El Dorado’s soccer teams open play in the 5A State Tournament today in Searcy. The Wildcats face Mountain Home at noon. The Lady Wildcats take on Greene County Tech at 10 a.m.
El Dorado’s boys are seeded fourth and take on the top-seeded Bombers, who are 17-1 on the season.
“We did play them the first game of the year. They’re a solid team. They move the ball well and they’re coached very well. They beat us 4-0 the first time,” said El Dorado first-year coach Hunter South. “But, like I said, it was the first game of the year. I wasn’t used to the boys. The boys weren’t used to me. We are a completely different team now. After practice (Tuesday) they seemed very confident. I know for a fact that if we play the way we know how to play, I think we can come out with a win.”
The Wildcats were scheduled to leave El Dorado Wednesday afternoon with a practice planned in Beebe.
After seeing Mountain Home early in the season, South doesn’t plan to make a lot of changes for the rematch.
“I’m not sure we have to make any adjustments to play them. I think we’ve made enough adjustments throughout the year. We know what we have to do,” he said. “We just have to come in with the right attitude and the right mindset and go out there and give a hundred percent from the first whistle until the last. We know what we can do. I don’t think there’s any special adjustments, just making sure we are a hundred percent on our toes and a hundred percent in our heads.”
El Dorado, behind two goals from Santiago Schrader and another by Alex Jimenez, beat Sheridan 3-0 on Monday and has an 11-5-1 record. South feels like his team has a chance to make some noise this weekend.
“To be completely honest with you, I know it’s my first year and El Dorado hasn’t made state in awhile. But I fully believe my boys can win it all. It just all comes down to how much they want it and how hard they’re willing to work for it,” he said.
The coach said the keys will be communicating on defense and patience on offense.
“Whether or not we win or however far we go in the tournament, I’m extremely proud of my boys,” said South. “I think for a first-year coach, they’ve accepted me well and they’ve really been up to the task of adopting a whole new system. Regardless of what happens, I’m very, very proud of the boys.”
The Lady Wildcats are a No. 2 seed with a 10-3 record. Greene County Tech, with a 15-4 mark, will be a third seed. The Lady Eagles are riding a five-game winning streak and led by senior Sabrina Kellett.
El Dorado bounced back from a loss at Benton with a 5-0 win over Sheridan on Monday.