Panthers' defense has good showing at state

Graham Thomas/Herald-Leader Siloam Springs senior goalkeeper Luke Nitz goes high into the air for a save against Mountain Home last Friday in the Class 6A semifinals in Searcy. The Panthers play Russellville at noon on Saturday in the Class 6A finals.
Graham Thomas/Herald-Leader Siloam Springs senior goalkeeper Luke Nitz goes high into the air for a save against Mountain Home last Friday in the Class 6A semifinals in Searcy. The Panthers play Russellville at noon on Saturday in the Class 6A finals.

The scoreboards show that Siloam Springs boys soccer team gave up three goals defensively in two games in the Class 6A state tournament last week.

The reality though is that the Panthers could have easily pitched two shutouts in their two wins -- a 3-1 victory against Mountain Home on Friday in the quarterfinals and a 6-2 win against Jonesboro on Saturday in the semifinals.

The Panthers gave up 15 goals in their first 12 games of the season and then allowed a whopping 14 goals in its previous three games entering the state tournament.

"Our boys, we've given up several goals all year long and we've really spent a lot of time in practice trying to correct it," said Siloam Springs soccer coach Chuck Jones.

In the win against Mountain Home, Siloam Springs held a 3-0 lead until the final minutes when the Panthers were called for a foul inside the 18-yard box and Mountain Home was awarded a penalty kick. The Bombers converted the PK for their only goal.

Against Jonesboro the next day, the Hurricane scored an awkward goal that should have been prevented by the Panthers' defense. Jonesboro's other goal came on a penalty kick late in the first half.

So with two penalty kick goals and another that slipped through the Siloam Springs defense, Jones thought the Panthers improved defensively.

"I really feel like we got our organization and our alignment corrected," Jones said. "The boys, I felt like it really helped our confidence. This whole weekend, I felt like our back line was tremendous."

Siloam Springs plays 7A/6A-Central Conference foe Russellville at noon Saturday in the 6A state finals at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Production off the bench

Siloam Springs got strong production off its bench during the 6A state tournament, Jones said.

"I'm so pleased that we've had maybe three or four boys that haven't started but have given us really quality minutes," he said. "To see their confidence level in the state tournament, I feel like we maybe had 16 boys that played at a very high level and gave us quality minutes."

Jones singled out freshmen Jose Serrano and Jack Bos, sophomore Jacob Perdomo and senior Alexis Maldando for strong play in the state tournament.

"It's hard when you're coming off the bench and maybe you don't start, but when their number is called they really stepped up and made a difference for us," Jones said.

Rubber match

The Panthers (10-6-1) and Cyclones have played twice this season with both teams coming away with one-goal victories.

Siloam Springs defeated Russellville 3-2 on April 14 at Panther Stadium with goals coming from James Pollard, Steven Iglesias and Edwin Ramirez.

The Cyclones returned the favor on May 5 with a 3-2 at Cyclone Stadium. Pollard and Ricardo Aguilar scored goals in that game for Siloam Springs.

"I was talking to their coach at the conference meetings and we were both saying, wouldn't it be fun to get to play each other?" Jones said. "I don't know if either one of us were telling the truth because they're a very good team. I feel like the two best teams in the state are going to be playing for it all."

Russellville, which is defending 6A champions, defeated Searcy 3-0 last Saturday to reach the state finals.

"They're a scary team," Jones said of Russellville. "They have the ability to score goals from lots of different angles and positions.

"But I really feel like our boys are confident. I feel like when we play like we have for the majority of the season we're a tough out. I think it'll be a tremendous soccer game. One thing I know is that our boys are going to give everything they have. At the end of the day, that's all I can ask from them."

The Cyclones are 13-6 overall and went 4-4 in 7A/6A-Central Conference play. Siloam Springs, Russellville and Greenwood all went 2-2 against 6A competition in conference play.

"I am very excited that we get to play the other best 6A team in the finals this year," said Russellville coach Jared Fuller. "I feel we are both not scared to attack each other and it will make for a very interesting game."

Sixth state final

The Siloam Springs boys will be making the program's sixth appearance in a state final.

The Panthers won back-to-back 5A state titles in 2011 and 2012. They finished as state runner-up in Class 5A in 2005 and 2007 and runner-up in 6A in 2013 -- all under former coach Jason Bowen.

Sports on 05/20/2015