Ricardo Aguilar is on a tear and that's good news for the Siloam Springs boys soccer team.
Aguilar -- a sophomore forward for the Panthers -- has scored four goals in his last five games, bringing his season total to a team-high 13 goals.
Aguilar scored three goals this past week in the Class 6A state tournament as Siloam Springs won two games and advanced to this week's 6A state finals.
The Panthers (10-6-1) will play 7A/6A-Central Conference foe Russellville at noon on Saturday at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.
Aguilar scored a goal in the Panthers' 3-1 win against Mountain Home in the 6A quarterfinals last Friday. Then on Saturday against Jonesboro in the semifinals, he scored two more goals as the Panthers clinched their state finals berth.
"You know Ricardo has had a fantastic season," said Siloam Springs soccer coach Chuck Jones. "He had a good season for us last year, but he has really stepped up into being a really good player for us."
Aguilar played some for the Panthers as a freshman but has really come into his own at forward as a sophomore.
Speaking through teammate Aldair Umana, who was serving as an interpreter, Aguilar said hard work is paying off this season.
"This year I've worked harder and I've gotten better," Aguilar said. "Last year I played at a position where I didn't get much of an opportunity to score the goals. Now this year playing up top at forward, I've gotten an opportunity to get more goals and assists.
"The practices have gotten better. There's been better communication and becoming more familiar with teammates."
Aguilar said he's excited to have a chance at helping his teammates win a state championship in just his sophomore season. In his freshman year, the Panthers were eliminated in the first round of the state tournament by Mountain Home.
Umana, who has nine goals on the season, said Aguilar's emergence at forward has helped take the scoring load off his back.
"It's definitely been a help at forward," Umana said. "Me and him we're working together. Of course two forwards, we're going to butt heads every now and then but we both always get along no matter what. I feel like it's definitely shown on the pitch this year."
Jones said Aguilar, who stands around 5-foot-7, has good control of the ball and he uses his stature to his advantage on the field.
"He's strong, he's quick, he's powerful and he's pretty much fearless," Jones said. "We play a lot of these big strong teams and what they're trying to do is knock you around, and he's just built in such a way where they have a hard time doing that to him."
Jones said with Aguilar's youth and talent level, he has a chance to be one of the better players to come out of Siloam Springs.
"He's just a sophomore and if he continues to improve like he did from his freshman to his sophomore year he's got a chance to be a special player for Siloam Springs," Jones said. "It's a team game and he's an important part of our team, but he's still just one person. As a team we've talked a whole lot about everyone doing their part and playing together. Ricardo's really good about that. He's not selfish. He plays within himself and he plays with his teammates."
Sports on 05/20/2015