Bryant finds its way, takes out Rogers

CLASS 7A GIRLS BRYANT 4, ROGERS 1

FORT SMITH — It took Bryant some time to get its first chance to score Thursday, but the Lady Hornets made the most of the opportunity when it happened at Southside High School’s Rowland Stadium.

Bryant senior forward Caroline Campbell scored the first goal on its first shot of the match. Bryant didn’t look back after that in a 4-1 victory against Rogers in a first-round matchup of the 7A state girls soccer tournament.

“That’s the story of our season,” Bryant Coach James Paul said. “If we can start on a high note, we are probably going to finish there. It was a struggle for us at first. It took us a little bit to get a feel for the match. We turned it on after that.”

Bryant (12-9) took advantage of its early opportunities to take a 3-1 lead heading into the break.

Rogers (10-9) was able to keep possession of the ball for most of the opening 10 minutes of the match, but Bryant’s attack broke through after that challenging early and often.

Campbell, who signed with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, scored the Lady Hornets’ first goal to take a 1-0 lead 10 minutes into the match.

Madison Humbard helped Bryant extend its lead to 2-0 with a goal in the 18th minute.

Rogers then bounced back to cut the advantage to 2-1 with a goal in the 29th minute from Abby Revior.

But with just four minutes left before the break, Bryant earned a corner kick. It ended up turning into an own goal from Rogers to help Bryant take a 3-1 advantage into halftime.

“We got it to 2-1 there and had a lot of chances right there following that,” Rogers Coach Aaron Crouch said. “We had a really good chance a couple times to tie it up. But then we have the own goal. It took the wind out of our sails.”

Rogers had its chances in the second half with senior forward Sienna Nealon leading the offense.

Nealon had two opportunities to score that were stopped by Bryant junior keeper Brittney Warner.

“She held her own,” Paul said of Warner. “She took charge back there after we gave her a lead. We commanded the area after that with good communication. I’m proud of our defense.”

Warner was able to keep Rogers scoreless in the second half after allowing the lone goal before the break.

“The best player on the field for Bryant today was their goalie,” Crouch said. “She is the reason they are going into the second round. She had a great match. I’ve seen shots she saved today go in all year long. But she was stopping everything.”

After a scoreless and rainy first half, Little Rock Central took charge in the second half.

Central senior Meg Sanders won a ball near seniorto take midfield,Gracea 1-0 lead Ann then in Robinsonkickedthe 52ndit for ahead minute.a goal to Springdale (7-11) had a shot right after giving up the goal, but Central keeper Riley Chafin made a save on a ball kicked by Springdale’s Chela Razo. That turned out to be the Lady Bulldogs’ best chance to score in the second half. Central (12-6-1) was able to push out its lead out to 2-0 with just 15 minutes left when sophomore Katherine McKenna found the back of the net with a goal. SPRINGDALE HAR-BER 3, CONWAY 0 Springdale Har-Ber took a 2-0 lead into halftime with help of goals from juniors Megan LaMendola and Katelyn Capdeville. The Lady Wildcats earned a corner kick 10 minutes into the match, and LaMendola made the most of the opportunity scoring on the set piece to take a 1-0 lead. Capdeville then added to Har-Ber’s lead with a goal that off the hands of the Conway keeper hands and into the net. Har-Ber (14-6) freshman Kearstin Whitfield scored the match’s lone second-half goal to push the advantage out to 3-0. Conway (10-10-1) was held scoreless against Har-Ber junior keeper Mekenna Taylor.