Rogers Heritage blanks Bentonville

BENTONVILLE — Rogers Heritage hasn’t been able to finish off scoring chances at times this season, but the War Eagles had no problem Tuesday night at Bentonville’s Tiger Athletic Complex.

Pedro Garcia scored two goals, including one that turned the momentum in the second half, as Heritage went on to a 4-0 win over Bentonville in 7A-West Conference boys soccer.

Garcia scored to give Heritage (13-4, 8-4 7A-West) a 2-0 lead, two minutes after Bentonville had a huge opportunity to tie. The Tigers caught Heritage goalkeeper Andrew Montoya out and looked to have a goal, but the shot hit the far post and kicked out. The War Eagles were able to punch the ball out of trouble.

“We had a chance to make it 1-1, we didn’t, they go down to the other end and score and the game’s over,” Bentonville coach Mike Devaney said. “It’s 2-0 at that point and really we just didn’t compete. I didn’t see any response from us at that point and that was the most disappointing thing in the game.”

Heritage added two more goals, a second by Garcia off a breakaway and one by Chris Cano to set the final score.

War Eagles coach Christhian Saavedra said finishing scoring chances has been an issue at times, but his team managed to convert a key opportunity to break a 0-0 tie. Erol Banuelos blasted one past the keeper to give the War Eagles the lead for good.

“We haven’t had much luck finishing this year,” Saavedra said. “Any time you can go ahead with a goal and the first one to hit it, it’s a sign of good things to come.

“We have one goal and it’s to perform well in the state tournament and make it further than last year. These are the things you have to do to be able to be there.”

The Tigers (8-6-1, 7-6 7A-West) has now lost three straight and been outscored by a combined score of 9-0.

“We’ve only got one chance to get it turned around, so really we’ve got no choice. Then obviously we play and see what we do next week,” Devaney said.

Heritage has two matches left, hosting league leading Springdale Har-Ber on Friday and hosting Van Buren on Monday in a make-up match.

Bentonville closes the regular season at Bentonville West on Friday.

Springdale Har-Ber 9, Van Buren 0

The Wildcats moved within a game of a conference championship Tuesday night, demolishing the Pointers (5-16, 1-11) in the process.

Ivan Fuentes recorded a hat trick in the win for Har-Ber, who moved to 11-2 in the 7A-West and 16-2 overall.

The No. 11 team in the nation by MaxPreps, Har-Ber also got a three-assist night from Caed Tyler, a Ouachita Baptist University signee.

The nine goals are a season-high for Har-Ber, which can clinch a No. 1 seed in the state tournament with a win at Heritage Friday.

Rogers High 3, Bentonville West 0

Jessie Ramirez scored two goals to lead the Mounties to the shutout win Tuesday night.

Rogers (12-4, 10-2 7A-West) also got a goal from Alex Valdez. Alex Balderas and Mario Chacon chipped in one assist each.

The Wolverines dropped to 6-14-1 overall and 2-11 in the 7A-West.

GIRLS Fayetteville 4, Springdale High 1

Freshman Georgia Templeteon scored two goals in a 94-second span to help the Lady Purple’Dogs prevail on senior night.

Templeton’s game-winning goal was set up by a pass from sophomore Reagan Resz with 8:14 remaining in the first half. Her second goal came off an assist by Kamilla Sarvestani with 6:40 remaining.

Junior Payton Woodward put Fayetteville (14-4, 9-3) on the scoreboard 11 minutes into the match with a goal off an assist by Abby Vaught. Senior Bailey Lindsey added an insurance goal off of a free kick to create the final margin with 10:31 remaining in regulation.

It was the first of three matches in four days for the Lady Purple’Dogs. They play at to Rogers High on Thursday before wrapping up the regular season at Van Buren on Friday.

Bentonville 7, Rogers Heritage 0

Victoria Mitchell scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Lady Tigers to an easy win.

Emma Welch chipped in two goals for Bentonville, which improved to 18-2 overall and 13-0 in the 7A-West Conference. The Lady Tigers led 4-0 at halftime and cruised to the win.

Rogers Heritage dropped to 5-12 overall and 4-8 in 7A-West.

Rogers High 5, Bentonville West 1

Sienna Nealon scored two goals to lead the Lady Mounties to the win Tuesday night.

Leslie Barrales, Haley Arrick and Niina Utriainen added one goal each for the Lady Mounties (10-6-1, 8-4). Ashlyn Babbitt and Makenna Johnson each added one assist, too. The Lady Wolverines dropped to 4-17-1 overall and 3-10 in the 7A-West.