TEXARKANA — Taylor Matthews scored two goals and, after a slow start, the Bryant Lady Hornets ran past the Texarkana Lady Razorbacks Friday night, 5-0. The win improved the team’s record to 17-0-2 overall and 8-0 in the South Conference. It was the Lady Hornets’ 14th shutout of the season.
Haylee Campbell scored a goal as did Caroline Campbell on a penalty kick. Rori Whittaker added a goal off a corner.
Bryant led 3-0 at the half.
“Coming off the game from Searcy (on Thursday) and playing at that high intensity level for a full game — we haven’t had a lot of full games this year, they came on a two-hour road trip,” noted Lady Hornets coach Julie Long. “I know their legs were tired. For the most part, though, they worked hard. Their touch just seemed to not be there tonight. I guess that was the biggest thing.
“We didn’t finish a couple (of shots) early on and that just kind of starts to get in your head a little bit,” she continued. “Once we got a couple to go in, they started falling.
“I was really pleased with my girls that came in the second half and played,” the coach mentioned. “They played really, really well. I had some score tonight that don’t normally score so that was big time.”
The Lady Hornets host Lake Hamilton on Senior Night on Tuesday, May 6, then finish up the regular season on Friday at El Dorado. The Class 7A State tournament begins May 15 in Bentonville. Given their success, particularly, against the conference, it figures the Lady Hornets are already thinking about State.
“I have to re-direct their focus that every game, even our conference games right now, that they are still trying to get better,” Long said. “That’s been our focus all year. Every game, trying to get better at something. Before every game, they tell me something individually that they’re trying to get better at. They hold each other accountable too.
“This group is just a special group,” she concluded. “They all try to make each other better. They all want the best for their teammates that are beside them, that’s pushing them to be their best whenever they’re out there.”
