GOBLINS SLIP IN STATE FINALS

FAYETTEVILLE — It was a slippery second half in the Class 4A State Soccer Tournament finals. Harrison saw the state title slip from their hands with a 2-1 loss to Valley View in the finals on Monday evening in a game played on the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville campus. The game was scheduled to be played on Saturday, however forecasted inclement weather had the game moved to Monday. With Monday’s forecast calling for heavy rains in the late afternoon, warmup time was cut in half for each contest in an attempt to get all games completed before the approaching storms. Harrison’s game was delayed with 3:27 left in the first half. Game stoppage was 1:07. The extended break also counted as halftime as there was a minor time delay to get teams adjusted to the new half of the field when the first half ended. It took Valley View only 7:08 to get on the board. The squad managed to score on a shot that found the left corner of the net. It was 20 minutes later when the squad found the same side of the net open and they made Harrison pay once again. The Goblins put pressure on the Blazers. With 6:03 left in the first half, Hunter Holtby took a pass from Spencer Bailey. The senior worked the ball through Blazer traffic and launched a kick from 10-yards out that found the net to make it a 2-1 contest. Play was delayed soon after that for weather. Harrison has won six state titles. This is only the second tournament finals that the team has lost. The Goblins won the 4A-West District Tournament title and had not allowed a goal during the state tournament until the finals. Team members include: Hunter Holtby; Corbin Simpson; Kaden Jones; Jacob Shrum; Rilee Jones; Hunter Thompson; Max Payne; Spencer Bailey; Dylan Wilson; Logan Walden; Seabastian Diffey; Caleb Bartlett; Brock Bardwell; Harris Groberg; Connor Phillips; Isaac Guynn; Will Bryant; Huntly Wagner; Jackob Wardlaw; Gaitlin James; and Thailer Lovell. The head coach is Chris Pratt and the assistant coach is Evan Cowling. Team managers are Devon Mitchell and Sebastian Lopez.

GOBLINS SLIP IN STATE FINALS

JEFF BRASEL

Harrison Daily Times | 5/22/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Jeff Brasel