CLINTON – Shorthanded Bethany dropped a 3-1 contest to Clinton Tuesday (April 30) in the Class 4A Girls Soccer State Tournament.

The Lady Bronchos (7-10) were already playing without key players due to injuries when senior Zya Vann rolled her ankle early in the contest.

Bethany coach Sean Williams said that led to “matchup issues with their two outside wingers their three center mids. They’re just so good and athletic and fast.”

Bethany benefitted from a lightning delay with 24 minutes left in the half as Williams and his squad made adjustments.

“Really coming out of the rain delay, we kind of matched (Clinton’s) intensity and started to get a little bit more dangerous and not just be, one-dimensional and playing defense like we had been in the first 15 minutes.”

Williams moved junior Kayten Donley from center back to forward and Bethany started get more opportunities.

Clinton extended the lead to 2-0 with a goal that went between the legs of Bethany senior keeper Hallie Benedict. The goal surpassed some of the momentum the Lady Bronchos had built.

Bethany answered with a goal by Donley to make it 2-1 but with seven minutes left the Lady Reds got a tap in goal to extend the lead to 3-1.

“For us, we were gonna have to play perfect. But, I thought our girls believed and played hard and really competed and made it a tough out,” Williams said. “They had to go out and play well and they did.”

Williams highlighted senior Brooke Marik, a four-year starter.

“She left it out on the field. She’s an all stater,” Williams said of the Southwestern Oklahoma commit. “She’s really one of our best technical players.”

Williams mentioned Avery Marchino, another Bethany basketball player on the team, along with Vann and Donley.

“(Marchino’s) also a really good soccer player, too. She played in the middle for us and I thought, you know, her effort against their attacking mid was great,” Williams said.

Williams called Donley, the “heart and soul” of the team

“She gives us the throw-ins. She’s a center back that can also play forward and she scored our goal.”

Williams also highlighted sophomore Reese Harris and Korbyn Baker.

“they played center back and moved Reese up in that 352 into the middle to give us some attacking.

Baker is coming off an ACL injury and hasn’t played for most of the season but played 80 minutes against Clinton.

Williams like how his squad responded after losing Vann.

“Those girls definitely stepped up the mentality and it helps having state champions out there to have the right mindset to kind of pull others along.”

TEAM	1	2	F
Bethany	0	1	1
Clinton	1	2	3