SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENTS
CLASS 6A
WHEN Today-Saturday
WHERE Springdale DEFENDING CHAMPION Boys: Springdale; Girls: Bryant
FAVORITES Boys: Conway; Girls: Bryant OTHER CONTENDERS Boys: Springdale; Girls: Fayetteville
INTRIGUING FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP Boys: Bentonville vs. Cabot; Girls: Bentonville West vs. Fort Smith Northside NOTEWORTHY The Conway boys lost just once this season – 2-0 to Fort Smith Northside on April 1. The Wampus Cats returned the favor April 27 by beating the Grizzlies 3-0. … The Bryant girls also lost just once this year, a 1-0 setback to Conway, before the Lady Hornets won the rematch 2-1 10 days ago. … Fayetteville cruised to the girls 6A-West Conference title with a 12-0-2 record. … Playoff participants Springdale Har-Ber, Little Rock Central and Roger Heritage all had sub-.500 records in girls league play. Bryant and Fayetteville were the only boys teams with losing conference marks.
CLASS 5A
WHEN Today-Saturday
WHERE Siloam Springs
DEFENDING CHAMPION Boys: Russellville; Girls: Little Rock Christian FAVORITES Boys: Russellville; Girls: Little Rock Christian OTHER CONTENDERS Boys: Van Buren;
Girls: Searcy
INTRIGUING FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP Boys: Hot Springs Lakeside vs. Greenbrier; Girls: El Dorado vs. Russellville NOTEWORTHY A number of teams on both sides could win state titles, including Greenbrier, Russellville and Hot Springs Lakeside in the girls bracket, and Siloam Springs and Batesville in the boys division. … The only loss on the Greenbrier Lady Panthers’ resume is a 1-0 defeat to Cabot on March 1. … Both of the Van Buren boys losses were to defending champion and favorite Russellville. … Two of the three setbacks for the El Dorado Lady Wildcats were by one goal each. … Sheridan’s girls were shut out in four of their six defeats. … Batesville’s boys won 12 matches in a row until losing to Jonesboro 4-0 on April 20.
CLASS 4A
WHEN Today-Saturday
WHERE Harrison DEFENDING CHAMPION Boys: Valley
View; Girls: Harrison
FAVORITES Boys: Pulaski Academy; Girls: Pulaski Academy
OTHER CONTENDERS Boys: De Queen; Girls: De Queen, Harrison INTRIGUING FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP Boys: Valley View vs. Star City; Girls: Warren vs. Wynne
NOTEWORTHY The Harrison girls, who have held nine consecutive opponents scoreless, have won seven state titles. … The only team to beat the Pulaski Academy boys was Conway. … De Queen’s Lady Leopards are on an 11-match winning streak. … Valley View, which has captured two championships since 2013, won its first game of the year, then suffered four consecutive losses to Springdale Har-Ber, Fayetteville, Conway and Cabot before going 14-0-1 over its next 15 matches.
CLASS 3A
WHEN Today-Saturday
WHERE Central Arkansas Christian DEFENDING CHAMPION Boys: Central Arkansas Christian; Girls: Central Arkansas Christian
FAVORITES Boys: Green Forest; Girls: Central Arkansas Christian
OTHER CONTENDERS Boys: Central Arkansas Christian; Girls: Episcopal Collegiate
INTRIGUING FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP Boys: Green Forest vs. Cossatot River; Girls: Lincoln vs. Maumelle Charter NOTEWORTHY The Harding Academy Wildcats will have a good shot on both the boys and girls sides to add titles to their trophy collection after the school won Class 3A football and boys basketball championships this year. … Central Arkansas Christian’s boys won titles in 2008, 2015 and 2019. The CAC girls have won four consecutive crowns and nine overall.