One of the most significant soccer matches in Arkansas history will be played 7 p.m. tonight at War Memorial Stadium between the Little Rock Rangers and Tulsa Athletic.
Of its five semiprofessional teams in history, it's the first time an Arkansas team has hosted a playoff match, and a deep playoff run could secure the state's first appearance in the U.S. Open Cup.
Today’s game
No. 2 Little Rock Rangers vs. No. 3 Tulsa Athletic
WHEN 7 p.m.
WHERE War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock
WEBSITE littlerockrangers.c…
TICKETS $10 adults and children 12 and up; $5 children; Ticket window opens at 5:30 p.m.
"We're getting a little bit of a buzz around here," said Rangers owner and co-founder Jonathan Wardlaw. "We're going into uncharted territory. Not really know what to expect. It's a weeknight game, and I want to say we expect a big crowd. It's the playoffs."
In the franchise's third season, the Rangers (7-3) clinched a home playoff game by beating Tulsa Athletic (6-4) Saturday 2-0 at home.
The victory gave Little Rock the No. 2 seed in the Heartland Conference regionals of the National Premier Soccer League's playoffs, and the Rangers have now won five consecutive matches. They haven't given up a goal in their last four.
"We've got a really strong defensive core," said Rangers Coach Will Montgomery, who lauded goalkeeper Walid Birrou's performance. "He's really taking on the responsibility of our defensive third. We're really pleased with how they're training."
Several of the Rangers players returned from last season's team, which lost 1-0 to Tulsa Athletic in the Little Rock franchise's inaugural playoff appearance.
Tulsa midfielder Joe Garcia, who scored the game-winner in the 82nd minute last season, scored a goal in Tulsa's 6-1 victory over Little Rock in this year's season opener May 6 in Oklahoma.
Both teams were eventually tied in the Heartland standings going into Saturday, which set up a nearly identical scenario as last season, when the Rangers traveled to Tulsa to determine which team would host the other in the first round.
In 2017, the Rangers lost the season finale to Tulsa, then lost again in the opening round.
Does that come into memory at all now?
"Oh absolutely," Montgomery said. "That's a rival. It intensifies the game. We're already ready to compete with them."
Paired with Little Rock's sturdy defense, forward Alex Guadron leads the South Region with 0.9 goals per game.
Guadron, who played at Yavapai (Ariz.) College, was named NPSL Player of the Week on June 8, after he scored four goals in a 4-3 victory over Demize NPSL.
He scored the go-ahead goal in the 80th minute against Tulsa on Saturday.
"Initially going into the season, he had to adjust to our speed of play," Montgomery said. "Once he made that adjustment, he saw the opportunities to score and get goals."
Several opponents, Montgomery said, have pressured Guadron with two defenders.
"When that happened," Montgomery said, "he left open an extra forward."
Forwards Ulises Caba Cordova and Donald Benamna have each scored goals in the last two matches.
"It's hard for [opponents] to adjust to that," Montgomery said.
Tulsa Athletic had won three consecutive games until it lost to Little Rock, outscoring its opponents 9-1.
Defender Gustavo Vargas (University of Tulsa) scored three goals during the stretch.
Tulsa's skill, Mongtomery said, comes from taking advantage of "set pieces," which is whenever there is a stoppage in play -- such as a foul or ball going out of bounds -- and the team has the opportunity to organize a potential goal-scoring opportunity.
Tonight's winner will advance to the Heartland Finals on Saturday against the winner of No. 1 FC Wichita and No. 4 Saint Louis Club Atletico.
The Rangers would host again if they win and FC Wichita loses.
If Little Rock advances out of the Heartland playoffs, it would have to win five more playoff matches to win the NPSL championship.
But a Heartland championship, Wardlaw said, would all but guarantee the Rangers a bid to the 2019 U.S. Open Cup.
The U.S. Open Cup is the oldest national soccer tournament in America, which pools soccer teams from every professional and semiprofessional league.
Sports on 07/11/2018