WARREN, Ark. – (3-13-26) — The Warren Lady Jacks battled back from a two-goal deficit but ultimately fell just short Friday night, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Arkadelphia Badgers at Jim Hurley Jr. Stadium.
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Arkadelphia applied pressure early in the opening half, forcing Warren goalkeeper Allie Adair into action within the first few minutes. Adair made an early save to keep the match scoreless as the Badgers controlled much of the early possession.
Warren suffered a setback in the fifth minute when right winger Jessica Chavez was forced off the field with an injury.
The Lady Jacks created their first chance in the seventh minute when Eden Castillo put a shot on goal, but the attempt was saved by the Arkadelphia keeper.
Arkadelphia broke through in the 11th minute with a powerful near-post strike from a difficult angle to take a 1-0 lead. The Badgers doubled their advantage in the 27th minute to make it 2-0.
Adair kept Warren within reach during the half, including a diving save in the 15th minute. Warren attempted to generate offense by sending long balls forward, but several promising passes came up just short.
Azul Garcia nearly pulled a goal back in the 29th minute after sprinting onto a ball in the attacking third, but her left-footed effort lacked power. Garcia had another opportunity late in the half but struck the ball directly at the keeper.
Arkadelphia carried the 2-0 lead into halftime.
Warren came out with renewed energy in the second half. Garcia made an early run down the left wing and delivered a pullback pass into the box, but Anna Arroyo was unable to beat the keeper to the ball. Garcia then had a strong chance of her own minutes later, though her shot was again stopped by the Arkadelphia goalkeeper.
Garcia finally broke through in the 58th minute. After pulling the ball back and beating the Badgers’ right back, she calmly slotted a finish into the corner to cut the deficit to 2-1.
She struck again in the 71st minute in spectacular fashion. Isolated on the left wing, Garcia fired a shot that appeared headed out for a corner. Instead, she kept it in play and curled the ball into the net from an extremely tight angle, leveling the match at 2-2.
The Lady Jacks’ comeback effort was undone in the 78th minute when Arkadelphia converted directly from a corner kick, scoring an olimpico to regain the lead.
Warren pushed forward in the closing minutes but could not find another equalizer.
With the loss, the Lady Jacks move to 1-2 on the season.
