An historic season for Benton came to an end Saturday afternoon. The No. 5 seed Lady Tigers fell to No. 1 and defending state champion Mt. Carmel 3-0 in the Division I semifinals in New Orleans.
Benton closed it season 23-5. Mt. Carmel (21-3-4) faces No, 3 Dominican for the state title next week in Hammond.
The 2025-26 Lady Tigers’ season won’t be remembered for the loss. Benton reached the semifinals for the first time in girls soccer in school history.
The Lady Tigers rallied from a 1-0 deficit late in the quarterfinals to defeat Northshore 2-1 in overtime.
Benton has nine seniors — Lindy Machen, Lanie Machen, Maddie Miller, Annabelle Kosik, Emma Friar, Morgan Ehrenfried, Chloe Smeckert, Juliann Clifton and Karsyn Best.
Best, who is continuing her career at Ouachita Baptist, has been selected to play for the West team in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game.