Chances come, but Warren held scoreless in loss to Hope in first home match of 2023

WARREN, Ark. – Playing in front of their home crowd at Jim Hurley, Jr. Stadium in Warren for the first time this season Friday night, March 10, 2023, the Warren Lumberjack Soccer Club dropped their second match of the season in a tight contest to the Hope Bobcats by the final of 1-0.

Warren keeper Jessi Cortes was called into action in the second minute of the game after Hope won a corner. The ball into the box was headed on goal, but Cortes managed to grab it to keep things level.

Top photo: Warren junior Aaron Romero dribbles into the opposition half during Warren’s Friday match vs. Hope. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.

By Rob Reep

Saline River Chronicle

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The Jacks were led up front on the night by striker Alann Juarez. The junior nearly put the orange and black ahead in the third minute with a shot that just fizzed over the crossbar. The Jacks were awarded their first corner of the evening two minutes later, though nothing came of the set piece.

The Bobcats of Hope had their second chance of the game come and go with a shot at the eight-minute mark going just a whisker wide left of the post. Cortes looked to have it covered, but it was going to be a stretch.

Hope went up 1-0 in the nineteenth minute.

Five minutes past the visitor’s opening goal, another chance fell to Juarez from nearly 25 yards from goal. Warren’s center forward received the ball from a throw-in, turned, and found some space, but he leaned back a bit much and skied the shot.

Warren made a slight tactical shift on the night, switching both wingers. Tarion Marshall occupied the right flank, while Jose Garcia made darting runs down the left wing. Both players looked really dangerous in those positions, but Garcia made a play of real quality in the thirty-second minute. He took on the Hope right back down the left edge, beat him, and fired in a low cross. Hope’s central defender however cut the pass out and cleared the Warren threat.

Warren striker Alann Juarez boots a low shot during the first half against Hope. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.

Juarez came close again five minutes later with a shot on target, but right at the keeper. Warren went into the halftime break down just 1-0.

Six minutes after the return of play for the second half, Garcia booted a shot on goal. Hope’s goalie once again made a must-have save, this time going low to stop the Jack shot.

Warren clicked into another gear, really pushing to try and equalize. Marshall broke free down the right wing in the fifty-third minute. He drove nearly forty yards, but his final touch was a little strong and the Hope left back knocked it beyond the line for a corner which was then cleared.

Warren senior Christian Sandoval whipped in a free kick in the fifty-eighth minute, but it sailed long and was snapped up by the Bobcat keeper on the bounce.

Perhaps Warren’s best chance of the night came in the sixty-fourth minute after the orange and black won a free kick from forty or so yards out. Juarez hammered a shot on goal, but Hope’s keeper was up to the task. He pushed it back out and into the path of junior Miguel Mendoza. Mendoza blasted a close-range effort. However, the shot was stopped by the keeper on the line. There were a few shouts from Warren’s forwards, including Mendoza who thought the second shot crossed the line, but the officials said otherwise.

Cortes came up with another big save in the sixty-sixth minute, and Warren worked incredibly hard in hopes of evening things up over the next ten minutes. The goal would not come. Things took a more negative turn in the final minute of play as Hope sprang free on the attack with no Warren defenders back deep. Bryan Reynoso chased down the Hope forward, and put in a tackle, but fouled the Bobcat in the process and picked up his second yellow card of the game. A red was then shown and Reynoso was sent off with just 20 seconds remaining. Warren lost by the final of 1-0.

Warren winger Jose Garcia was named the Que Lindo Michoacan Man of the Match. The senior was integral to Warren’s offensive possession. He pressed well defensively and nearly leveled the score with a beautiful first-half bit of individual skill. Garcia was aggressive and unrelenting.

The loss brings Warren’s 2023 record to 1-2 on the season. They will travel to face White Hall on the road Monday, March 13, 2023 with kickoff set for 5:00 p.m.