BENTONVILLE 2, LR CATHOLIC 0
CABOT -- Bentonville decided to play long ball in its Class 7A boys soccer state tournament semifinal and the strategy paid dividends.
The Tigers (17-2) got goals from midfielders Zack Estrada and Spencer McMillan and advanced to next week's championship game against Fort Smith Northside after taking a 2-0 victory over Little Rock Catholic (14-3-1) on Saturday at Panther Stadium.
Estrada controlled a deep pass in the 38th minute of the first half then placed a high shot over goal keeper Nicholas Bartnick's outstretched hand from 15 yards to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
McMillan controlled a long pass with his head then pushed a shot past Bartnick into the left corner of the goal from 10 yards to give the Tigers their 2-0 advantage in the 17th minute of the second half.
"They were playing a high line and we wanted to play deeper balls," said Bentonville Coach Mike Devaney whose team will be going for back-to-back state championships next week in Fayetteville. "We wanted to play the ball back in there and wound up getting two fantastic goals out of it."
The Tigers controlled the majority of the first half with midfielders Josh Hylton, Cory Jones, Jose Castro and McMillon getting clear shots but being turned away from Bartnick.
Bartnick saved a Castro free-kick attempt, but Estrada finally broke through just before half.
"They've got some pretty powerful and strong forwards," Catholic Coach Ryan Lawrence said. "They're a complete team. They are going to be tough on anyone they play."
Bentonville goal keeper Ben Barron wasn't forced to make too many tough saves, but one he made against Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year Chris Holmes midway through the second half preserved the Tigers' 2-0 lead. Holmes had the clearest shot the Rockets would have all day, but Barron went to his left with a dive and pushed away the attempt at the last second.
"Our back four have been playing together for three years," Devaney said. "Defense is what we build this team around. Ben makes things look pretty routine, but the back four are the main ingredients."
Catholic had two other chances late on free kicks after Bentonville fouls, but the Rockets couldn't find the net.
The Rockets snapped a three-year losing streak to Springdale in the state tournament with a 2-1 victory Friday. Lawrence said he wasn't sure if the team ran out of energy after beating the Bulldogs.
"Yesterday was a battle getting over that hump," he said. "One thing after a team scores that first goal you don't know what that will do to your team's energy, but we found our energy in the second half. The kids competed. Bentonville is just too solid."
FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE 2, ROGERS 0
Fort Smith Northside's Angel Parga took advantage of two goal keeper mistakes and converted them into scores to send the Grizzlies (12-4) into next Saturday's championship game against Bentonville.
Parga outfought Rogers goal keeper Ruben Balderos and another Mounties defender for a loose ball and scored from 12 yards out at the 19th minute of the first half to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead.
The Northside forward then stole a clearing attempt from Balderos in the 28th minute of the second half and dribbled in on an easy breakaway to give the Grizzlies the insurance score.
"One of the things we've instilled in Angel is expect a mistake from the goal keeper every time he clears the ball," Northside Coach Mauricio Maciel said. "He's not perfect, but he made two good plays there to score for us."
Rogers (12-7) had a quick attempt on goal in the first half and added three more decent chances in the second half, but Northside's Jose de Jesus Parga turned away each attempt in posting the shutout.
Northside will be going for its first state championship since it defeated Springdale for the title in 2013.
Sports on 05/17/2015