Pulaski Academy 3, Hot Springs 1
HOPE -- Pulaski Academy scored twice on deep throw-ins by Reed Rickenbach in the first half and then held off Hot Springs to win 3-1 in the semifinals of the Class 5A boys soccer tournament Saturday at Hammons Stadium.
"He's a massive weapon," Pulaski Academy Coach Julian Owen said. "We've used it all season. We won our conference, and I'd say probably 60 to 70 percent of our goals came off set plays and restarts and being well-organized.
"He's a blessing to be able to throw it like that, but it helps to have a guy who can head the ball in Justin Charette. He's probably scored 90 percent of his goals with his head."
Hot Springs' defense held up under Rickenbach's constant bombardment until the 36th minute, finally giving Charette room for a header and a 1-0 lead. Rickenbach chucked another throw-in 30-plus yards in the 39th minute, finding Weston Schillinger for a 2-0 Bruins lead at halftime.
"It's tough to defend against a guy who can throw the ball further than a team can kick a corner," Hot Springs Coach Cory Sturdivant said. "That's something you don't really see unless you get to face a team like that."
Pulaski Academy (17-2) took advantage of a Hot Springs side seeking its way with Erick Guadron, the state's leading scorer over the past two years, missing for a red card near the end of the Trojans' 4-3 quarterfinal victory over Valley View on Friday. Hot Springs (12-6) had just five first-half shots and none were on target, including a mishit at the end of a breakaway in the 28th minute.
"Any time you ask kids to play out of a position you haven't routinely worked in, it takes some kind of an adjustment," Sturdivant said. "Of course, we went home [Friday] and talked about how in each one of these games in the tournament, we've had different kids step up to fill in a role where we needed them either due to testing or kids not being able to play or kids hurt. It takes some getting used to, but these kids come into it with an open mind. They're going to do the best for their team."
The Trojans found their stride in the second half, finally able to get control of the midfield against the bigger Bruins. The surge peaked in the 55th minute when senior captain Alex Tobar and freshman Adrian Ramirez connected on five passes down the middle of the field, setting up Tobar's strike inside the near post.
"With Tobar and his senior leadership, we asked him this morning to step up," Sturdivant said. "We knew he and Dylan [Mitchell] were going to have to come in and lead, and they did. And for Ramirez, a ninth-grader, to show that kind of composure and to be able to cover the whole field and win the ball and look and pass, that speaks volumes to his ability."
Hot Springs continued the pressure with two more shots on goal but couldn't quite find the equalizer. Pulaski Academy put the game away in the 71st minute after the Trojans' hand ball right outside of their box, leading to Charette's free kick into bottom-right corner to re-establish the two-goal lead.
Charette, a central defender, led with a match-high two goals.
"He's a hard worker," Owen said. "He's a great kid and a great leader for the team. He's an organizer. Just one of those kids that makes such a difference with the younger kids coming through, showing them what they need to do when they get to this level. He's one of those kids who I would pick to go through the trenches any day of the week."
CLASS 4A BOYS
CENTRAL ARK. CHRISTIAN 1, DARDANELLE 0
After coming close so many times, Central Arkansas Christian finally answered.
Freshman Alex Mina found an opening after a scramble in front of the Dardanelle goal and scored with about 2 minutes remaining to give the Mustangs a victory in the Class 4A boys soccer semifinals at Maumelle High School on Saturday.
CAC, which lost 4-1 in the state championship game to Green Forest last year, will meet Danville in the championship game in Fayetteville on Friday. Danville defeated Warren in Saturday’s other semifinal.
With time expiring, Justin Flanigan sent a kick from near midfield toward the Dardanelle goal. Mina found the ball in the clutter and kicked in the winner.
“We should have closed it earlier but they turned out to be a very good team,” Mustangs Coach Fabian Mina said, “We just continue to push and push and push, and we eventually get one. We practice long throws and kicks all year. You get the bounce and try to put it in the goal. It worked.”
The Mustangs last won a title in 2008. “Every year all of my teams have a chance to get to the finals,” Fabian Mina said. “Almost every year we are in semifinals or finals. Almost the whole team is back from last year. We are missing one senior and most of this team is young, a lot of freshmen and sophomores.”
DANVILLE 3, WARREN 2
The Little Johns became the only Class 3A school to make it to next week’s state championship games in Fayetteville by defeating the Lumberjacks.
Danville got two goals from Omar Aquino and another from Irvin Rodriguez.
“We’ve been playing well,’’ said Little Johns Coach Matthew Goode, whose team is in its third year of competition. “We have come together the last few weeks and have bonded.”
Warren’s goals were scored by Alex Ramirez and Tyler Davis.
— Jeff Reed
Sports on 05/17/2015