TODAY’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP CAPSULES
CLASS 4A BOYS
CLARKSVILLE PANTHERS (20-1-1) VS. FARMINGTON CARDINALS (12-2-3) GAME TIME 10 a.m. WHERE Panther Stadium, Benton
CLARKSVILLE CONFERENCE 4A-West (7-0-1) COACH Bryan Qualls
HOW THEY GOT HERE def. Southside Batesville 7-1 (state first round), def. Arkadelphia 4-0 (state quarterfinals), def. Nashville 4-0 (state semifinals)
FARMINGTON CONFERENCE 4A-West (6-1-1) COACH Josh Fonville
HOW THEY GOT HERE def. Wynne 2-0 (state first round), def. Pulaski Academy 3-2 (state quarterfinals), def. De Queen 1-0 (state semifinals)
NOTEWORTHY The teams fought to a 1-1 tie on April 12 before Clarksville won a 3-0 decision on May 6. … Farmington played its first varsity boys game last year. … Clarksville last won a state championship in 2007 but also played in the 2012 title game. … The Cardinals’ other two ties came to Greenwood and Harrison by identical 2-2 scores.
CLASS 5A BOYS
RUSSELLVILLE CYCLONES (201-1) VS. VAN BUREN POINTERS (15-4-2) GAME TIME Noon WHERE Panther Stadium, Benton
RUSSELLVILLE CONFERENCE 5A West (12-1-1) COACH Jared Fuller
HOW THEY GOT HERE def. Sylvan Hills 7-0 (state first round), def. Hot Springs 1-0 (state quarterfinals), def. Little Rock Christian 3-0 (state semifinals)
VAN BUREN
CONFERENCE 5A-West (10-3-1) COACH Nathan Almond
HOW THEY GOT HERE def. Benton 3-1 (state first round), def. Lake Hamilton 2-0 (state quarterfinals), def. Maumelle 3-0 (state semifinals)
NOTEWORTHY Both Russellville and Van Buren fought to a 3-3 in the regular-season finale. Prior to that, the Cyclones won 2-1 on April 8. … Russellville has captured five state soccer championships under Jared Fuller, all coming since 2012. … The teams played in last year’s final, with Van Buren winning 2-1. The Pointers also won a title in 2006. … The Cyclones’ only loss was a 1-0 defeat to Siloam Springs on April 1.
CLASS 6A GIRLS
FAYETTEVILLE LADY BULLDOGS (12-2-2) VS. BENTONVILLE WEST LADY WOLVERINES (16-6) GAME TIME 2 p.m. WHERE Panther Stadium, Benton
FAYETTEVILLE CONFERENCE 6A-West (5-2-2) COACH Joe Thoma
HOW THEY GOT HERE def. Cabot 6-0 (state first round), def. Conway 1-0 (state quarterfinals), def. Bentonville 4-3 (state semifinals)
BENTONVILLE WEST CONFERENCE 6A-West (11-3)
COACH Kerry Castillo
HOW THEY GOT HERE def. Little Rock Central 2-1 (state quarterfinals), def. Fort Smith Northside 3-1 (state semifinals)
NOTEWORTHY The teams split the season series. Bentonville West won 2-0 on March 15, and Fayetteville held on for a 1-0 victory on April 14. … This is a rematch of last year’s final, won 3-0 by the Lady Bulldogs. … The Lady Wolverines have won eight consecutive matches since their loss to Fayetteville. … Joe Thoma has guided the Lady Bulldogs to two state titles (2010, 2021).
CLASS 6A BOYS
FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE GRIZZLIES (12-4-2) VS. CONWAY WAMPUS CATS (15-1-3) GAME TIME 4 p.m. Saturday
WHERE Benton Athletic Complex
FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE CONFERENCE 6A-Central
COACH Mauricio Maciel
HOW THEY GOT HERE def. Springdale 3-2 (state quarterfinals); def. Rogers Heritage 1-0 (state semifinals) CONWAY CONFERENCE 6A-Central COACH Matthew Page
HOW THEY GOT HERE def. Little Rock Catholic (state quarterfinals); def. Bentonville 1-1, 4-2 PKs (state semifinals)
NOTEWORTHY Northside started the year 2-2-2, but are riding a 10-2 record since into the final. … The two teams have split the season series, with both winning at home. Northside won 5-3 and Conway won 2-1. … Northside’s 5-3 win is the only game in which Conway has allowed more than 2 goals.