CROSSETT, Ark. – Two goals in two halves of football delivered a resounding 4-0 win for the Warren Lady Jack Soccer Club on Thursday night, March 30, 2023, on the road at Crossett.

Warren looked determined in the early minutes to find the goals that have been a bit elusive in recent games. In the 3rd minute, Angie Cortes missed just wide right. Cortes was in the odd position of almost having too much time on the ball to think about the shot. Nonetheless, the early chance was a sign of things to come.

Top photo: Lady Jack winger Jennifer Carpenter drives home Warren’s third goal vs. Crossett Thursday evening. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.

By Rob Reep

Saline River Chronicle

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The orange and black saw multiple chances come and go over the next 15 minutes. Azul Garcia had two chances in the 9th and 10th minutes, and Anna Arroyo pushed a shot wide left of the goal in the 11th. Warren found themselves really dominating play, but the final ball wasn’t there. They cut through the Crossett defense with ease at least five or six times, but the Lady Eagle keeper came up to collect.

The go-ahead goal would not come until the 34th minute in the wake of a Warren corner. Azul Garcia chested the ball down, but back to a Crossett defender who cleared to the halfway line. The pass connected with the boot of a Lady Eagle, but the midfielder tried a backless one of her center-back options. The pass bounced over the heads of the defender and into the path of Arroyo who was still well downfield. Had it not come directly off of a Crossett foot she would have been offside. Instead, she was on and clear through on goal with just the keeper to beat. She clamored it past the keeper with a strong right foot to give Warren the 1-0 lead.

Anna Arroyo opens up the scoring for Warren in the first half vs. Crossett. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.

Three minutes later, Garcia struck pay dirt to double the Lady Jack advantage. She sent a low effort to the right of the keeper, who tried to toe it clear. Instead, she couldn’t extend to cover the shot, and it rolled in to provide Warren a 2-0 lead which they took into the halftime break.

Three minutes into the second half, Warren added a third. Sarah Villeda drew two defenders down the left wing, played a lovely ground pass to Jennifer Carpenter, who blasted a shot to the left of the Crossett keeper from just outside of the six-yard box. The goalkeeper got a hand to the shot, but it wasn’t strong enough. The effort bounced in. Warren led 3-0.

Warren right-back Victoria O’Neill came up big for Warren with a strong challenge in the Lady Jack penalty box in the 49th minute. It was the type of tackle you have to get right, and she did.

Tessa Andrus made a similar challenge to shut down a Crossett chance in the 57th minute. The Lady Eagles had so few opportunities, but when they did come, the Lady Jack back four mopped everything up. Andrus was named the Que Lindo Michoacan Lady of the Match for her outstanding night in Warren’s defense.

Warren put the icing on the cake in the 68th minute when Garcia picked up her brace to give Warren another goal advantage. They won at the final whistle 4-0.

The Lady Jacks improve to 2-4 on the season overall. They hold a 1-2 4A East Conference record. They are scheduled to travel to face Little Rock Mills on Tuesday, April 4. Kickoff is set for 5:00 pm.