BENTONVILLE -- Springdale High coach DJ Beeler doesn't want to put the cart before the horse, but he likes what he's seen from his Red'Dogs so far this week.
Springdale won its second conference match in as many days Tuesday, knocking off Bentonville High on the road, 2-0, to improve to 11-5 for the season and 7-4 in the 7A-West. Jose Vega and Jesse Gomez netted the goals for the Red'Dogs.
"That's all it is is the last two games, but I'm happy with the effort, focus and the overall approach to the games and I think its paying off in the results," Beeler said.
Vega put Springdale -- shutout by the Tigers, 1-0, at home in the teams' first meeting -- on the board in the first half with a goal at the 26 minute, eight second mark, giving him his second goal of the week after finding the net Monday against Bentonville West.
Later in the half, Springdale's second goal came by way of Gomez with under four minutes to play until halftime. Beeler's club had a handful of chances to add to its lead throughout the night, but finishing was an issue. It's one he'll live with, though.
"I told them I didn't think we could finish a ham sandwich tonight," he said grinning. "All you can really do is create the chances and the goal will come eventually. We did have a hard time finishing tonight, but the silver lining is that we did have a lot of chances."
The defensive issues haggling the Red'Dogs during their four-match losing streak appear to have subsided for now. Springdale's level of play the previous two nights has noticeably picked up. Possession has improved as well.
"It has been better and that helps us defensively," he said. "Overall, our intensity when we do lose the ball has been better. We've done a better job of winning those 50-50 ball and the hustle plays."
Bentonville (8-4-1, 7-4 7A-West) entered Tuesday's match as the 7A-West's leader in goals scored and fresh off a win against Springdale Har-Ber, snapping the Wildcats' 10-match winning streak. The Tigers had few scoring chances and came away empty-handed.
Every match is important at this juncture of the season, but Beeler is adamant about his club playing consistent, solid soccer. Springdale is certainly playing better, Beeler said, but far from where he would like the team to be in a couple of weeks.
"It's always nice to grab the highest seed you can, but honestly, being qualified for the state tournament and just knowing anything can happen for us, it's about playing good," the coach added. "Even if we were to drop a game but play really well I'd be OK with that. That's what all the focus is on right now."
Springdale returns to 7A-West play Friday against Van Buren while Bentonville travels to Rogers High to cap the week.
Springdale Har-Ber 4, Bentonville West 0
Jesus Zizumbo scored twice to lead Har-Ber to its ninth win in 7A-West play Tuesday at Wildcat Stadium.
Har-Ber rebounded from its first loss in more than a month on Monday -- a 2-1 loss to Bentonville High. Coach Cory Butler's club tallied its fourth shutout win in league matches.
Esteban Tellez and Oscar Arteaga added the other two goals for the Wildcats, who moved to 14-2 on the season. The Wildcats return to conference action Friday against Fayetteville. West hosts Rogers Heritage on Friday.
Rogers Heritage 1, Fayetteville 1 (Heritage 5-2 PKs)
War Eagles goalkeeper Andrew Montonya stopped two penality kicks and Heritage made all four of its PKs to claim a hard-fought 7A-West Conference win.
Fayetteville keeper Rafe Rafferty came up with nine saves to keep the Purple Bulldogs tied. Heritage's Pedro Garcia tied the match 1-1 with a goal with 11:33 left in the first half. But Heritage scored all four of its PKs, while Fayetteville made just one of three.
Heritage improved to 11-4 overall and 6-4 in the 7A-West, while Fayetteville fell to 5-10 and 2-8.
Sports on 04/26/2017