Shana Gulikers made sure to set the record straight with her players over the last month of the season.
One key word sticks out: confidence.
The first-year coach was looking for her squad to take the next step following a 1-1 start to district play. The Broncos were scoring, but still weren’t taking advantage of multiple opportunities game in and game out. Especially in front of the net.
Mustang (7-6, 4-2) answered a 7-0 loss to Edmond North with a 2-1 win over Edmond Santa Fe on April 5, a victory that sparked a four-game win streak in which the Broncos outscored opponents 34-1.
A 12-0 win over Lawton led to back-to-back 10-0 victories over Putnam City West and Capitol Hill. MHS nearly made it five straight, but a 2-1 loss to Bishop McGuinness in the season finale ended the team’s run.
“I definitely think we gained some confidence going to goal over the last four games,” Gulikers said prior to Mustang’s loss to the Irish. “We made it a point of emphasis in training.
“Confidence in front of goal, confidence in creating opportunities, and confidence in finishing those opportunities.”
Aubree Goebel (So.) throws the ball in during a match earlier this season at the Mustang Soccer Complex. Goebel and the Broncos outscored opponents 35-3 in the final five games of the regular season. (Photo by Shelly Holinsworth / Freelance Action Photography)
Londynn Hagan (Fr.) and Kyrie Soto (Sr.) scored the team’s two goals in the victory over Edmond Santa Fe. Rylee Stauffer (So.) assisted on the Soto goal.
Sophia See (Sr.) led the way with three goals against Putnam City West. Hagan and Soto added two goals each while Jareli Pando (So.), Addison Jordan (So.), and Olivia Fairchild (Fr.) all scored once.
Hagan recorded a hat trick against Capitol Hill while Fairchild scored twice. See, Jordan, Stauffer, Pando, and Ainsley Neal (So.) all put one goal in the back of the net.
The Broncos finished third in District 6A-1, earning a road matchup against Deer Creek on Monday in the first round of the Class 6A State Playoffs. The Antlers (7-3-, 6-1) finished second in District 6A-2.
Guliker’s squad will have rested over a week since the final game of the regular season. She says her team will be ready for Game 1 of the postseason.
“We continued our emphasis of finishing opportunities, building and supporting the attack with numbers, being patient on the ball, and making good decisions based on what the game is showing us,” she said.
“We are hungry for this playoff win.”
Emily Brown (Jr.) takes a free kick during a game earlier this season at the Mustang Soccer Complex. Brown and the Broncos take on Deer Creek in the first round of the 6A Playoffs on Monday at 6 p.m. in Edmond. (Photo by Shelly Holinsworth / Freelance Action Photography)
