Oklahoma state soccer championship preview: Six schools vying to repeat as champions
By Christian Potts
Norman North girls photo by Michael Kinney
Winning a state championship is a huge achievement in any sport.
But then trying to repeat the next season brings an added level of pressure and challenge, reasons it's not a common thing to see. And yet, six of the schools playing in this week's eight Oklahoma high school soccer championship games across the state's four divisions are trying to achieve just that feat - a championship repeat.
The weekend of contests, to be played Friday and Saturday at Rogers State University in Claremore and Newcastle High School, also features multiple rematches of title games from a year ago. Here is a breakdown of each of the four girls matchups and each of the four boys contests.
Vote now: Who should be SBLive's Oklahoma high school athlete of the week?
6A girls
Jenks (12-2) vs. Norman North (17-0) - 5 p.m. Friday at Rogers State University
No team has put up quite the resume of the Lady Timberwolves, who have checked off 17 straight victories in their effort to claim the fourth girls soccer state championship in school history.
Norman North started its postseason with a scare, holding off crosstown rival Norman, 6-4, in a wild battle. But since then, the Lady Timberwolves have been all business, crushing Edmond Memorial, 8-1, before dispatching Edmond North, 2-1, in the semifinals.
That could be a bad omen for Jenks, which lost 4-1 to Edmond North a month ago. But Jenks has won five in a row since, including a 2-1 semifinal decision at Yukon.
The Lady Trojans have their own storied history in girls soccer, collecting nine state championships, second most in state history. But it's been 14 years since a Jenks squad has brought home the big trophy.
Taking notice: On talent-laden Norman North girls soccer squad, Narissa Fults really stands out
6A boys
Broken Arrow (15-2) vs. Jenks (12-2) - 8 p.m. Friday at Rogers State University
Two of Tulsa's biggest rivals have played many huge games in nearly every sport, but this will be about the most significant stakes as they've ever had when contesting a boys soccer game. This is a rematch of an early-season meeting won by the Trojans, 2-1, in overtime.
Since that night, both teams have been strong, with the Tigers winning 10 straight contests, while the Trojans have lost only once in their last 10 tries.
The tradition shines through on both sides. Broken Arrow has claimed five state titles in school history, including the 2017, 2018 and 2021 championships. Jenks also has a title win in 2019, the most recent of its six championships.
5A girls
Piedmont (12-5) vs. OKC Bishop McGuinness (13-0) - 8 p.m. Friday at Newcastle High School
District rivals have found their way to the finish line in the 5A girls race, with the Irish and the Wildcats set for a rematch of an April 14 contest won by the Irish, 2-1, in one of their closest contests in a season that so far has been perfect.
And this isn't their first rematch. These were the combatants in last year's 5A title game, won 1-0 by the Irish on now-senior Reese Roberts' long free kick.
McGuinness is unbeaten as it tries to defend that 2022 state championship. They've gotten here behind an incredible defensive display, having given up only two goals on the entire season, and outscoring three playoff opponents by a 13-0 count.
Piedmont scored one of those two goals in that defeat to the Irish but hasn't lost since, including a dominating three-game run through the postseason. They have a prolific goal scorer in Jordan Hahn.
5A boys
Santa Fe South (15-1) vs. Tulsa East Central (13-2) - Noon, Saturday at Rogers State University
The Saints are building a soccer factory on the south side of Oklahoma CIty. A year after winning the Class 5A state championship, they've taken the favorite role and taken down all comers, losing only once in an out-of-state tournament to one of Tennessee's top squads.
SFS already has dispatched of a dangerous foe this postseason, taking down OKC Southeast, 4-0, in the quarterfinals. That game was a rematch of last year's state championship game.
The Cardinals were in trouble in their semifinal contest against Bishop McGuinness, falling behind 1-0 in the second half after a weather delay. Then they came to life with three goals late in the game to score a 3-1 victory and advance to the title game, trying to prevent Santa Fe South from claiming its fifth state title.
4A girls
Woodward (14-3) vs. Tulsa Holland Hall (16-1) - 6 p.m. Saturday at Rogers State University
Despite being some 200 miles apart, these schools have recent history. The Tulsa squad went to northwest Oklahoma and defeated the Boomers, 1-0, in the semifinal round a year ago on the way to its state championship later in the week against Tulsa Metro Christian.
Despite losing a talented senior class from a year ago, Holland Hall has looked strong in its title defense, rolling through playoff wins by a total 10-1 margin against Tulsa Cascia Hall, Pryor and Weatherford.
Metro's hopes of a title-game rematch were dashed during a road trip to Woodward, with the Lady Boomers coming away with a 2-0 win behind goals from Bryleigh Douglas-Fischer and Averi Edwards, who was assisted by Douglas-Fischer.
In a state championship weekend filled with experienced teams and schools with longtime soccer traditions, Woodward bucks that trend, as this will be the Boomers' first appearance in the championship game.
4A boys
Hilldale (15-3) vs. Clinton (15-1) - 3 p.m. Saturday at Rogers State University
As with the 4A girls contest, the 4A boys title game also is a rematch from last year's semifinal round. Clinton defeated the Hornets, 2-1, last May, then routed Chickasha, 5-1, for the state championship.
This time around, Hilldale comes into the game off an undefeated run in district play and in the midst of a 12-game winning streak, including a 2-0 semifinal triumph that avenged a defeat to Bethany earlier in the season.
Clinton is building a soccer power out in what's more known as football country. The Red Tornadoes have won the 4A championship each of the last two seasons, the first two boys soccer titles in school history.
Now, behind the likes of a talented senior group, they've put together a strong 2023 season with one more test to pass to achieve the three-peat. They've only lost to Class 6A Southmoore in 16 contests this season.
3A girls
Oklahoma Christian School (15-0) vs. OKC Heritage Hall (13-0) - 2 p.m. Friday at Newcastle High School
After an overtime loss in last year's semifinal round, OCS has seemingly been on a mission. The Saints have rolled through all comers, scoring 11 shutouts on the way to an undefeated campaign through 15 contests.
They survived a tough semifinal foe in Sequoyah-Claremore, prevailing 3-2 in a shootout after Hannah Voskuhl's clutch goal in the final three minutes of regulation time.
But that title would have to go through last year's champions, a Heritage Hall squad that has dominated in its own right. The Lady Chargers have only given up four goals in 13 games, all wins, and are seeking a back-to-back run as state champions in Class 3A.
3A boys
OKC Crooked Oak (14-1) vs. OKC Heritage Hall (11-1) - 5 p.m. Friday at Newcastle High School
Like the Heritage Hall girls, the Ruf-Nex also are trying for their own repeat as Class 3A boys champions. They have more than looked the part all season and in particular since the playoffs started.
Crooked Oak has dominated their trio of foes, in succession blasting Mount St. Mary (7-0), Community Christian (7-1) and Rejoice Christian (6-1).
But the Heritage Hall boys have revenge in mind after a devastating 1-0 overtime loss to Crooked Oak in last year's state championship contest. The Chargers are led by the likes of senior midfielder Cole Corley and have scored goals in bunches, including five in both their quarterfinal and semifinal triumphs.
