CONWAY -- Roberto Gomez got a pleasant surprise to end his soccer career.
Gomez, a midfielder from Little Rock Hall, scored with 11:38 remaining to give the West a 2-1 victory in Wednesday's Arkansas High School Coaches Association boys game at the University of Central Arkansas' Estes Stadium.
"That came as a complete shock to me," said Gomez of his goal. "The ball was on me so fast I didn't have time to do anything but shoot it."
The game-winner came from 23 yards out and was scored on an assist from Benton's Andy Giron.
Hot Springs Coach Cory Sturdivant said his West team had the numbers against the East and felt that his team took advantage of it.
"We paid attention to their subs," said Sturdivant, whose team had 21 players to work with on a muggy Conway evening while the East had 17. "We just bided our time."
For Gomez, who scored 18 goals in 15 games during the regular season, the goal was probably his last in a competitive situation.
"I guess this was it," Gomez said. "But to make my final goal in an all-star game is very special."
The victory was the third in a row for the West, which now enjoys a 7-6 advantage in the series.
The East held a 1-0 lead for the majority of the first 40 minutes despite attempting only two shots. Mountain Home's Greg Aloisi took a pass from Heber Springs forward Edgar Torres to give the East a 1-0 advantage with 16:37 remaining in the first half.
Berryville's Oliver Perez tied the game at 1-1 with 4:10 left in the first half on an unassisted goal.
The West outshot the East 11-2 in the first half and the East did not have a shot inside the 18-yard marker in the second half until the game's final 15 seconds. Hot Springs Lakeside goalie Sam Carroll, the game's MVP, helped make the save.
"I didn't see it until it was right on me," Carroll said. "And then I was just able to kick it away."
"I thought we came out with good intensity and we did a good job of communicating with each other," Sturdivant said. "Communication breeds intensity. It was a total team effort to keep the pressure on until the very end."
Perez was named the West's most outstanding player. Mountain Home's Drew Strickland was selected as the East's most outstanding player.
All-Star schedule
University of Central Arkansas, Conway
TUESDAY
BASEBALL East 3-13, West 1-13
SOFTBALL East 6-12, West 2-6
WEDNESDAY
GIRLS SOCCER East 3, West 1
BOYS SOCCER West 2, East 1
VOLLEYBALL East 3, West 2
TONIGHT
GIRLS BASKETBALL Farris Center, 6 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL Farris Center, 8 p.m.
FRIDAY
FOOTBALL Estes Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sports on 06/23/2016