Photos by Rick Nation
Bryce Denker (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
Coming back from a gap in competition for spring break, it’s usually beneficial to play a weaker opponent to kind of get back in the groove. And it appeared that was the case for the Bryant Hornets soccer team when their schedule listed Little Rock J.A. Fair for their first game back on Tuesday, April 1.
Fair, in most sports, struggles mightily.
But this season, the War Eagles’ soccer team had actually earned the South Conference victory, stunning the Benton Panthers 2-1 on PKs. So, there was reason to believe they might be a little tougher than usual against the Hornets.
But that didn’t quite play out. Bryant improved to 3-0 in the conference with a convincing 6-1 win in which they built a 6-0 lead before Fair scored in the final minutes against Hornets reserves.
“This was a good win after not playing for over a week due to spring break,” acknowledged Bryant head coach Brett Haugh, whose team travels to Sheridan on Friday night. The Hornets’ JV, along with the junior varsity and varsity of the Lady Hornets are set to host Little Rock Central this Thursday with the boys starting at 4 p.m.
Houston Clifton and Bryce Denker each had two goals for the Hornets, who built a 3-0 lead by halftime. Blake Reed and Bradley Oldham pitched in with goals as well.
Clifton got the Hornets on the board at the 33:32 mark of the first half, with Evan Caddy supplying the assist. At 18:50, Denker beat the keeper on a penalty kick and less that three minutes later, Caddy fed Reed to make it 3-0.
Blake Reed (19) battles for a loose ball. (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
Again in the second half, Clifton and Denker scored first, this time in rapid succession. Clifton found the range off a corner kick by Dylan Wolf less than six minutes into the half. Three minutes later, Denker shot another penalty kick into the net.
Oldham’s goal to cap the scoring came exactly a minute later.
Alex Denker (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
