Defending state champs blank Titans in playoff opener
Turner Box tries toe steal the ball from a Santa Fe South player. Photo by Jeff Harrison
Carl Albert boys fall to Santa Fe South, girls lose to Elgin in OT
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
OKLAHOMA CITY – It’d been nearly a decade since the Carl Albert boys soccer team played in the postseason.
They made their long-awaited return last week with a first round matchup against defending Class 5A state champion Santa Fe South.
The Titans held their own for about the first 20 minutes of the game. But the Saints then proved why they’re favored to repeat. The Saints scored eight goals in the first half and cruise to a 9-0 win at Santa Fe South.
Coach Levin Karnes said his team had an uphill battle against and continue to fight all game.
“For us the game plan was always going to be contingent on some things going our way and getting some lucky breaks here and there,” he said. “But some of the refereeing, an on goal, and some of the deflection goals didn’t go our way.”
Carl Albert held Santa Fe South scoreless for the first 12 minutes of the game. The Saints later scored off a deflection for the first goal. They added seven more before halftime for an 8-0 lead.
The Saints scored again early in the second half. Carl Albert’s defense held them scoreless the remaining 38 minutes.
“I’m proud of the way they battled the whole game,” Karnes said. “It would’ve been easy to roll over and give them the 10-0 win but they fought.”
Francisco Salazar, Enrique Guzman, Ivan Camacho, and Pascual Bautista scored two goals apiece for Santa Fe South. Adrian Sanchez scored the other on a penalty kick.
Karnes said the team accomplished all of their goals this season.
“We wanted to make playoffs. We wanted to change perception of our program. We wanted to win games, especially against our rivals and they did all that. Today was just a bonus.”
Girls
Carl Albert’s girls were also on the road as they traveled to Elgin May 2 for the opening round.
And the Lady Titans also came up short as they lost 2-1 in overtime.
Ashlee Davison put the team up 1-0 on a shot that sailed into the corner of the goal. That lead held until midway through the second half when the Owls scored on a cross.
Elgin scored with 3:27 left in overtime for the win.
Carl Albert out shot Elgin 31 to 4 in the game.
Carl Albert’s Louis Tartaglione (Right) tries to head the ball. Photo by Jeff Harrison
