By Mike Capshaw

Staff Writer n [email protected]

Siloam Springs and Van Buren battled to a 0-0 tie in varsity boys soccer action at Panther Stadium on Thursday. Because it was a nonconference match, there was no shootout or any type of overtime to determine a winner.

Coach Brent Crenshaw wasn't as upset about the format as he was about the way his Panthers (3-2-1) performed. His players were not happy, either.

"We're a little frustrated. The guys are frustrated," Crenshaw said. "We just weren't playing great. We just weren't connecting tonight. We had some chances, we just didn't finish them, so it's frustrating for the boys, but we play again (Friday at Harrison)."

On the flip side, Van Buren coach Nathan Almond was pleased with his team's effort against a team of Siloam Springs' caliber. It was the Pointers' (2-2-2) second tie of the season, but only the second time they have been shutout.

"I felt like we played hard; We just couldn't put enough shots on the frame," Almond said. "We were pretty creative offensively. We did some different things. We moved the ball around, but missed the frame.

"Siloam Springs played well and they always do. They're well-coached and they're a good team. They will come out and play hard all the time. And they're keeper made it difficult, there's no doubt about it."

That goal keeper was Siloam Springs junior Wyatt Church, who took over as the starter last season. Church made three diving saves and numerous key plays throughout the contest. It was his second shutout of the young season and fourth time he's allowed a single goal or less.

"Wyatt's been great for us all year," Crenshaw said. "He's progressed throughout the year. He's gotten bigger. He's got more confidence. He's got more skill, so he's coming up huge for us. And not just tonight, but in other games as well."

Church received plenty of help from a back line that's anchored by senior Jack Bos, a 6-foot, 160-pounder.

"Jack just wins everything in the air," Crenshaw said. "He organized us. He's our captain back there. We've got to find a way to take some pressure off our back line and win some possession and get some attack going. Those are the challenges we face, and we're going to keep working on them."

Bos gave the Pointers fits all night as he often used his head or strong right leg to clear the ball out of shooting range.

"Their center-back is big, strong and tall," Allman said. "He goes and wins the ball in the air. He did a lot of really good things for them. We couldn't play the ball over the top on him, so you had to win some possessions on the carpet and try to beat him with some ankles.

"We got past him a couple of times, but he played a good game."

Up next for the Panthers were three games in the Harrison Tournament. They were scheduled to play Harrison on Friday followed by Green Forest, Rogers High and Rogers Heritage on Saturday.

Rogers 3, Siloam Springs 0

ROGERS -- The Mountaineers overcame the blustery conditions at Whitey Smith Stadium to dominate possession on the Panthers' half of the pitch, as they took the victory Tuesday night. Rogers had three players score goals, as it jumped out to an early lead and never relented.

Brian Flores broke a scoreless tie in the 15th minute. Then, Willie Hernandez padded the Rogers lead two minutes later. Hernandez recovered a loose ball just outside the penalty box, out ran the Siloam defender before firing a cross to the left goal post for the score.

Felix Escobar knotted the final score in the 56th minute. He gathered a loose ball in Siloam territory, put a move on a defender, and then outran the Panthers' keeper, who came out to defend, for the score.

Siloam Springs' best chance to score came in the 35th minute when a Christian Marroquin free kick sailed harmlessly over the right post.