BETHANY — Bethany’s young girls soccer team needed another second half comeback to earn a trip to the Class 4A state finals.

Sophomore Camryn Regier scored two goals in the second half for a 2-1 win over Heritage Hall Tuesday (May 13) at Southern Nazarene’s Wes Harmon Field.

The title game berth marks the second time in school history the Bronchos will play for a title. The girls team fell to Verdigris in the finals in 2012.

The Chargers scored first, with senior Yohonna Bell getting past the Bethany defense. This led to a goal and Bethany trailed, 1-0, at halftime.

“I feel like we let some of the nerves kind of dictate the first 20 or 30 minutes of the game,” Bethany coach Sean Williams said via phone. “They kinda hit us in the mouth.”

After largely cruising through the regular season, the Bronchos’ halftime huddle was again focused on a comeback in the playoffs.

Once again, Bethany responded.

“We really settled in in the second half and and moved the ball much better and used all of the players on the field,” Williams said.

In the second half, Regier got Heritage Hall’s center back out of position and shot it past the keeper to tie the game at 1-1.

“That created the doubt that we talked about at halftime,” Williams said. If we can get a goal that’s gonna put the pressure back on them”

Bethany had some opportunities to take the lead with “dangerous” corner kicks.

“You could tell at least in my mind that that goal number two is coming,” Williams said.

Regier got some space and shot it over the keeper with 20 minutes left in the match.

“If you give (Regier) space, she’s dangerous,” Williams said.

Regier increased her season goal total to 52 and the Bronchos had a 2-1 lead.

Bethany had opportunities to extend the lead but couldn’t add another goal, but Williams still saw a difference from the first half.

“We were just much more dangerous in the second half. We let our offense be our defense and just had wave on wave of pressure. We were mission focused again.”

Williams highlighted Bethany freshman keeper Camdyn Konz and the back line of senior Kayten Donley, junior Ellen Smith and junior Korbyn Baker.

“The entire back for in the second half for unbelievable defensively, just taking away their strengths,” Williams said.

He also praised freshman Shayne VonFeldt and sophomore Isabella Matthew for “clogging up the passing lanes.”

Williams said the more challenging games will pay off as his team heads for the final.

“I think it’s important for a team to have to be tested and have to overcome adversity,” Williams said. “I’m so proud of them just because of they respond to coaching they respond to adversity. They never give up they play together,I mean they’re a team. I think they really enjoy each other’s presence.”

Bethany’s win ended Heritage Hall’s string of titles. The Chargers won 3A championships in 2022 and 2023 before moving up to 4A.

UP NEXT

Bethany will meet Holland Hall (12-6) in the state final Saturday (May 17) at 10 a.m. The match will be played Rogers State University’s Soldier Field in Claremore.

The Dutch have won three straight state titles. They captured the 5A crown in 2024. That followed two straight 4A titles in 2022 and 2023.

Holland Hall beat Weatherford, 2-1, Tuesday in the other semifinal.

“It’s back to work and you know for our girls you know enjoying (Tuesday’s win) and what they achieved but we can’t be satisfied with what just making a final. We’ve gotta go to work and then make sure that it was fun, but it’s mission focused again,” Williams said.

Photographs courtesy of Kristie Escoe of Life in Action Photography.

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Heritage Hall (10-3)	1	0	1
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