CPHS Soccer: Lady Sandites tame two Tiger teams, start season 2-0

The Charles Page High School girls’ soccer team kicked off the season with a pair of wins this past week. The Lady Sandites (2-0) defeated the Coweta Tigers (0-2) on the road and the Tahlequah Tigers (1-1) in their home opener.

On Friday they were missing four starters and had to rely on their younger players to grind out a 1-0 win in overtime penalty kicks.

First-year Head Coach Matthew Watkins was excited with the way his players performed, particularly his underclassmen. “Freshman Karsen Lynch battled throughout the game in midfield,” said Watkins, “constantly supplying support to the battered back line, and creating combination plays to move the ball forward.”

He also praised sophomore forward Elizabeth Horn and sophomore goalie Ali Day. “Lizzy Horn was outstanding in her first returning game as a Sandite since injury last season. Her tireless efforts wore down Coweta’s back line.”

Horn, Lynch, Elizabeth Watts, and Josie Gelsthorpe all netted PKs in overtime.

On Tuesday the Lady Sandites won their home opener 3-0. While Tahlequah played solid defense, their forwards were only able to get off a handful of shots and most of the match was spent on the Tiger side of the field.

Arial Esparza scored the opening goal in the 13th minute of the match and Baylee Metcalfe gave her team a 2-0 advantage before the half. Lynch scored the third goal in the 75th minute.

Sand Springs will return to action Thursday at the Edison Green and White Tournament in Tulsa.

The JV girls are 2-1-2 on the season. They went scoreless for 0-0 ties against both Coweta and Tahlequah. At the Mannford JV Tournament they lost 6-0 to Union, but defeated Tulsa Rogers 2-0 and Drumright 2-1.