WHITE HALL, Ark. – A 77th-minute goal from Lumberjack Alann Juarez helped Warren take home a much-deserved draw on the road against the White Hall Bulldogs of the 5A South Conference Monday evening, March 13, 2023.

Finally playing under sunny skies, the Jacks arrived in White Hall to feature in a final non-conference match before 4A East play begins for Warren vs. Stuttgart later this week. Monday’s game was not originally listed on the schedule but was added recently.

Top photo: Alann Juarez takes a shot at the White Hall goal during the second half of Monday’s match. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.

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Warren looked determined from the kickoff to get something from this match. Last year the Bulldogs handed the Jacks a 2-0 loss on this same pitch.

Within the first minute, the Lumberjacks applied a harassing style of play off the ball. Warren’s Miguel Mendoza made a well-timed sliding tackle near midfield as the Lumberjacks put early pressure on the Dogs.

The Jacks nearly put together a flying start on the scoreboard. Winger Jose Garcia received a long ball down the left side just three minutes in. The senior beat the right back and found himself one-on-one with the White Hall keeper, who he almost skipped past. Credit to the goalie who was able to get a piece of the ball to save a Warren potential goal.

White Hall quickly pushed the ball downfield and nearly took an early lead themselves. However, Warren keeper Jessie Cortes was up to the task. The score remained knotted at nil-nil.

Warren’s Alann Juarez put the Jacks’ first shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the save was made.

Cortes made another fantastic save in the 11th minute at the other end. He looked incredibly sharp throughout the entire match. In fact, the White Hall breakthrough came not from open play, but from a penalty in the 16th minute. A Bulldog was brought down in the box and the ensuing penalty kick was converted. White Hall led 1-0.

Seven minutes later Garcia came close for Warren again. However, his hammered shot found the side netting.

Garcia continued to instigate Warren’s attack down the left flank. In the 37th minute, he took the ball on the left edge in White Hall territory, cut inside the right back and across the face of the right-sided central defender. A gap opened and he drifted a beautiful pass to Mendoza who was nearly clear on goal. Mendoza took a couple of touches before blasting a shot past the near-post side of the keeper to level the score at 1-1 at the half.

White Hall wasted little time in second half. They went back ahead just two minutes after the restart after a loose ball couldn’t be cleared in Warren’s 18-yard box. The Bulldogs put in past Cortes to go up 2-1.

Mendoza and Juarez made a switch. Mendoza played the majority of the rest of the match at striker, while Juarez moved back into the midfield. It was a change that paid huge dividends the rest of the match. Mendoza’s tenacity was a threat in the final third. Juarez’s size and technical skills on the ball were a real problem for White Hall to cope with over the final 40 minutes. Every time Juarez received the ball in the midfield, he was able to maintain possession, progress it forward, and look for an outlet.

Warren came so close to equalizing multiple times, but couldn’t seem to land the final shot. Meanwhile, at the other end Cortes kept the game within reach with a save in the 45th and 51st minutes.

Aaron Romero had a shot at the White Hall goal saved in the 71st, and Bryan Reynoso worried the Bulldogs when he hustled forward and drew a foul just seconds later, though nothing came of the free kick.

The Jacks lost Jose Garcia in the 75th minute via a yellow card. Although the Jacks had clearly been the better side, it was beginning to look as if no reward would come.

With just three minutes to go however Juarez put together a bit of magic. A slight scramble near the edge of the box saw him pick up possession near the central area in the final third. He took a turn and used his left foot to dart a low shot past the White Hall keeper who was helpless. The goal tied the game.

The Jacks had another chance very late, but they came away with the draw at 2-2 in what was a fair result.

Juarez was named the Que Lindo Michoacan Man of the Match for his performance. The goal was a bonus, but his play in the middle of the park changed everything. He dominated the midfield and acted as the link between Cortes and his back four to the front three for Warren. White Hall really struggled to handle his hold-up play and distribution.

The draw brings Warren’s overall record to 1-2-1 on the season. Now they get set to start 4A East Conference play vs. Stuttgart in a match which has been moved to Wednesday, March 15. Kickoff is set for immediately following the Lady Jack match which starts at 5:00 p.m.

CORRECTION(3-14-23, 11:26 a.m.): According to the information we have received Tuesday morning, the next match against Stuttgart has been moved back to Thursday. However, the games will be played one hour earlier than usual. The Lady Jack match vs. Stuttgart will kickoff at 4:00 p.m. with the Lumberjack match to immediately follow.

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