CLAREMORE — For the first time in school history, Bethany has a soccer state championship.

The girls soccer squad scored early and hung on for a 1-0 win over power Holland Hall Saturday (May 17) to win the Class 4A title at Rogers State’s Soldier Field.

Sophomore Camryn Regier’s 53rd goal came less than four minutes into the match from 18 feet out.

“Probably the best goal she scored for us all year,” Bethany coach Sean Williams said via phone of the match’s lone goal. “(It was) just an absolute missile.”

Williams emphasized scoring early against the Dutch, who had won three state titles (5A in 2024 and 4A titles in 2023 and 2022).

Regier had another good shot that went wide.

From that point, Holland Hall went on the offensive.

“They picked up their intensity,” Williams said. “They did some things a little bit different than what I seen. They did a great job in possession, but that really forced us to have to really defend much deeper.”

The Dutch fired 12 second-half shots (eight of which were on goal) but freshman keeper Camdyn Konz always had an answer with some big saves.

“(Konz)  played the best game she’s played all year and then the finals you that’s what you need — a performance like that.”

Williams also praised the back line of senior Kayten Donley and junior Korbyn Baker as Bethany withstood Holland Hall’s efforts to attack and score.

Williams had a message for his team the night before the final.

“This is a game that we defend for our life and if we can get a goal then then we can be champions and it happened,” Williams said.

LONG JOURNEY FROM 0-3 START

The season’s end was in sharp contrast to the beginning: an 0-3 start where the Bronchos were outscored 11-1.

Williams never had a doubt that the team could be contender. Early in the season, Bethany was without several players including Regier, Donley, Hernandez, freshman Jocelyn Balderas and freshman Shayne VonFeldt — all who were still playing basketball during the Bronchos’ state tournament run.

“I knew that we had talent and that talent would be there, but then you have to play as a team and then you have to build chemistry and camaraderie,” Williams said. “I knew we were gonna be all right once everybody got out in gelled and learned the system.”

Over the final 16 games, the squad allowed just 12 goals and had five shutouts.

Williams said some coaches try and “manufacture confidence” about winning state even when that team doesn’t have the talent.

“I just told our girls that I truly believe that we would have a chance to be in this some of these situations.”

The young team started to see the possibilities.

“Once you start to build that confidence and they start to see that you know what we are a good team and we can play with the with everyone out here.”

NO EXPERIENCE, NO PROBLEM

Typically, teams with experience fare better in the state tournament but the Bronchos, lacking a lot of experience, took down a team who had won three straight state titles.

“I think it was just the mentality that we’ve had and the belief in our self and and then just understanding tactics, and how we want to approach the game offensively and how we wanna approach the game defensively and then managing situations to to put us in a good chance to win.”

Bethany’s players showed poise late in the second half as Holland Hall grew more desperate to score and the crowd was in a frenzy.

“Sometimes the noise you know causes problems with nerves,” Williams said. “We talked about that specifically at halftime to make sure that you don’t listen to the noise that’s outside the field and making making sure you’re playing for the person next to you. They figured out a way to get it done.”

CONNECTION WITH 2012 FINALISTS

The Bronchos reached the 4A finals in 2012 before losing to Verdigris, who had a built dynasty during that time.

That team’s coach, Angie Kelly, was at Saturday’s match.

Photographs courtesy of Kristie Escoe of Life in Action Photography.

	1	2	F
Bethany (16-3)	1	0	1
Holland Hall (12-7)	0	0	0