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Arkansas Girls High School Soccer

 

 

 Gatorade taps Miller as state's best player

BENTONVILLE - Whatever the Bentonville Lady Tigers need from April Miller on the soccer field, it's likely the junior midfielder can come through.

Already an All-State player and the 7A-West Conference's Overall MVP, Miller was awarded another postseason honor Tuesday as Gatorade named her its the 2008-09 Arkansas Girls' Soccer Player of the Year.

Miller is the second Lady Tiger to receive the award and the fourth girls' soccer player from Benton County in the last five years.

Bentonville's Kelly O'Connor won the award in 2005-06 while Rogers' Samantha Bolton (2004-05) and Alyvia Rogers (2006-07) were also honored.

O'Connor and Bolton are now playing at the University of Arkansas

and Rogers is at Tulsa. Miller said it feels good to be mentioned in the same breath with those former standouts.

"They were all really good soccer players. I just feel honored to be included," Miller said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime award. Not a lot of people get it. It feels good to get it." more

 

Greenwood star zeroes in on 100

If Katy Baldridge reaches the milestone of 100 career goals, she will have to do it against one of the state's premier programs.

Baldridge and teammate Kristen Simmons scored three goals each Friday in Greenwood's 6-0 victory over Hope in the first round of the Class 5A state tournament at the Burns Park Soccer Complex.

The Lady Bulldogs' victory advances them to today's quarterfinals against unbeaten Central Arkansas Christian, a 9-0 winner over Sylvan Hills.

"It would be really great to get 100, but if I finish with 99, I won't be disappointed," said Baldridge, a senior sweeper who plans to play only intramural soccer at Arkansas Tech this fall. "We've got another game. Maybe it will come my way."

Baldridge picked up two of her goals in the second half, including one in the game's final minute. Greenwood led 3-0 at the half.

"The girls really wanted to get her No. 100, and that's what the second half was all about," Greenwood Coach Chris Young said. "Hopefully, we'll get it the next game."