The Piedmont Lady ‘Cats soccer team defeated Norman 2-1 Friday afternoon after a morning bout with Deer Creek in two games at the Deer Creek Invitational Tournament, coming up short against the 6A top-ranked Lady Antlers in the first game.
In the afternoon game, Piedmont’s girls controlled the ball most of the game but gave up a goal with six minutes to go to the Lady Tigers.
Kelsey Gorman scored in the 33rd minute on an assist from Brooke Welch. Jordan Hahn scored at the 41st minute on an assist from Hanna Culp.
Piedmont had eight shots to Norman’s two and Piedmont had 61% possession of the ball throughout the match.
Piedmont lost to Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School 3-1 Saturday at Deer Creek Stadium 6101 N.W. 206.
McGuinness scored in the third minute of the game Saturday. Piedmont tied it on a free kick but gave another goal five minutes later.
“We penned them in for most of the second half but they got loose a couple of times. Our center back fouled a wing on a cross our keeper had already saved. So we missed a couple chances and we should have been able to convert,” Piedmont Coach Brad Brucker said.
In the morning game with Deer Creek Friday, the teams were even at halftime, but the Lady Antlers scored on a long range shot and then another goal with about two minutes remaining, taking the match from Piedmont 2-0.
Brucker said the girls had chances to score against Deer Creek, but were outmatched in the midfield.
“I felt like we played really well. It was 1-0 with two minutes to go and they scored. They broke us down right at the end. We really had chances to stay in the game. I thought defensively we were exceptional,” Brucker said.
He said he thought Deer Creek won the game with midfielders.
Deer Creek scored on a long-range shot from about 30 yards out from the middle of the field. She had hit the crossbar earlier in the game in the first half on a similar shot. On the second attempt the ball went just under the bar.
Piedmont’s girls were scheduled to play a second game Friday when Brucker took a break from a phone interview to bowl. The team was at Heritage Lanes in Oklahoma City bowling between soccer matches. Brucker set down the phone and stepped up to make a strike.
He then added that goalkeeper Hayden Clark played a great game and kept the team’s chances alive early.
“She made five really great saves in the first half. She really did keep us in the game early, but our midfield played well but got overmatched. We are a little thin in the midfield with some injuries. We weathered their storm early,” Brucker said.
Brucker took another break from talking for bowling and then rolled a spare.
Brucker said he thinks this year’s Piedmont squad is the best since soccer came to Piedmont in 2011.
Teams from Bishop McGuinness High School, Westmoore, Jenks and Norman were at the Deer Creek Festival at Deer Creek High School Friday and Saturday.
Deer Creek and Jenks play for the championship in the festival at 2:15 p.m. Saturday
Piedmont is 6-1 on the season.
Piedmont will play Norman High School at 3 p.m. Friday.
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