Heritage Hall girls soccer squad caps perfect season with back-to-back Class 3A titles
By Michael Kinney
NEWCASTLE - The Heritage Hall girls soccer team is on a special type of run.
After going undefeated in 2022, they had a chance to accomplish the same feat this season.
The only thing standing in the Lady Chargers' way was a tenacious Oklahoma Christian School squad, whom they faced off with in the Class 3A state championship game. The Lady Saints were not only looking to end Heritage Hall’s win streak, but also pick up their first soccer title in program history.
However, it was the Lady Chargers who carried off their second consecutive championship and a budding dynasty with a 2-0 shutout Friday at Newcastle High.
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“It was totally different going into it than I think last year,” said Charger goalie Avery McKirahan. “I think I felt more prepared.
"We've been here before. We've done it before. We knew where we needed to be. In our final practice, we just really got all the pieces together.”
Heritage Hall coach Robyn Brewster gave the credit to her upperclassmen as they maneuvered their way through a 14-0 season and capped it with more championship hardware.
“We had great senior leadership, honestly. These girls are experienced,” Brewster said. “We've kind of been through it all this year. We went through (penalty kicks), and we've been to overtime. Of course, won the state last year.
"So, just preparation and a lot of that comes from Niall Burley, our assistant. He's a brilliant man when it comes to the sport, and he had us well prepped and the girls are just determined.”
However, for much of the championship game, the Lady Saints were able to hang tight with the Lady Chargers. It was scoreless at halftime.
But Brewster knew their aggressive play would overwhelm OCS at some point. That moment came with 22:56 left in the second half.
The Lady Saints were assessed a yellow card right in front of their goal, which gave Heritage Hall a penalty kick.
Senior Olivia Walker was one on one with Saints freshman goalkeeper Lily Pomeroy. Walker blasted the shot in the top left corner past Pomeroy for the first goal of the game.
“You get yourself in a good position and good things happen,” Brewster said. “So, we preach that day in and day out. Just work hard, get your head down and just keep rushing and good things will come your way.”
Sophomore Yohonna Bell was on the attack throughout the afternoon. But after coming up empty on earlier attempts, she put the contest away with a goal at the 12:51 mark, which gave the Chargers a 2-0 advantage.
McKirahan and the Heritage Hall defense did the rest as they continued to shut down any and all offensive attacks the Saints tried to mount.
“My mindset was just I have to keep getting set. I have to stay focused,” McKirahan said. “You hear me all throughout the game.
"My voice is really bad right now. I'm always yelling at them, basically. They do an absolutely great job at following directions and getting to where they need to go.”
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In the past three seasons, Heritage Hall has amassed a 39-1 record. That includes three trips to the 3A state title game to go along with their two titles.
The Lady Chargers’ only defeat was a 2-0 loss to Christian Heritage in the 2021 championship contest. If not for that, they would be a perfect 40-0.
Regardless, the Lady Chargers are now the two-time reigning champions with their sights set on becoming a dynasty.
“This year has been great. This season has been incredibly physically taxing for the entire team,” McKirahan said. “It's been like we've had to be mentally locked in every day and it's all hard work. Really.”
3A Boys Championship
Heritage Hall 3, Crooked Oak 2
For the second year in a row, Heritage Hall and Crooked Oak faced off in the 3A boys championship game. Last season, it was the Ruf-Nex who prevailed in overtime.
This time around, the Chargers took home the top prize with the one-goal victory. The game-winning goal took place in the 76th minute off the foot of freshman Noah Ragozzino, who received a pass from sophomore Tucker Austin and made the successful try.
Austin had scored the Chargers' first two goals, the latter in the 56th minute which evened the score at 2-all. Crooked Oak's Fabian Hernandez scored both of his team's goals, which gave the Ruf-Nex a 2-1 advantage.
5A Girls Championship
Piedmont 2, Bishop McGuiness 1 (2 OT)
Jordan Hahn's golden goal in the second overtime period helped give the Lady Wildcats their first state championship in program history.
Hahn also had Piedmont's other goal in regulation, which came in the 27th minute to put the Lady Wildcats up, 1-0. McGuinness tied the score with a second-half goal from Reese Roberts, and the game went into two 10-minute overtime sessions.
But in the second overtime period, Hahn got past both the McGuinness goalkeeper and a defender to knock in the shot to give Piedmont the crown.
