The 2022 Oklahoma High School football season ended Saturday at Taft Stadium. Here’s a look at what happened:
Girls Class 6A: Deer Creek 1, North Norman 0, PKs
Deer Creek girls’ soccer coach Jake Kurey has described budding Cam Hasselwander as the best goalkeeper in the state.
She’s definitely in the conversation after Saturday.
Haselwander was stunning in Deer Creek’s 1-0 win over Norman North on penalties on Saturday at Taft Stadium. She continued her dominance throughout the post-season – not allowing a single goal – and her deviation from Norman North’s fourth penalty kick gave Deer Creek the title.
“I am always confident when Camryn is in goal,” Corey said. “We went through the knockout stages and didn’t concede a goal. Go into the penalty shootout and still don’t concede a goal.”
Thirteen of Deer Creek’s 16 wins this season have come by closing.
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It’s the Antlers’ seventh girls’ soccer title in the school’s history, and the last title to come in 2015.
Neither team did much while organizing. Deer Creek and Norman North, who won two Class 6A state championships, played conservatives, but defenses shined.
In extra time, chances opened up a bit for both teams, but there was no separation so far. The teams went to a shootout, where Hasselwander showed off her skills.
She blocked the first shot while teammate Anna Branham scored on her first attempt. Norman North’s next shot went over the goal, then Deer Creek senior Ashlyn Stegal put a shot into the goal.
Haselwander stopped the next two hits, and after a short delay waiting for officials to confirm the match ended, the celebration began.
“We think we belong here,” Corey said. “The fact that they had won before didn’t really play into our preparations. We just focused on us and built our group.”
Class 6A boys: Norman North 1, Mustang 0
Gabe Angle used to score against a Mustang.
In last season’s quarter-finals, he scored the only goal in a 6-1 loss. Three weeks ago, Angle scored the match-winning goal against a Mustang in a pivotal domestic competition that ended with a score of 1-0.
On Saturday in the Class 6A state championship game, Angle once again found the net against the Broncos.
With just over two minutes to go, Miguel Madrigal fired a passing pass from near the right sideline deep into the penalty area, with Angle running past three Mustang defenders. He lunged and called in traffic, the ball past the Mustang’s goalkeeper and into the net.
In a match that looked headed into overtime, Norman North beat Mustangs 1-0 to win the title. Angle’s shot was the difference, but Timberwolves didn’t allow a shot on target until the last minute of the game, capping a full game effort.
“I was asking that the ball not swing in the penalty area,” said Khalil bin Ali Al-Hajj, coach of Norman Al-Shamali. “And Gabe Angel.”
The title is the seventh for Norman North in the school’s history.
Timberwolves dominated the first half and fired eight shots on target, but could not put the ball into the net.
Meanwhile, the Mustang barely controlled the ball in half the field. Anytime the ball goes deep, Norman North does a great job of guiding it toward the other target.
In the second half, Timberwolves swapped goalkeepers after Carter Higgins was knocked out after a collision. Will Sutherlin came in, blocking the only Mustang shot.
Meanwhile, Postin Carroll, who sang his happy birthday to the team after the match, missed two close chances in the second half that could have given Norman North the lead earlier.
However, it wasn’t until Angle’s payment was delayed and the score propelled Norman North to the top.
“The boys worked incredibly hard,” said Ben Ali Al-Hajj. “I am really proud of them. They did a great job and have a lot to be proud of.
Category 5A girls: McGuinness 1, Piedmont 0
Reese Roberts had to adapt quickly.
McGuinness’ budding midfielder fired a few shots earlier in the game, but they didn’t reach their intended target.
So when I got a free kick from about 45 yards, I made sure to adapt.
Roberts’ shot crept past Piedmont, just below the crossbar and over goalkeeper Bacon Clark’s outstretched arms, and it was enough to help McGuinness win 1-0 and capture the 5A Women’s State Championship.
“It’s obviously dangerous,” McGuinness coach Cal Ocott said. “She’s smart enough to make the change she needed, and it happened.”
The win is the second girls’ soccer title in the school’s history for McGuinness.
Roberts’ kick came after Katie Johnson’s foul, which resulted in her receiving a yellow card from Piedmont. The free kick came from the center of the field, Roberts lined up her shot and executed it perfectly.
Before her goal, McGuinness controlled possession in the half-court for most of the match. Piedmont did not score a shot on goal until late in the second half and finished with only two in the game.
McGuinness and Piedmont played three times before the state championship game, with Fighting Irish winning the last two.
“Piedmont is a great team,” Ocott said. “They will never give up, so you have to equal their strength and hope something happens your way.”
Cameron Jordan covers high school sports across Oklahoma City metro and state. Do you have a story idea for Cameron? He can be reached at cjourdan@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at Cam_Jourdan. Support Cameron’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or using the link at the top of this page.
