring from approximately 20 yards out. Midfielder Grant Norris made it 2-0 with a short goal 30 seconds into the second half.

"It could have been a lot worse," said O'Brien, who finished with eight saves. "Goal difference will be important if we get the opportunity to advance. I thought we didn't create much offensively, but defensively it wasn't that bad."

"A 2-0 result isn't what we wanted, but it's a good showing against what is an absolutely awesome team," Collins said.

Despite some obvious slick spots, neither Collins nor O'Brien complained about the field conditions. Comets midfielder Thomas Mayho suffered an injury to his right ankle midway through the second half and did not return. Mayho, who also attends Ouachita Baptist, slipped while attempting to go after a loose ball.

"I thought the fields were in great conditions considering they were under water not that long ago," Collins said. "It will be interesting to see how the field is on Day 4 or 5."

Pool play will continue through Sunday before bracket play begins Monday for the majority of the divisions. Championship games are scheduled for Wednesday.

Sports on 06/20/2015

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