Van Buren to 5-0 win against Greenwood

After a bit of a slow start, the Van Buren Pointers' soccer team is beginning to find their way at Blakemore Field. Tuesday, Josue Recinos scored two early goals and Bret Plunkett overcame a nasty smash to his face with a pair of goals of his own as the Pointers shut out Greenwood, 5-0, in nonconference action. Van Buren (3-3) led the Bulldogs 2-0 before either team had even broken a sweat. The quick lead, in fact, might have hurt Van Buren's momentum, coach Nathan Almond said. "That's the way it felt, especially in the first half," he said. "I thought we got on them really quick and we lost some intensity late in the first half. I was proud of the way we came out n the second half." Greenwood (0-5) ran into another big school with multiple weapons. The Bulldogs have suffered losses to 7A foes Springdale, Van Buren, Northside and Southside. The Pointers took a 1-0 lead just seven minutes in on the first of two Recinos goals. He might have had the hat trick had it not been for a great save by Greenwood goalie Aric McKinney at 29:35 mark of the first half. Van Buren, however, was able to extend the lead to 2-0 on Recinos' team-leading fifth goal of the spring at the 27:57 mark. "He's remarkable," Almond said. "As long as he (Recinos) can see that net, he's got a chance of putting it on the frame. He finished some for us tonight that were just beautiful." Greenwood, meanwhile, had a hard time getting the ball past midfield for much of the half. The Bulldogs' missed a chance to crack the scoreboard at the 14:01 mark when Van Buren goalie Andy Lopez made a juggling save on Anders Helbo potential score. Meanwhile, Plunkett collided with a Greenwood player at the 4:21 mark of the first half, forcing him to leave, and delaying the match for several minutes. against Greenwood Previous HIDE CAPTION Van Buren goalie Andy Lopez puts the ball back into play against Greenwood at Blakemore Field in Van Buren on Tuesday, March 7, 2017. [AARON SHAFFER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES RECORD] HIDE CAPTION Van Buren junior Josue Recinos, right, scores a goal with a kick to the upper left corner, out of the reach of Greenwood goal keeper Kenny Sweeney at Blakemore Field in Van Buren on Tuesday, March 7, 2017. [AARON SHAFFER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES RECORD] HIDE CAPTION Van Buren junior Josue Recinos, left, battles against Greenwood mid-fielder Grant Ennis at Blakemore Field in Van Buren on Tuesday, March 7, 2017. [AARON SHAFFER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES RECORD] HIDE CAPTION Van Buren goalie Andy Lopez puts the ball back into play against Greenwood at Blakemore Field in Van Buren on Tuesday, March 7, 2017. [AARON SHAFFER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES RECORD] HIDE CAPTION Van Buren junior Josue Recinos, right, scores a goal with a kick to the upper left corner, out of the reach of Greenwood goal keeper Kenny Sweeney at Blakemore Field in Van Buren on Tuesday, March 7, 2017. [AARON SHAFFER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES RECORD] Next Wednesday Posted at 12:01 AM Share Stories from Headlines Network NFL Prospect Breaks 40-Yard Dash Record, Doesn’t Win Island SportsChatter Madison Square Garden’s ‘Silence’ Upset A Few NBA Players SportsChatter Jessica And Nelly Korda Could Make History On LPGA Tour SportsChatter Tuesday, Josue Recinos scored two early goals and Bret Plunkett overcame a nasty smash to his face with a pair of goals of his own as the Pointers shut out Greenwood, 5-0, in nonconference action. Van Buren (3-3) led the Bulldogs 2-0 before either team had even broken a sweat. The quick lead, in fact, might have hurt Van Buren's momentum, coach Nathan Almond said. "That's the way it felt, especially in the first half," he said. "I thought we got on them really quick and we lost some intensity late in the first half. I was proud of the way we came out n the second half." Greenwood (0-5) ran into another big school with multiple weapons. The Bulldogs have suffered losses to 7A foes Springdale, Van Buren, Northside and Southside. The Pointers took a 1-0 lead just seven minutes in on the first of two Recinos goals. He might have had the hat trick had it not been for a great save by Greenwood goalie Aric McKinney at 29:35 mark of the first half. Van Buren, however, was able to extend the lead to 2-0 on Recinos' team-leading fifth goal of the spring at the 27:57 mark. "He's remarkable," Almond said. "As long as he (Recinos) can see that net, he's got a chance of putting it on the frame. He finished some for us tonight that were just beautiful."

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

VAN BUREN TO 5-0 WIN AGAINST GREENWOOD

KEVIN TAYLOR

Times Record | 3/8/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Van Buren High School Athletics