Oklahoma high school soccer storylines, players to watch in 2024
The highest classification of Oklahoma high school soccer has a couple of new Oklahoma City-area contenders.
For different reasons, Piedmont and Bishop McGuinness have risen from Class 5A to 6A in boys and girls soccer. Piedmont made the leap because of an increase in average daily membership. McGuinness moved up because of Rule 14, which elevates private schools based on sustained postseason success.
In both cases, programs that were dominant in Class 5A girls soccer are adapting to new competition. Piedmont, the defending 5A girls champion, has started this season 3-3, while McGuinness is 1-2-1.
In boys soccer, Piedmont stands at 3-4, while McGuinness is 1-1.
Lawton Eisenhower has also risen to Class 6A because of ADM. The number of 6A teams remains the same because Choctaw, Muskogee and Tulsa Booker T. Washington dropped to 5A.
These aren’t the only programs experiencing changes. Here’s a look at the top storylines and players to watch in Oklahoma high school soccer:
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Will Santa Fe South boys soccer three-peat?
Last summer, The Oklahoman recognized Santa Fe South boys soccer as Boys Team of the Year at the OKC Metro High School Sports Awards.
The accomplishments spoke for themselves. The Saints outscored their opponents, 104-13, and recorded 10 clean sheets on the way to their second straight Class 5A championship.
Coach Wes Furley and the Saints have established their school as a soccer powerhouse, so is a three-peat the next step? Several of last year’s stars graduated – including Enrique Guzman, who had 15 goals and 21 assists as a senior – but a new group of leaders is rising to the occasion.
The Saints have started the season 4-1 with their sole loss to Class 6A Putnam West.
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Will Heritage Hall boys, girls stay dominant in 4A?
After winning boys and girls state titles in Class 3A, Heritage Hall has ascended to Class 4A.
The Heritage Hall girls are chasing a three-peat, while the boys are seeking their second straight state title. So far, the Chargers haven’t slowed down in a higher classification.
Heritage Hall’s boys team is 3-0 with a talented group of juniors in Tucker Austin, Caysen Argo and Alex Alspaugh. The girls are also 3-0 with leadership from senior Katerina Chrysant and junior Yohonna Bell.
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Will Crooked Oak boys soccer regain Class 3A crown?
Last season, Crooked Oak was one victory away from repeating as the Class 3A champion.
The mighty Ruf-Nex won the Stillwater Invitational against Class 6A teams and advanced to the 3A state finals, but they dropped a 3-2 match to Heritage Hall.
With the Chargers in Class 4A, Crooked Oak has likely reclaimed its spot as the top contender in 3A boys soccer. Second-year coach Benny Olvera has led the Ruf-Nex to a 3-0 start, and they never shy away from facing larger schools. Crooked Oak has shut out Del City and Southeast, both Class 5A programs.
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10 OKC-area boys soccer players to watch
Tucker Austin, Jr., Heritage Hall: Austin has recorded five goals through the Chargers’ first three matches. He had a hat trick to win last year’s state championship.
Oscar Barron, Sr., U.S. Grant: Barron was named All-City Athletic Conference Boys Goalkeeper of the Year after his standout junior season.
Eli Berry, Sr., Deer Creek: The reigning Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Berry has signed with Tulsa.
Aiden Hale, So., Mustang: As an underclassman, Hale is the leading scorer for the 6-1 Broncos. He plans to gain international experience over spring break, playing soccer in Spain.
Roman Hemphill, Sr., Edmond Memorial: Hemphill holds Edmond Memorial’s all-time scoring record with 55 goals, getting closer to Daryl Dike’s Class 6A record of 70 career goals.
Kaden Laisle, Jr., Crossings Christian: As only a sophomore, Laisle set a program record of 26 single-season goals. This season, he's still a prolific scorer with eight goals through three matches.
Ethan Nakolo, Sr., Yukon: Also a solid kicker for Yukon’s football team, Nakolo has signed to play soccer for Mid-America Christian University.
Jose Romero, Jr., Southeast: Romero tallied four goals and an assist through Southeast’s first four matches. He finished his sophomore season with 22 goals as Southeast reached the Class 5A quarterfinals.
Frankie Salazar, Jr., Santa Fe South: A key returner for the two-time defending state champions, Salazar netted a goal in the state finals as a sophomore.
Juan Solis, Sr., Crooked Oak: With Solis as a defensive leader, the Ruf-Nex have yet to give up one goal.
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10 OKC-area girls soccer players to watch
Karen Ávalos, Sr., U.S. Grant: Ávalos is the reigning All-City Athletic Conference Girls Goalkeeper of the Year.
Yohonna Bell, Jr., Heritage Hall: A defending state champion, Bell had two goals in the Chargers’ recent win against Lawton MacArthur. She recorded 15 goals during her sophomore season.
Elle Canty, Jr., Community Christian: As a sophomore, Canty scored at least once in every match, finishing the season with 47 goals. This season, she has 16 goals and three assists as the Royals are 7-0. She committed to OU in October.
Integra DeHart, So., Carl Albert: DeHart is the standout goalkeeper for a Carl Albert team that has opened the season 5-0, posting a trio of shutouts.
Narissa Fults, Sr., Norman North: Fults was named The Oklahoman’s 2023 All-City Player of the Year after recording 32 goals and 24 assists, reaching the Class 6A state finals. She has signed with Arizona.
Jordan Hahn, Sr., Piedmont: Hahn scored the golden goal in double overtime to give Piedmont the Class 5A title last season. She continues to lead the Wildcats with five goals through their first five matches.
Katie Johnston, Jr., McGuinness: A Florida commit, Johnston finished her sophomore year with a team-high 32 goals as McGuinness reached the Class 5A finals.
Rylee McLanahan, So., Edmond North: McClanahan is building on her breakout freshman year, recording seven goals and three assists through the Huskies’ first two matches. In February, she won the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship with the U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team.
Hannah Montoya, Sr., Southmoore: Montoya, a Dallas Baptist signee, registered three goals and three assists through Southmoore’s first four matches.
Alix Regier, Sr., Yukon: Regier, a Kansas State signee, is a star on a Yukon team that has started the season 3-1. She has eight goals this season, including two game winners, and four assists.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma high school soccer storylines, players to watch in 2024
