CPHS Soccer: Boys beat Sapulpa 2-1 in overtime shootout

For the second year in a row and the third time in the past four years, the Charles Page High School boys’ soccer team (1-1) won the Highway 97 Rivalry. The boys came from behind with a late goal to force an overtime shootout against Sapulpa (1-2) Tuesday night at the Westside Sports Complex.

The Sandites were the more aggressive and accurate team offensively, with eight shots on goal in the first half, but Sapulpa keeper Gabe Boyd was exceptional and saved all of them. Nick Ryan got the Chieftains on the board with a goal in the 28th minute, with his team’s only on-goal shot of the half, and they would lead for the next 44 minutes.

Fernando Saldana had a shot blocked by Boyd in the first half that Hayden Brooks appeared to put back, but the goal was disallowed and Brooks was called offsides.

Boyd came up with four more saves in the second half, and Sandite goalie Xander Quiroga had two.

The Chieftains were given six yellow cards, leading to two ejections, and were out-manned for most of the second half. TJ Hale drew his second yellow card in the 58th minute and Evan Finch was ejected in the 68th minute.

Saldana finally hit pay dirt for the Sandites, sneaking one in the bottom left of the net with only eight minutes left to play.

Because the match was non-district, they went straight to a penalty kick shootout to decide the winner. The first three kickers for both teams made their shots. Saldana, Jack Bratcher, and Luke Jeffus scored for the Sandites, while Caden Stevenson, Joel Carlson, and Hayden Moore made their kicks for Sapulpa.

The next shot from both teams was saved, then Cameron Summerton put the visitors up 4-3. Quiroga saved a shot from Damien Kloeckler to secure the win.

Sandite Soccer will return to action Thursday at 8:00 p.m. with a non-district home match against Muskogee (0-0). Sapulpa will take two weeks off before hosting Claremore (1-2).