SILOAM SPRINGS -- it was a pivotal moment for the Decatur Lady Bulldogs and Life Way Christian Lady Warriors Thursday night in Siloam Springs as both teams were fighting for second place and a higher seed in the state playoff tournament on May 12 and 13 in Harrison.
At the time of the contest, the Lady Warriors were in second place while the Lady Bulldogs held the third-place spot in the 3A Region 1 Conference. A win for Decatur would propel it into second place and drop the Lady Warriors into third.
Because of the intense rain during the first part of the week, the only place the match could be played was at Panther Stadium in Siloam Springs.
As the match progressed through the first ten minutes of the first half, a light rain began to fall that lasted the remaining 70 minutes of the contest. But this did not stop the Lady Warriors from scoring a total of six goals to hold a firm lead over the Lady Bulldogs.
In the second half, Decatur managed two goals, one by Heaven McGarrah and the second by Jazmine Herrera, to cut the lead to four.
When time ran out, the Lady Warriors took the conference win, 6-2, over the Lady Bulldogs to retain their second-place spot in the 3A Region 1 Conference.
The Lady Bulldogs' final match of the 2022 regular season was scheduled to be held in Eureka Springs to take on the Lady Highlanders at Highlander Stadium on May 9 (after press deadline).
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Lady Bulldog Heaven McGarrah (center) drives the ball down the sideline towards the Lady Warrior goal during the first half of the Life Way Christian-Decatur girls' soccer match in Siloam Springs Thursday night. McGarrah was able to set up another successful attack for the Lady Bulldogs' first goal of the contest.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Lady Bulldog Bianca Arana (1) takes the ball away from a Lady Warrior player as teammate Lorelai Tuinstra steps in to help block during the first half of the Life Way Christian-Decatur soccer contest at Panther Stadium in Siloam Springs Thursday night. The Lady Warriors secured the win, 6-2, over the Lady Bulldogs.