Springdale 1, North Little Rock 0 (5-4 PK)
CABOT -- It came down to penalty kicks after 100 minutes of scoreless soccer and a 50-minute lightning delay at Cabot High School.
Amilcar Gonzalez, Jose Cervantes, Jorge Marquez, Erick Valverde and Leo Araujo converted penalty kicks for Springdale.
North Little Rock countered with penalty kicks from Sandy Burks, Peyton Land, Addison Burks and Sanny Covarrubios.
Covarrubios' goal, which hit the top of the crossbar but went into the net, tied it at 4-4. Araujo's game-winner was the difference for Springdale.
Luis Torres had a chance to keep North Little Rock in the game, but Springdale goal keeper Luis Rodriguez denied him and Springdale's bench celebrated.
Coach D.J. Beeler said it was a strange way for Springdale (8-6) to open up the state tournament, with the 100 minutes of scoreless soccer and the lengthy delay.
"The second half, we were playing much better, but they were packing it in and made it extremely difficult for us to score.
"Sometimes you get games like that where you're snakebit. You're hammering away at the goal, but nothing's dropping in. Those games come along every now and then.
"I'm glad they were able to maintain their composure."
North Little Rock Coach Marc Gill, whose team finished 7-7 this season, said he was disappointed in the outcome but not in the way his team competed.
"Compared to getting beat 5-0, I'd rather lose like this where we're in it the whole game than have a team run all over us," Gill said.
Springdale dominated the second half, including four shots on goal in the 44th minute, but couldn't get one past North Little Rock goalkeeper Garret Melton.
It was scoreless at the end of regulation and the teams played two 10-minute overtime periods.
Springdale had three shots on goal in the first 10-minute overtime, but Melton and the North Little Rock defense stood up again. Melton had 15 saves for the Charging Wildcats.
"They did a great job of keeping the ball out of the net," Gill said.
The game went to penalty kicks after the two overtimes were completed without goals.
Beeler's immediate concern after the 100-minute game was keeping the Bulldogs hydrated.
"Our trainer is with us," Beeler said. "She does great work. We're going to lean on her tonight to get us ready. We're going to have another epic battle against Catholic, hopefully."
Springdale has beaten today's opponent, Catholic (13-2-1), the No. 1 seed from the 7A Central, three consecutive years in postseason. The Bulldogs beat Catholic in the 7A final in 2012, the 7A semifinals in 2013 and the quarterfinals last year.
"We have a way of meeting up with each other in the state tournament," Beeler said.
CONWAY 2,
SPRINGDALE HAR-BER 1, OT
Matt Cummins scored the game-winning goal 29 seconds into the first overtime to lift Conway.
The Wampus Cats (8-3), the No. 2 seed from the 7A-Central, will play Fort Smith Northside at 4 p.m. today. Conway was the only team outside the 7A-West to win Thursday in boys action.
Selvin Umana scored for Har-Ber (6-9) with 7:27 left in the first half.
Henry Aguirre tied it 1-1 23 seconds into the second half.
FAYETTEVILLE 4,
LR CENTRAL 2
Jon Fagg, Mason Martin, Hunter Young and Mitchell Dutton scored goals for Fayetteville in a victory over Little Rock Central.
Fagg scored in the fourth minute to give Fayetteville a 1-0 lead. Fayetteville took a 2-0 lead in the 11th minute on Martin's goal from 20 yards out. Young put the Bulldogs up 3-0 in the 32nd minute.
Little Rock Central pulled within 3-2 in the final eight minutes of the half on goals from Brenden Huie and Nick Chafin.
But Dutton sealed the Bulldogs' victory with his goal with 2:01 left in the match.
ROGERS 1, BRYANT 0
Victor Pantoja scored in the first half to lead Rogers past Bryant.
Pantoja's goal came in the 27th minute for the Mounties, the No. 3 seed from the 7A-West Conference.
Rogers will face the host Cabot at 2 p.m. today. Cabot is the No. 1 seed from the 7A-East.
Sports on 05/15/2015