Pulaski Academy barrage finally yields goal against Valley View, paves way for back-to-back Arkansas 4A girls soccer championships

By Nate Olson | Photos by Ted McClenning  

BENTON – Pulaski Academy peppered Valley View goalkeeper Molly Findley with shots in the first half but came away empty handed and were tied 0-0 at halftime in the Class 4A girls soccer state championship game.

“It gets really frustrating,” PA freshman forward Megan Johnston said. “When you keep not scoring, the nerves are still there. It was still really stressful, and we had the same nerves we had coming into it.”

Finally, around the 44th minute of the second half, Johnston snuck in a shot in the box past Findley to give the Bruins the 1-0 lead they didn’t relinquish on their way to a 2-0 win over the Blazers on Friday morning for their second straight class 4A state championship at the Benton Athletic Complex.

“The finals are always hard,” PA head coach Chris Owen said. “You have to be fortunate. At the end of the day, we won a state championship. We are glad to get over the line with a win and are super proud for the girls. It has been a great year, obviously."

PA freshman Carmen Owen earned tournament MVP honors.

PA scored only one goal of its own, but it was a big one with the freshman Johnston scoring in traffic in the box early in the second half.

“When I scored, it felt so good. All of the team said, too, it gave them confidence we were going to win,” Johnston said.

The second goal in the 61st minute was knocked in by a Valley View defender on a loose ball behind Findley and sealed the win.

“I felt like we missed on quite a few chances in the first half, but in the second half against the wind would help us get behind a little bit,” Owen said. “We knew we had to be patient. Soccer is a funny game — you can dominate certain areas of the field and not get that goal. That was the thing with us this year. In the second half, once we got the first one, we settled down a bit.”

Even in defeat, Findley, a senior, was brilliant with more than 10 saves in the first half. She stopped more than a few shots that were sure goals in both halves and jumped high in the air to tip a shot off the cross bar and the football goal post resulting in a dead ball. She also had luck on her side when a point-blank PA shot bounced hard off the cross bar and a couple of other PA shots that missed wide.

“Our defense was absolutely amazing,” Findley said. “They have saved me so many times. I think this has just been a year where we have all learned to work together and build a lot of teamwork, and I am just really proud of my team. I have some great coaches that led us here.

“I am really proud with how we played today. We worked very hard.”

Valley View had very few chances to score but looked like it was going to take the lead with about 15 minutes remaining in the first half when Leslie Ramirez was just left on a shot on a short breakaway. The team never had a chance that good again the rest of the game.

“We worked hard for 80 minutes,” Findley said.

PA finishes the season 24-0-1 after not losing a season ago with two ties.

“It is amazing to win [back-to-back titles] with this team,” said PA sophomore goalkeeper Leighton Meador, who earned the clean sheet with very little action, especially in the first half. “We have worked so hard and lost seniors, and we didn’t know what the season was going to hold, but I am so happy we got it done. It proves how hard we have worked, and it is so exciting.”