CONWAY, Ark. – The defending 6A State Champion Conway Wampus Cats handed Warren their first loss of the 2023 season Tuesday night, March 7 at McConnell Stadium in Conway by the final of 7-0.
The final scoreline flatters Conway a bit. Warren gave the 2022 6A State Champions all they wanted, especially in the opening 20 minutes. The Jacks came into the ballgame off the back of a 5-1 victory in their season opener vs. Lakeside of Lake Village. However, Tuesday’s game would be an entirely different affair. Coach Shaun Wilson’s team fully understood the challenge ahead, and it showed in the way the orange and black approached the match, with a very compact defense looking to break with balls over the top on the counter.
Top photo: Warren senior Bryan Reynoso clears a ball out of the box from a Conway corner. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.
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The opening three minutes were a blitz by Conway. The Wampus Cats tallied three corner kicks within the first three minutes. Pressure piled on Warren, but the Jacks weathered the storm. Conway concentrated their early attacks down Warren’s left flank. However, the doors were closed repeatedly by a stout effort from Warren’s back four in defense. Left back Bryan Reynoso was a vocal leader throughout the night, but his overall gameplay through the first 12 minutes was particularly impressive. Time after time Conway shot down the right wing looking for an opening to whip a ball into the six-yard box, but Reynoso held firm. The senior cleaned it all up, heading the ball clear on multiple corners to keep the score at 0-0 even while under a brutal onslaught of Conway possession.
The Jacks themselves took their first corner in the fifteenth minute, although nothing would come of the chance.
Conway finally broke the deadlock in the twentieth minute from a set piece.
The Lumberjacks regrouped. Sophomore keeper Jessi Cortes made an outstanding point-blank range save just eight minutes later. It would not be his last.
Warren worked their socks off in defense trying to keep the score at 1-0, but Conway’s attack seemed to come in waves. The Wampus Cats scored another goal in the thirtieth minute, this time from a header. They added a third goal seven minutes later to make it 3-0 Cats at the midway point.
The Lumberjacks put forth a really positive effort in the second half, never giving up. While there weren’t many clear-cut chances, the Jacks did manage to get a little more going in the final third of the pitch. Jose Garcia rifled a 30-yard shot that beat the keeper but not the crossbar in the fifty-second minute. Warren Striker Alann Juarez and Christian Sandoval each put a couple of shots close to goal, but the dent in the Conway lead never came. Conway went on to defeat the Lumberjacks by the final of 7-0.
Warren senior left back Bryan Reynoso was named the Que Lindo Michoacan Man of the Match for his valiant defensive performance and leadership at the back. Be on the lookout for him to have a big year.
The Lumberjacks move to 1-1 on the season, but the all-important conference season has yet to start. Luckily the Jacks are set to come back to the fortress of Jim Hurley, Jr. Stadium for the 2023 home opener later this week. Warren will be hosting Hope Friday, March 10. Kickoff is set to immediately follow the Lady Jack match vs. Hope which starts at 5:00 p.m.
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