Lady Cougar Soccer Earn Post-Season Honors

Bob Forrest Guest Sports Writer Ada Evening News

Ada — Ada girls soccer has become relevant in Class 5A over the past three seasons, and two of the major players in that resurgence — Ariel Bayatfar and coach Tom Morrison — will both be on the field at this year’s All-State Game.

Bayatfar, who will graduate as Ada’s all-time leading scorer, was named to the Large East squad, and Morrison will coach the team in the All-State contest, which will be played at Skelly Stadium in Tulsa on June 11. Ada’s other senior starter, defensive specialist Destiny Smith, received honorable mention.

“It’s a good reflection on the kids — they worked really hard,” Morrison said of of the postseason honors for his program. “All of the individual stuff just goes back to the program.

“(Being named coach) was a surprise,” he added. “It’s a good honor for the program, and a good honor for the school.”

Bayatfar — who scored 62 goals and added 23 assists during her 46-match varsity career — was the leader on back-to-back playoff teams in 2008 and 2009, and she scored 16 goals this spring — despite missing two games with an injury — to tie sophomore Kristina Gonzalez (who was named to the All-District Team) for the lead on a young squad that finished 7-6 and missed the postseason by a game.

“She was part of building a good, winning tradition for the Lady Cougars,” Morrison said of Bayatfar. “The thing that stood out this year was her maturity coming back after her injury. She is a great leader and a great person.”

Smith also missed two games early in the season and played through an injury to lead an Ada defense that surrendered 1.6 goals per game through the Lady Cougars’ first 12 contests this spring.

“She just taped it up and went,” Morrison said. “She played on one leg all year but did a great job for us. She’s another one who was a great leader.”

Ada girls kick Altus

Ada Evening News

Ada — ALTUS — Sophomore Kristina Gonzalez snapped a 1-1 tie with her 15th goal of the season early in the second half, and Ada’s girls soccer team went on to a crucial 3-1 victory over Altus Friday night.

With the win, the Lady Cougars improved to 7-5 overall and 3-3 in district with only the regular-season finale at Durant Tuesday remaining on their schedule. Carl Albert is unbeaten in district play and has wrapped up the top spot, but Ada is currently in a four-team scrum with Chickasha, Durant and Lawton MacArthur for the three remaining playoff spots out of the district.

“We need to win Tuesday, then I feel like it’s going to come down to the third tiebreaker, which is goal differential,” Ada girls coach Tom Morrison said after seeing his club win its third straight match. “We’re just going to have to win and wait.”

Altus took an early 1-0 lead in the girls match on a free kick midway through the first half, but Ariel Bayatfar tied it with her 14th goal of the season off an assist from Victoria Lotter (her 10th of the season) about 10 minutes before intermission.

“We fought the wind in the first half,” Morrison said. “The second half, we came out with the wind and we had a little more intensity. Our passing throughout the game was a lot better than it has been in the past. Victoria Lotter is really emerging as a ball handler for us.”

Gonzalez gave Ada the lead for good with her goal about five minutes into the second half, and the Lady Cougars added some insurance when Laura Reihart drilled a long shot off an assist from senior Destiny Smith.

“With the wind at our back, we decided to let Laura take a rip from about 30 or 40 yards out,” Morrison said. “It looked like she made one, but they disallowed it. She got another chance off an assist from Destiny, and she made that one count.”

Ada’s defense, which hasn’t allowed more than one goal in any match since district play began, was solid again, with sophomore goalkeeper Taryn Jack being asked to stop only three shots, including the free kick.

Lady Cougars edge Noble, 2-1

Ada Evening News

Ada — ADA — Kristina Gonzalez had two first-half goals and Ada continued to play solid defense as the Lady Cougars snapped a three-match district losing streak with a 2-1 victory over Noble at home Thursday night.

Gonzalez gave Ada (5-5, 1-3) a 1-0 lead early in the first half with a goal off an assist from freshman Leah Huling, and after Noble scored a game-tying goal on a corner kick, she put the Lady Cougars in front for good with her second goal of the match about 10 minutes before intermission.

Huling, Breanna Foster and Victoria Lotter joined Gonzalez to spark an improved Ada offense, which scored for the first time in four games. Sophomore goalkeeper Taryn Jack stopped 12 of 13 Noble shots, and Waumika Kumar led an Ada defense that has surrendered just three goals in the team’s last three outings.

“Taryn played especially well in the second half, and once again the defense was stout and did a good job,” Ada coach Tom Morrison said. “The chemistry was great. Hopefully, we’ll keep stringing wins together and keep getting better.”

Both Ada squads return to action Tuesday, hosting Duncan for Senior Night.

Lady Cougars Beat Madill!

Ada — MADILL — Sophomore Kristina Gonzalez had her third three-goal scoring effort of the season, and the Ada girls soccer team built a 4-0 halftime lead en route to a 4-1 victory over Madill on the road Tuesday night.

GIRLS

Ada 4, Madill 1

In addition to the three goals by Gonzalez and one from leading scorer Ariel Bayatfarat, Ada got three assists from Victoria Lotter and a solid performance in goal from fellow sophomore Taryn Jack, who had five saves in the victory.

“You can see a world of difference since Joel Allen took over as our goalkeepers coach,” Ada head coach Tom Morrison said after seeing his club improve to 4-2 on the season. “Taryn Jack is progressing quickly because of his one-on-one work at that position.”

Morrison also praised the work of his defense — led by Laura Reinhart, Destiny Smith, Wamika Kumar and Madison Gillespie — and the play of midfielders Rachel McCann and Paige Boxley.

“Our back four had one of their better games,” he said. “It was a good defensive effort. They’re coming together and playing as a group.

“Midfield is the toughest position, and that’s where we were hurt most by graduation,” Morrison added. “It’s nice to see those girls coming on. We have a lot of newcomers there.”

Ada girls edge NW Classen, 4-3

Brian Johnson ECU Sports Information Ada Evening News

Ada — OKLAHOMA CITY — Ariel Bayatfar scored three of Ada’s four goals and assisted on the other as the Lady Cougars improved to 3-1 on the season with a 4-3 victory over Northwest Classen Tuesday night.

GIRLS

Ada 4, Northwest Classen 3

Goals by Victoria Lotter and Bayatfar gave the Lady Cougars a 2-0 halftime lead, and Bayatfar’s two second-half goals kept Ada in front. Lotter also had an assist, and Kristina Gonzalez added an assist for Ada in the win.

“It was a hard-fought game, but we pulled it out,” Ada girls coach Tom Morrison said.

Sophomore goaltender Taryn Jack made nine saves, and Morrison also praised the efforts of freshmen Breann Foster and Leah Huling.

“They did a great job,” he said. “They’re improving every game.”

Both Ada squads return to action Friday, hosting Lawton MacArthur in a pair of district contests beginning with the girls match at 5:30 p.m.