CPHS Boys' Soccer falls 3-1 to Ponca City, Cody Gurley scores lone goal

CPHS Senior Cody Gurley scored his first goal of the season in a 3-1 loss to Ponca City. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School Boys' Soccer team (2-2) took on the Ponca City Wildcats (2-1) in the first round of the Stillwater Cup Friday afternoon at Pioneer Stadium and were defeated 3-1.

SEE RELATED: Lady Sandite Soccer notches first win 3-0 over Enid at Stillwater Cup

Mitchel Wilson scored on the first shot of the game for the Wildcats, just a minute and a half into the match. 

Sand Springs went on a run from there getting off the next five shots over eight minutes. Two were deflected, two were saved by Dereck Jernigan, but the fifth sailed true. Senior forward Cody Gurley connected on the game-tying shot in the ninth minute. 

Ponca didn't take long to retaliate, however, as Zach Martin bounced a corner kick off Wilson's chest and into the goal just two minutes later.

Both teams took a trio of shots apiece over the duration of the half, but the Wildcats held on to the 2-1 lead at halftime.

Gabe Jeffus took a phenomenal 35-yard shot early in the second half that headed perfectly for the top corner, but Jernigan was sharp on his feet and hauled in the save. Instead, it was the Wildcats who found the net, once again off a corner kick for a 3-1 lead.

The Sandite offense never slowed down, taking eleven shots in the final thirty minutes, but only a few were on target. The strong Sandite backfield kept Ponca from getting off more than a single shot in that time period, but the Wildcats held up defensively as well and prevailed 3-1.

Edgar Soberano got the start at goalie and pulled in one save before being relieved at halftime by sophomore Ethan Tippit. Tippit also recorded one save.

The Sandites return to action Saturday at 12:20 against Choctaw (1-3). The Yellowjackets fell 7-0 to Stillwater in their quarterfinal. The game will be held at Oklahoma State University's Colvin Recreational Soccer Fields. The winner of that game will play for fifth place at 5:20 p.m. in Pioneer Stadium, while the loser will play for seventh place at 5:20 p.m. in Colvin Fields.

The Girls' team will be playing in the semifinals at 10:40 a.m. against undefeated Coweta (3-0) who rolled over previously undefeated Ponca City (3-1) 5-1 in their quarterfinal. The winner of that game will play for first place at Pioneer Stadium, while the loser will play for third at Colvin Fields. Both games will be at 7:00 p.m.