Trio of goals and a clean sheet delivered by Jacks in first 4A East Conference match of the season vs. Stuttgart

WARREN, Ark. – The 2023 4A East Conference campaign is off to a great start for the Warren Lumberjack men’s Soccer Club after they took down the Stuttgart Ricebirds by the final of 3-0 Thursday night, March 16 at home under the lights at Jim Hurley, Jr. Stadium.

Questions surrounded whether or not Thursday’s game would even get to take place as late as 5:00 p.m. The Lady Jack match, which took place prior, was delayed for nearly 30 minutes due to lightning. Fortunately, the storms passed and all that really affected the men’s match was a light periodic drizzle.

Top photo: Teammates Daniel Sosa, Ivan Gonzalez, Miguel Mendoza, Tarion Marshall, and Alann Juarez surround Oscar Perez to celebrate after Perez scored a penalty late vs. Stuttgart Thursday night, March 16. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.

By Rob Reep

Saline River Chronicle

This Lumberjack match report is brought to you by:

The message was clear from the senior members of the squad about how they wanted to handle this match even during the pregame warmups. That message was, “get serious boys, the season begins now.” They intended to put the pedal to the metal for 80 minutes.

That approach was clear from the kickoff. The orange and black went ahead just five minutes in after a period of sustained pressure in Stuttgart’s end of the field. Winger Jose Garcia broke free down the right wing and found himself one-on-one with just the Ricebird keeper to beat. He hammered a strong right-footed kick into the back of the net to give Warren the early 1-0 advantage.

Lumberjack winger Jose Garcia receives a pass down the right wing prior to scoring Warren’s opening goal of the match against Stuttgart. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.

Four minutes later the Jacks won a corner and nearly made it a two-goal difference, but the following header was wide of the post. Less than thirty seconds later Warren’s Alann Juarez lasered a shot from distance that had the Stuttgart goalie scrambling. The shot sailed just a whisker wide left with plenty of pace.

Warren’s back four defense of Oscar Perez, Daniel Sosa, Greco Figueroa, and Bryan Reynosa looked rock solid at the back through the first ten minutes. Stuttgart garnered some possession, but in the final third Warren left no gaps.

Christopher Crisostomo came close to adding Warren’s second goal in the 12th minute, but his final touch carried the ball wide of the target.

Aaron Romero did the same a minute later, rolling a fast bouncing shot on goal, but unfortunately directly at the keeper.

The Jacks continued to pepper the Stuttgart goal over the next few minutes. Striker Miguel Mendoza put an effort wide of goal in the 21st minute, and Jose Garcia had a shot blocked by a Stuttgart defender in the 23rd.

Garcia in particular was a terror in the Stuttgart half. Nearly every possession Warren put together he was part of, most of which came dangerously close to sealing a second Warren goal. The Jacks looked so threatening every time they came forward. It was just the final ball that was not quite there.

The timbermen knocked home that crucial second goal in the 32nd minute from a corner. Garcia drifted a wonderful cross in from the set piece, and Alann Juarez outjumped two Stuttgart defenders to head home a shot from close range. Warren led 2-0 at the midway point.

Alann Juarez heads home Warren’s second goal of the match vs. Stuttgart Thursday. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.

Warren goalkeeper Jessie Cortes had a relatively quiet day at the office. He was only called into action a couple of times, once being in the 42nd minute. He did well to keep the advantage at 2-0. The Ricebirds never really tested him again in the second half.

The Jacks did well to maintain possession and see the minutes tick away. Stuttgart did give away a penalty in the 79th minute due to a handball. Senior Oscar Perez stepped up and fired the penalty kick to the right of the keeper who stood still without a chance.

Oscar Perez scores from a penalty kick in the 79th minute against Stuttgart. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.

Warren won at the fulltime whistle 3-0 over Stuttgart. The three goals were nice, but Coach Shaun Wilson will be even happier with the clean sheet.

So many Lumberjacks played well Thursday that a Man of the Match decision was difficult. The entire back four played an outstanding game, but the honors go to Oscar Perez at right back. He was named the Que Lindo Michoacan Man of the Match.

The positive result moves Warren to 1-0 in the 4A East Conference. They now sit at 2-2-1 overall on the season. They get a week off for spring break, but will be back in action hosting Star City Tuesday, March 28 with a kickoff set to immediately follow the Lady Jack game that begins at 5:00 p.m.