FORT SMITH — The Bryant Hornets soccer team opened the 2014 season with a win in a shootout, a loss in a shootout and, in between, a tough setback against an all-too-familiar foe. Those came at a tournament in Fort Smith that featured some of the best Class 7A teams in the state.
“We played some very good teams this weekend,” acknowledged Hornets coach Brett Haugh. “It was a great tournament for us to see where we are as a team. Playing good teams can only make us better. There were things we did good and there were things that were not so good. We will continue to look forward and take the outcome of this weekend to get better.”
The Hornets opened the tournament with a win over the Rogers Mounties. Scoreless in regulation, Bryant won the shootout 4-3.
They followed up on Saturday with a rematch against the team that knocked them out of the Class 7A State Tournament last spring, Fort Smith Northside. The Grizzlies, who went on to capture the State championship, had edged the Hornets 2-1 in the semifinals. And, on Saturday, pinned a 2-0 loss on them.
In the third-place match, Bryant and Fayetteville battled to a 1-1 tie in regulation. In the shootout, Fayetteville won on penalty kicks, 6-5.
The Hornets were set to play Conway on Tuesday, March 11, but the contest has been postponed until a later date. They’ll play next in the Northwest Arkansas High School Tournament this Friday against more outstanding competition. They’ll open against Bentonville, the host school. On Saturday, they’re set to take on Memorial High School of Edmond, Okla.
At Fort Smith last Friday, the Hornets got penalty kicks from Bryce Denker, Evan Caddy, Dylan Wolf and Corey Laisure in the shootout. Keeper Slade Lewis stopped Rogers’ first attempt and last try to secure the victory.
“The boys came out a little flat after the long bus ride from Bryant,” Haugh said. “We picked it up towards the end of the first half. Rogers controlled much of the game, however, our defense stepped up and was able to keep them from scoring.
“We had several opportunities to score on counters and such but just couldn’t finish,” he noted.
Of the Northside match, Haugh said, “We could never seem to find our stride throughout most of the game.”
To follow up, the Hornets grabbed a 1-0 lead on Fayetteville with a goal by Wolf before the half.
“Different game, same story,” Haugh related. “We came out flat at the beginning but quickly picked up the pace and began to communicate and put things together.
“We came out in the second half continuing to play well,” he noted. “During the middle of the second half, we had a breakdown in our defense and Fayetteville was able to get on in, making it 1-1.
“The boys continued to fight through and play ‘til the end,” the coach added.
In the shootout, the only misfire was a shot from Bryant that was blocked and that made the difference in the final result.
