York scores winner for Mavs

6A-WEST BOYS SOCCER

FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE 2, FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE 1

FORT SMITH — It’s already been a senior year to remember for Fort Smith Southside forward Greyson York. It got a whole lot better Friday night at Mayo-Thompson Stadium.

York, who signed with Friends University just last week, provided the game-winning goal with 6 minutes left to lift Southside past rival Fort Smith Northside 2-1 in a 6A-West boys soccer matchup.

“This is not only a dream come true, but it’s everything I’ve been working for,” York said. “It all come to fruition in just that moment. To do it in front of the crowd at Northside is even better. When I saw the clock hit six minutes, I knew it was go time. I’m just trying to make the most of last year here.”

York found himself about 25 yards away from the goal before he fired and found the back of the net. He nearly connected on a free kick earlier in the second half off a lengthy try that was saved.

Southside (3-5-2, 1-0 6A-West) beat Northside (43-2, 0-2 6A-West) for the first time since 2012 in a 1-0 decision last year, then made it back-to-back in the matchup Friday.

“I did hear some people say it was a fluke last year,” Southside Coach Mahmoud Ihmeidan said. “It was nice to win this one on the road this time around. Greyson has had an awesome career and only added to it with that goal.”

It didn’t take Southside long to jump ahead in the contest. Senior forward Grayson Baber scored inside the box just 7 minutes into the game off an assist from Austin Ramos.

Northside later in the first half found the equalizer set up off a 50-yard free kick. Senior defender Michael Trinidad delivered the ball inside the box before junior forward Christian Franco tied it at 1-1 17 minutes into the contest.

The game went into halftime tied at 1-1 despite both teams getting good looks to take a lead.

Northside and Southside both had shot-on-goal attempts that were saved in the final 11 minutes of the opening half. Northside received its best chance to score after the break when Trinidad took a penalty kick, but it was saved by Southside sophomore goalkeeper Rafael Luevano with 30 minutes left in the game.

“I was put under a lot pressure, but I don’t fold,” Luevano said. “I took my chances with a guess, and I guessed right. It was a big chance. The offense was finding the connections. We finished. I’m proud of the guys.”

Ihmeidan said he felt like the save was just the spark Southside needed to finish the game strong.

“That was huge,” Ihmeidan said. “If he doesn’t safe that then who knows what happens. It was big for him. I wasn’t sure it was a penalty, but he saved it anyway. We played unbelievable.”

GIRLS

FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE 7, FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE 0

Seniors Meghan Hutchison, Jennifer Iturriaga and Azucena Castillo each provided goals in the opening nine minutes of the game for the Lady Bears to take a big lead they never gave back.

Northside held the 3-0 lead at the break.

The Lady Bears again found their offensive groove in the second half. Senior forward Rosa Centeno found the net with 33 minutes left in the game.

Hutchison just a few minutes after that scored again for a 5-0 lead.

Elene Centeno made it a 6-0 advantage, and Hutchison scored again for a hat trick.