BAUXITE, Ark. – The 2023 Warren Lumberjack Soccer season came to a close Thursday, May 11, as the Jacks fell to Dardanelle in the opening round of the 4A State Playoffs by the final of 3-1.
The Jacks made a very early morning trip to Bauxite Thursday where a chunk of the 4A State Playoffs were being held, though Robinson High was the official host school. While the artificial turf handled it well, the rain certainly was the story of the morning slate of games as the skies opened for the majority of the match.
Top photo: Cristian Sandoval looks for a pass during the second half of Warren’s 4A State Playoff match vs. Dardanelle.
By Rob Reep
Saline River Chronicle
This Lumberjack match report is brought to you by:
Dardanelle, a fourth seed team from the 4A West caught Warren early in the 6th minute with a run down the right wing. Driving into the box the cut back pass was tapped over the line to give the Sand Lizards a 1-0 lead.
They doubled their advantage just three minutes later in what felt like a punch to the gut. A free kick from distance was just knocked past Warren keeper Jessie Cortes, who had a brilliant game throughout the majority of the minutes.
Warren’s Cristian Sandoval nearly found the back of the net in the 16th minute from a Lumberjack free kick. His effort caromed of the top post.
The Jacks came agonizingly close again in the 17th minute with a shot cleared off the line. Dardanelle led 2-0 at the half.
Cortes made a stunning save just four minutes after the restart to keep the Jacks in the ballgame. A whipped ball into the box was headed hard and bound for goal, but the sophomore Jack put a powerful punch to keep it out.
Cortes’s classmate Alann Juarez, who transitioned to a midfield position this season, blasted a shot at goal from nearly 35 yards out in the 46th minute. Dardanelle’s keeper was no doubt beat by the shot, but it cannoned off of the top bar.
Sandoval again came close in the 51st minute, but his shot flew wide left of goal.
Warren continued to pick up steam and looked the more likely to score in the second half. Senior Bryan Reynoso, a rock in this Warren side hit test the Sand Lizard keeper in the 54th minute with the orange and black’s best attempt on goal to that point. However the shot was pushed wide and out for a corner. Nothing came from the ensuing set piece.
Dardanelle capitalized on the missed chances in the 56th minute when they secured their third goal of the match. The third goal effectively put the contest out of sight.
However, Warren refused to go quietly. Cortes made another massive save in the 75th.
Two minutes later the Jacks earned a corner at the other end. Jose Garcia sent it into the six-yard box. Dardanelle struggled to clear the ball, poking it just outside of the penalty area. It found its way to the feet of Sandoval, who slotted a low effort into the bottom corner to put Warren on the board.
The goal would be only a consolation however. Dardanelle defeated Warren by the final of 3-1 at the full-time whistle.
The Jacks finish the season with an overall record of 8-3-2. They carried home the 2023 4A East Conference Championship with a record of 6-0-1. Their one tie came against Hamburg late in the season on the road.