Siloam Springs claimed its first Arkansas Class 5A boys state soccer title Saturday with a 2-1 win over El Dorado at Hot Springs Lakeside High School.
Elijah Salsgiver, a sophomore midfielder, scored both goals for the Panthers and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. His first goal came in the 12th minute off a cross from senior midfielder Ethan Rieken. The second, the game-winner, came in the 71st minute after a scramble in the El Dorado penalty area.
Heavy rain delayed the start of the match by nearly two hours. Originally scheduled for a noon kickoff, the game began at 1:50 p.m. as field conditions improved.
Outside of Salsgiver’s early strike, scoring chances were sparse until the final 20 minutes. El Dorado pulled even in the 63rd minute on a penalty kick converted by midfielder Jaxson Reed. The score remained deadlocked until Salsgiver’s decisive shot with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Siloam Springs head coach Ryan Heflin said his team’s defensive discipline and composure in the closing stages were key. “We’ve built this team on resilience,” Heflin said. “To hold on in the end, especially after giving up the penalty, shows the character of these guys.”
The Panthers finished the season with a 21-3-1 record. It’s the program’s first state title since moving up to Class 5A. The team last won a state championship in Class 4A in 2019.
El Dorado, which had been seeking its first title since 2013, ended its season with a 17-4-2 record. The Lions took the lead in shots on goal, 12-9, but were unable to capitalize in the final moments.
Siloam Springs goalkeeper Cade Thompson made seven saves, including a pair of point-blank stops in the final 10 minutes. Thompson was credited with 14 wins this season, having played every minute of the campaign.
The title game marked the third meeting between the two teams this season. Siloam Springs won the first two contests, 2-1 in overtime on March 22 and 3-0 on April 19. Saturday’s win gives the Panthers a 3-0 record against El Dorado in 2026.
The victory caps a season of steady improvement for Siloam Springs, which lost in the state semifinals last year to Searcy. This year’s squad features 10 underclassmen, including Salsgiver and fellow sophomore striker Mateo Hernandez, who played a key role in the team’s deep playoff run.
Heflin credited the team’s offseason training and community support for the breakthrough. “We’ve got great families behind this program,” he said. “The kids put in the work all year, and it’s paying off in moments like this.”
The Panthers’ run included shutout victories over Batesville and Forrest City before edging Bentonville West 1-0 in the semifinals. Their only losses this season came to Springdale Har-Ber, Cabot, and a late-season draw with Rogers Heritage.
For El Dorado, Saturday’s loss marked the end of a strong campaign that included a district title and a pair of regional victories over Mountain Home and Russellville. The Lions return eight starters next season, including Reed and junior defender Marcus Jordan.
The Class 5A title is the first boys soccer championship for any school in Benton County since Siloam Springs’ 2019 win. It adds to the county’s total of 13 overall state soccer titles, which includes multiple championships from Rogers Heritage and Bentonville.
The Arkansas Activities Association will host the Class 6A and 7A state soccer tournaments next weekend at the University of Arkansas Turf Sports Complex in Fayetteville. The Class 5A title game was the final championship match of the weekend.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
