Goal shortage costs Lady Huskies at Oologah soccer tourney

OOLOGAH — The Pawhuska Lady Huskies blistered Locust Grove, 10-0, in their opening match at last week’s Oologah Soccer Tournament, but goals proved hard to come by in their next two contests.

After surviving a late penalty kick to defeat the Tulsa Booker T. Washington junior varsity in a shootout early Thursday afternoon, the Lady Huskies lost a 1-0 decision later in the day to a physical jayvee squad representing the Owasso Lady Rams.

In the March 10 tourney opener against Locust Grove, PHS sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Shulanberger recorded her second straight shutout — with some mop-up assistance from her freshman backup, Star Sweeden.

Macy Hurd and Keylee Kirk scored three goals apiece and Genie Herren kicked in two more for the Lady Huskies, who held an 8-0 halftime advantage and closed out the abbreviated match with 25 minutes remaining on the clock.

Andie Sweeden and Sarah Phillippi chipped in one goal each to round out Pawhuska’s scoring.

PHS played all three of its tournament matches on a roughly-maintained natural grass practice field, rather than the artificial surface of Oologah’s stadium — where the Lady Huskies will meet the Lady Mustangs next Tuesday for their District 4A-6 opener.

Thursday’s early match with Tulsa Washington went to a shootout after the Lady Hornets tied the score, 1-1, on a late penalty kick. The Lady Huskies were called for hand ball with a minute left in regulation and the Hornets’ kicker hit the point-blank shot with only 15 seconds remaining on the clock.

Shulanberger turned away the last two kicks of the bonus session to secure the PHS victory. Washington made its first attempt in the extra period, but Pawhuska junior Danae Laird evened the score by booting a shot low and to the right of the Lady Hornet goalkeeper.

After BTW also put its second attempt into the net, Sweeden answered with a kick past the left side of the opposing keeper. Shulanberger caught Washington’s next shot, allowing sophomore MacKenzie Fortney put Pawhuska back in the lead by drilling one into the left corner of the net.

Washington’s fourth kick sailed over the top of the PHS goal before junior Sarah Phillippi put the Lady Huskie victory on ice by ripping her shot to the right side of the Tulsa goalie.

Pawhuska scored the first goal 16 minutes into the match when Hurd broke loose to the box after Herren and Sweeden had taken the ball away from the Hornets.

Coach Giovanie Soliano’s PHS squad will claim a 2-1 record when the post-Spring Break schedule gets underway with next Tuesday’s challenge at Oologah. The district match is set to kick off at 5:30 p.m.

The second-year Pawhuska coach said he’s hoping a large home crowd will be in attendance for the Lady Huskies’ Tuesday, March 31, district showdown with Oklahoma Class 4A’s four-time defending state champions, the Verdigris Cardinals. That match at Ormand Beach Memorial Stadium will also have a 5:30 p.m. starting time.

“I think the local crowd support could be a real factor in the match,” Soliano said. “We need as many people there as possible.”