ROGERS — The Bryant Hornets’ record-setting soccer season came to a disappointing end on Friday night. The Rogers Heritage War Eagles made a first-half goal stand up for a 1-0 victory over the Hornets in the first round of the Class 7A State tournament.
The Hornets, making their first State tourney appearance in three years, won 15 games, the most in the program’s history, but couldn’t get No. 16.[more]
“They got a corner kick and there was kind of a scramble for the ball and they got it in,” recounted Hornets coach Jason Hay. “That was probably midway through the first half. And that was the final score.
“We played hard,” he stated. “The kids gave everything they had. We had several shots on goal that were close misses. We had our chances. We just couldn’t get the ball in the net. You’ve got to do that to win.”
Heritage was the No. 6 seed from the West but came in with an impressive 14-5-3 record this season. The Hornets finish 15-8 and graduate seven seniors, Marshawn Hood, Jonathan Lowery, Devon Norris, Brandon Parish, Tyler Salminen, Sean Sobba and Daniel Tucker.
“I think it was a great season,” Hay said. “I hate for it to end like that on a sour note but there’s only going to be one team in the state that’s going to be able to make it without losing one at the end.
“And I don’t think it detracts too much from the great season these guys have had,” he concluded. “I think a win in the first round would’ve solidified that but we just didn’t get it done.”
