Jenks girls win 10th soccer state championship by beating undefeated, nationally ranked Norman North

Jenks also claims boys 6A title against Broken Arrow in match decided on penalty kicks

By Josh Jennings 

CLAREMORE - Jenks knew it would have its hands full against an undefeated Norman North girls soccer team, who is one of the best teams in the country.

But Jenks head coach Michael Parker said they were the better team on Friday and handed the Lady Timberwolves their first loss of the season, winning the Class 6A state championship game, 2-1, at Rogers State University. This was Jenks' first girls soccer state championship since 2009 and 10th overall.

“It was our day (Friday) and I am so happy for the community of Jenks, our coaches and our players,” Parker said. “We did what we needed to do and we fought the entire season.

"Now, Norman North is an unbelievable team and coach Trevor Laffoon does a great job, but I am just so happy for Jenks.”

Norman North soccer has accomplished many goals this season, no pun intended, but did not accomplish its final goal of winning a state championship, which was its only loss. Norman North finishes the season with a record of 17-1.

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The contest was tied at 1-all with three minutes to play in the game, but Jenks player Sophie Wilson scored a long goal, which ended up being the game-winner outside the box to give the Lady Trojans a one-score advantage.

“I just had space and put the ball in the net,” Wilson said. “It feels amazing to be state champions and I am so happy. It is an amazing feeling to beat a team who is as talented as Norman North.”

In the first half, Norman North attacked early and had two shots on goal within the first six minutes. Jenks responded, but Norman North played great defense and the game was scoreless halfway through the first half.

Norman North almost scored the first goal when Callie Sullivan took a shot and Parker McGraw took another shot, but Jenks kept the ball out of the net.

Jenks got on the board first when Alisa Bunn, a Wyoming commit, scored a goal in the back of the net, making it 1-0 with 9:45 left in the first half.

“My teammates do a great job passing the ball,” Bunn said. “I was open after some great passes and put it in the back of the net.”

No other goals were scored and it was 1-0 at halftime. Jenks goalkeeper Anika Patton made eight saves in the first half.

Norman North's Presley Boyd turned the game around with an equalizer and it was tied with 25 minutes left in the first half. The Lady Trojans nearly scored a goal, but the shot went just wide.

With 11:30 left to play, Norman North earned a corner kick. On this corner kick, Patton made a miraculous save, but it deflected to Boyd and she shot it.

It would have gone into the goal, but Bunn stuck her leg out and kept the ball out of the net. Norman North kept pressuring Jenks, but was not able to score.

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“We knew we could stick with them and that was our mindset coming into the game,” Parker said. “This win is amazing and there is a huge future for these girls.

"The other three coaches on our staff were great and we work as one. Our school, community and athletic director support us like no other.”

Jenks finishes the season as state champions and with a record of 12-2. Jenks sophomore Drue Legan said they gave everything they had in this game, since Norman North was so talented.

“They were the best high school team we have faced,” Legan said. “We were the so-called underdogs, but we did not care. It motivated us more and we did not leave anything on the pitch.”

6A boys state soccer champion Jenks

6A Boys Championship

Jenks 0, Broken Arrow 0 (Jenks wins on penalty kicks, 4-2)

By Ty Loftis

One of the most pressure-packed moments for any player in sports is stepping up to take a penalty kick. That pressure gets even more amplified when playing for a Class 6A state championship, which Broken Arrow and Jenks were doing on Friday night.

After 80 minutes of scoreless action and two 10-minute overtime stanzas that left the game knotted at 0-0, it was the Trojans scoring on all four penalty kicks and Jack Franklin coming away with two clutch saves at the goalkeeper position to get the win.

“We have believed in Jack all year,” Jenks coach Eric Marshall said. “Even though he is an underclassman, he has done a great job of leading this team.”

For Franklin, winning penalty kick shootouts is nothing new. It is something Franklin did to lead his team to victory on two separate occasions earlier this year; with one of those wins even coming against Broken Arrow in a non-district matchup.

“I just relied on my experience and what I had done in the past,” Franklin said. “I knew that I was going to need to lean right at least twice and both times, came up clutch.”

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Not to be overlooked is the fact that the Trojans made all four of their penalty kicks.

Clinching it for Jenks was senior Diego Sanchez, who had this to say moments after the match.

“Being able to clinch it was great, but all the credit goes to my teammates,” Sanchez said.

“It was a team effort, not only (Friday), but the entire season.”

Marshall added that coaches never want games to come down to penalty kicks, but says he felt confident with the group of guys he had going into the shootout.

“This is something that we practiced every day,” Marshall said. “It’s not something you can replicate in practice, but for us, we had been there and done it before. And it showed.”

Friday night’s championship game was physical, with scoring chances few and far between. Marshall credits his team for staying tough.

“Any time we play Broken Arrow, we know it’s going to be a tough, physical match that comes right down to the wire,” Marshall said. “They are built a lot like us and it’s always a good matchup. We have a lot of respect for those guys.”

Broken Arrow lost the coin toss and was forced to kick first in the shootout session.

Brandon Shrier made the first kick for the Tigers, but Dominick Barragan answered for Jenks. Wyatt Nants netted a second goal for Broken Arrow, but Abraham Oberto answered once again for the Trojans, tying the shootout at 2 apiece.

Following a Jack Hendrickson miss, Devin Bradshaw put Jenks out front, 3-2. Franklin got his second block of the shootout and then it was Sanchez to bring it home for the Trojans.

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“It was nervous; yeah there is no doubt about that, but I had all the confidence in my teammates and then it was just up to me to do my thing when it got to me,” Sanchez said.

As mentioned, both teams had a few scoring chances throughout the game, perhaps the best coming from Broken Arrow just as the second half started. Marshall said because the teams knew each other so well, that might have limited the amount of chances.

“From the game earlier this year, where we each allowed a goal, both teams made some adjustments and that showed,” Marshall said. “Both teams were in their correct positions defensively for mostly all of the night.”

As state champions, Jenks finishes the year at 13-2. Broken Arrow finishes at 16-3.