BENTONVILLE -- Eli Jackson seemed surprised to be so wide open, but he knew just what to do.
Bentonville High keeper Santiago Vallejo initially stopped Jackson's first shot on goal, but the ball squirted free. Jackson made sure he didn't miss twice. After the ball got away from Vallejo, Jackson had another opportunity from point-blank range, where he deposited a shot from just inside the right post to give the Panthers a 2-1 victory in the first game of the Northwest Arkansas Showcase on Friday at the Tiger Athletic Complex.
Jackson was last spring's Class 6A state tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring a hat trick in leading the Panthers to the state championship victory over Mountain Home. His game-winner on Friday was his second goal of the season.
"Eli, that's what he does, he's our goal scorer," Siloam Springs coach Brent Crenshaw said. "We played a defensive style and looked for a counter attack. It worked out."
The goal, which came in the match's 58th minute, came exactly three minutes after Bentonville put home the equalizer to knot the score at 1-1.
"That's the point I made to the kids. 'You've just thrown away all your hard work,'" said Bentonville coach Mike Devaney of Jackson's goal. "We worked really hard to get back in the game, and made it a contest at 1-1, and we had a lapse in judgment against a good team and we got punished for it. We got punished for letting the ball bounce and a lack of communication."
Bentonville's (0-1) lone score came in the 55th minute when Rodrigo Mouron sent a cross to teammate Harrison Dickerson. Dickerson's shot was blocked by Siloam Springs keeper Wyatt Church but the ball bounced to Anthony Mancia, who drilled it home from just outside the goalie box.
Siloam Springs (2-0) got on the board in the match's early minutes when Luke Gumm corralled a loose ball from just inside the penalty box to beat Vallejo in the fifth minute. The goal was Gumm's first of the year.
Siloam Springs advanced in the winner's bracket and continued play in the tournament on Saturday. Results were not available at presstime.
Siloam Springs is scheduled to play a nonconference game Tuesday at defending 7A state champion Rogers.
Siloam Springs 3, Bentonville West 1
The Panthers opened up their season Tuesday with a 3-1 nonconference victory over Bentonville West at Panther Stadium.
Christian Marroquin and Jack Bos scored goals in the first half for the Panthers.
Jackson scored an insurance goal in the second half as the Panthers earned the victory.
Sports on 03/04/2018