Panthers set sights high in 2017

The Siloam Springs boys soccer team captured its first Class 6A state championship in 2016 and the program's third overall, but the Panthers are in no way satisfied heading into 2017.

"I think we can be as good, if not better, than we were last year," said second-year coach Brent Crenshaw, "if we can put the ball in the back of the net."

The Panthers finished 16-6 in 2016 and tied for the 7A/6A-Central Conference championship with Conway. Siloam Springs defeated Russellville 2-0 in the Class 6A State Finals, avenging a 2015 state title game loss to the Cyclones.

Now the Panthers have their eyes set on a repeat and Crenshaw thinks this group has all the tools to get the job done.

Crenshaw said some of the players have come to him and said their goal is to set a school record for wins. The record is 19 wins by the 2005 Panthers.

"I think we're deeper on the bench this year than we were last year," he said. "Motivation seems to be higher this year than last year. Really I'm excited about this group. I really think they can do some things."

The Panthers play at Springdale Har-Ber in a benefit game on Friday before opening the season at Van Buren on Tuesday.

Siloam Springs will play a 4-4-2 formation in front of its goalkeeper, and who will play in goal remains in question heading into the season.

Sophomore Wyatt Church moved in from Har-Ber last season and is capable of handling the position, Crenshaw said. Another possibility is senior Noah Slater, who approached Crenshaw early in January with a request to be able to compete for the spot. Slater's been training with volunteer coach Hannah Poor several times a week, Crenshaw said.

"As of right now we don't know," Crenshaw said. "We're going to give them (equal) minutes in our benefit game Friday at Har-Ber. We're going to give Wyatt a half and Noah a half and see who's the better one."

The Panthers' defensive back line is experienced and seasoned. Three of the four players back there -- juniors Irvin Rios, Jack Bos and Alejandro Telles -- are returning starters, and the fourth, junior Jorge Perez played a lot in spots.

Rios returns after spending the fall as the placekicker for the football team.

"I'm happy for him," Crenshaw said. "I always encourage our athletes to go help other sports. He started last year and did a really good job. The only problem we had is he's kind of a little guy, but he's really good. ... Glad to have him back there."

Telles played right back last year and can also play center back if needed.

"He's one of those guys that can play multiple positions," Crenshaw said.

Like his older sister Annika did in her career at Siloam Springs, Bos has become a leader for the Panthers.

"Jack's definitely our leader back there," Crenshaw said. "Very vocal ... very, very vocal, but understands what we want to do. It's good, especially having a new goalie this year, we're going to need somebody back there like Jack that can organize us. He'll do that. He's not afraid to tell players what they need to be doing or this is how it should be done. But then he'll demonstrate it with his work ethic and his ability."

Junior Aric Lee was an All-State player in 6A for the Panthers last year and he returns at a holding center midfielder position.

Lee is another one that's small in stature but finds ways to overcome it.

"What's funny is (midfield is) where we want to win a lot of 50-50 balls in the air with the head," Crenshaw said. "(Lee) wins the 50-50 balls, but he's figured out how to win the ball at their feet because he can't compete (in the air) with the big guys. He knows that. He'll try but he's smart enough to know that he's going to let the guy receive it and then he's going to take it off his foot."

Junior Jose Serrano and senior Francisco Sifuentes man outside midfielder spots with senior Victor Godinez and junior Luke Gumm also playing the spots.

Serrano, who played as a sub quite a bit, had a strong state finals against Russellville and can play just about anywhere, Crenshaw said.

"We try to get our best 11 on the field and that's where he fits," he said. "He'll probably end up playing some forward and some center mid because I don't think these guys can go the full time."

Godinez didn't play a year ago because of job responsibilities. He asked Crenshaw if he could return this season.

"He's come back this year and done a great job, worked hard and been a senior leader," Crenshaw said. "He's still fighting for a starting position. He's not far off at all."

Sifuentes didn't play a lot of minutes last year behind Omar Vazquez, but he's probably the fastest Panther on the field, Crenshaw said.

"We need to get him to slow his brain down sometimes, but in a foot race he's going to win it every time," Crenshaw said.

Gumm, another football player, moves into the midfield from outside defensive back.

"We're asking him to get up and down the outside flanks a little bit more," Crenshaw said. "He's still trying to learn the position but once he does I think he'll get some good game time."

Senior Austin Shull will be a team captain for the Panthers and play an attacking midfield position.

"Great kid, work ethic, understands the game," Crenshaw said of Shull. "Always first to arrive at practice and always last to leave practice. He makes sure everyone's cleaned up the locker room like they're supposed to, picking up the balls. He does the little things like (assistant coach Luke) Shoemaker mentions like (James) Pollard used to do. Those kids are kids we love to coach. That's what Shull does. He takes up a lot of that leadership."

The Panthers lost the bulk of their scoring from last year, including 53 combined from graduated seniors Ricardo Aguilar (23), Aldair Umana (16), Jacob Perdomo (7), Daniel Sierra (7) and six more from Vazquez who moved out of the district.

Sophomore Eli Jackson scored five goals as a freshman in and played between 20 and 25 minutes per game. He'll play a larger role this season up top at forward.

"He's grown physically which will be good because he was kind of small as a freshman," Crenshaw said of Jackson. "He's gotten faster it seems like. He's a great club player that's learned to play a faster pace than others do."

Christian Alvarado is another that could help out at forward along with Brian Andrade, who led the junior varsity team with five goals.