By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Lady Panther soccer team took on one of the state’s top teams and toughest defenses on Monday, and things didn’t go well for the Cabot squad. Bryant held Cabot scoreless and allowed only the rare shot as they beat the Lady Panthers 3-0.
The Lady Hornets scored two goals in the first half, both off short fields after Cabot turnovers, and took advantage of what Cabot coach Kerry Castillo called, “a lack of intensity,” from his team.
“There definitely was a lack of intensity on our part,” said Castillo. “They are a very physical team and we did not match that at all. They played tougher than we did. When you just give the ball up 30 yards from their goal, of course you’re going to give something up eventually. We talked about that at halftime, but we didn’t stop doing it.”
The Lady Panthers did have three prime scoring opportunities late in the second half, but were not able to convert. If they had scored, they would have been only the second team all season to score a goal against the Lady Hornets.
Bryant is 15-0-1 with 14 shutouts to go with its 1-1 tie against Fayetteville two weeks ago. The Lady Hornets have outscored their opponents by a combined 57-1 so far this season.
Castillo still believes his team is capable of beating Bryant were they to meet again in the playoffs.
“Absolutely we have the ability,” Castillo said. “We needed that game to see where some of our weaknesses are so we can get better for state. We definitely found them. A team like Bryant will expose them for sure. The main thing was the physicality. We sort of let them push us around and slowed down our offense. We really don’t have anyone in our conference that’s able to do that. I think this game will make us tougher, and make us better.”
Cabot (15-3, 6-0) hosted West Memphis on Tuesday night after Leader deadlines, and will host another league game on Friday against North Little Rock.
