Harding Academy scores twice at end of half to take Arkansas 3A boys soccer title over LISA Academy West
By Jeff Halpern | Photos by Braeden Botts
BENTON — Goals in the final 55.6 seconds of the first half lifted Harding Academy (17-0-1) to a 2-0 victory over LISA Academy West (11-1-1) for the Class 3A boys state soccer title at Everett Field on Friday.
With 55.6 seconds left in the first half, Sikan Akpanudo scored from the right side to put the Wildcats up 1-0. That goal appeared to be enough, but with 16.1 seconds left in the first half, Harding got a free kick and Kyle Ferrie, who was named MVP of the state finals, scored to make it 2-0 which was more than enough for the Wildcats, who were 3A runner-up to Green Forrest a year ago.
“It feels great to bring home the first championship in school history. It feels really, really special to be apart of this amazing team,” said Ferrie, who was the kicker on the football team which won the 3A title in December. “It takes all 25 of us and I’m proud of everybody and feels very, very good. It’s great. These seniors were freshmen when this program started. It means a lot for them to finally get the one they’ve been waiting on. It’s a really special time here at Harding Academy.”
LISA Academy West had trouble generating offense in the second half as Harding Academy kept the Jaguars from generating any significant scoring chances.
“We ran out of gas today,” said LISA Academy head coach Case French. “We knew this was going to be a close game and didn’t have the ball much. Except for a 2-minute point in the first half, we couldn’t get anything going”
LISA Academy West had some chances in the first half. At the 12:18 mark, the Jaguars had a shot go off the side of the goal. At the 4:29 mark, they had a free kick bounce off the cross bar and later had a corner kick deflected away.
Harding Academy head coach Caleb Brown was proud to see his team, which started its program three years ago, finally get the title after losing to Green Forrest a year ago.
“We got to the semifinals in 2019 and were runner up a year ago and won it this year,” said Brown. “It’s so special and is a great feeling after we came up sort a year ago. I remember one of our players, Ty Dugger, telling everyone to remember what this feels like.
“This year, we started seven seniors and this is an incredible feeling.”
