By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
The Cabot Lady Panthers made it to the quarterfinal round of the 7A state soccer playoffs in Bentonville over the weekend. The Lady Panthers took a 1-0 win against Springdale Har-Ber during Saturday’s opening round in a defensive struggle, but couldn’t answer a four-goal performance by Mount St. Mary standout Katie Udron on Monday.
The Belles, who entered as the No. 1 seed from the Lady Panthers’ own Central Conference, ended Cabot’s season with a 5-0 shutout.
Saturday’s game was scoreless through the first half, but the Lady Panthers got the only score of the game mid-way through the second half when Jamie Dillon took an assist from Calli Anderson off a throw-in by Kaitlin Spry.
The Lady Wildcats had opportunities to tie late, but Cabot goalkeeperRicci Brooke thwarted all comers on her way to posting the shutout.
Brooke was much busier on Monday. Udron’s four strikes, and another goal by Lucia Trujillo proved too much for the Lady Panthers, who finished with a final record of 5-11.
The Cabot boys had anything but a defensive struggle during their 6-3 opening-round loss to Van Buren. Alfonso Olvera, Matt Zenddejas and Frederico Ferrari all had successful strikes for the Panthers, but the difference maker was Van Buren’s Alex Rodriquez, who scored half of the Pointer’s goals in the contest. The Panthers finished with a final record of 8-12.
6A STATE SOCCER
The defending champion Searcy Lions and Lady Lions advanced to the semifinals of the state soccer tournament at the Letain DaVore Soccer Complex in Searcy.
The Lions dispatched Benton, 4-0, on Monday and took on Texarkana in one seminfinal matchup last night after Leader deadlines.
El Dorado and Mountain Home will tangle in the other semi.
The Lady Lions beat Benton, 2-0, and will take on Mountain Home in a girls’ semi tonight, while Sheridan and Jonesboro will do battle in the other game.
The Sylvan Hills boys advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-0 win over Lake Hamilton on Saturday. The Bears fell 3-0 to El Dorado on Saturday.
The Lady Bears lost in the opening round, 3-1, to Benton.
Jacksonville’s boys lost 1-0 to Benton in the first round.
The winners of last night’s games will play for the state title on Saturday afternoon at the University of Arkansas.
