State Champs!
Lady Hornets capture crown with 2-1 win
FAYETTEVILLE — After falling short a season ago, a 3-2 heartbreaking overtime loss against Rogers in the state finals, the Lady Hornets finally found their second state title since 2015.
The Lady Hornets finished the regular season with an 18-2 record, with their only losses coming from the Conway Lady Wampus Cats. The Lady Hornets would have to face the Lady Wampus Cats one last time to win their state title.
The Lady Hornets did just that, edging Conway 2-1 Friday night in the 6A
State Tournament championship game at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.
“We won the first five minutes,” Bryant Coach Nicole Inman said. “After that we kept just playing hard. We just kept playing hard through the heat, and after it was cold last week, and then today we’re sweating, but I’m proud if these ladies for coming out
hard and winning.”
It was not five minutes into the first half when the Lady Hornets (19-2) found the back of the net. Senior Alyssa Fason, who was named the MVP, took a pass from Abbey Inman and put a shot right into the top right corner of the goal to put the Lady Hornets ahead 1-0.
Inman would put her own shot on from with 29:50 left to play in the half, but the Lady Cats goalkeeper managed to clear the ball for a corner kick.
With 19:21 to play Conway (19-2-1) found a free kick 22 yards from the Lady Hornet net. The shot managed to take a hard curve in to the top corner of the net tying the match up 1-1.
Fason would score once more in the half with 16:31 to play off a penalty kick that would be the decisive goal.
In the second half the lady Hornets went into full defensive mode as the team held the Lady Cats from finding the equalizing goal, and giving the Lady Hornets the state title.
“I’m very thankful we have not had many injuries this year,” Inman said. “We have had a few knickknacks that have held us back, I was just really praying that all the ladies would have the opportunity, and for the most part we were there. The seniors just really wanted it, and I know the ladies wanted to give it to them.”