Bentonville hangs on to top Fayetteville

Exhausted, haggard and weary, the Bentonville High's Lady Tigers were just plain tired. After playing their fourth soccer match in five days, the Lady Tigers had to dig deep Tuesday to earn a 1-0 win against Fayetteville to open 7A-West Conference play at the Tiger Soccer Complex "Whenever we play Fayetteville, it's always one of the key match-ups of the year," Bentonville coach Kris Henry said. "It feels good to come away with that first conference win." The Lady Tigers (6-1-1, 1-0 7A West) earned the victory when Ginger Olson rebounded a Madison Howard corner kick for the score in the 51st minute. Fayetteville keeper Haley Woodward deflected Howard's attempt, which careened off Olson's body for the score. "We try to get numbers in the box (on corner kicks) and hope somebody gets on the end of it," Henry said. "She did her job. It was a great service in by Madison." Fayetteville coach Joe Thoma called the score a "squeaky goal." "That's soccer. Sometimes you give up a goal like that," he said. Howard had opportunities to increase Bentonville's lead late in the second half. In the 70th minute, she blasted a penalty kick to the right-center portion of the goal, but a diving save by Woodward prevented the score. Then, about two minutes later Howard dribbled through a duo of Lady Bulldog defenders only to rocket a shot over the crossbar. "We missed a lot of opportunities," Henry said. "We were nervous for the first conference game. There is always a lot riding on this game, so I think we were a little anxious." Both teams return to conference play Thursday. Fayetteville will host Bentonville West, while Bentonville travels to Van Buren.

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BENTONVILLE HANGS ON TO TOP FAYETTEVILLE

JOSH TINKER

Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette | 3/14/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Ben Goff