Bonsall shines in West's 8-0 All-Star win
As basketball legend Allen Iverson famously bemoaned, “Practice? We talking about practice?”
In the case of the West girls’ soccer team, apparently a lot of practice wasn’t necessary Friday as they blitzed the East 8-0 in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association AllStar Game, held at Estes Stadium on the UCA Campus in Conway.
El Dorado’s Marleigh Bonsall scored a pair of second half goals to close out her prep career.
“Playing in the All-Star Game was one of the most fun and exciting things for me,” Bonsall said. “I not only got to play with some of the best soccer players from around the state, but I also made friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Harrison’s Clare Barger scored three goals with MVP Abbi Armstrong of Bentonville adding two for the West, which led 3-0 at the intermission.
Along with Bonsall, the West’s frontline combined for seven goals and peppered the East goal throughout the game.
“We had two practices over about a 14-hour period to get us working as a team and build as much chemistry as possible,” said Bonsall. “The practices were hot and very tiring, but they pushed me and made me a better player all around. The four coaches I had were amazing. They not only were really good coaches and pushed us but they also were so fun to be around and easy to talk to.”
Bonsall, who has signed to play soccer at Ouachita Baptist University, scored in the 48th minute to give the West a 4-0 lead and added a goal in the final 10 minutes of play.
“Overall, the weekend was so much fun and it was my last high school soccer event,” she said. “It is all bittersweet, but I am so ready for my next chapter playing for OBU and continuing to grow as a player and person.”