Local players shine at All-State soccer games

Kevin Green, Claremore Daily Progress, Okla.
·2 min read

Jun. 18—Local soccer players competed in their respective All-State games over the weekend, and they didn't disappoint.

In the Class 3A girls game on Saturday at Carl Albert in Midwest City, Rejoice Christian's Lauren Force scored the East's only goal in a 2-1 loss. The score, which was assisted by Grace Barnard of Verdigris, came in the 76th minute after the West had already built a two-goal lead.

Barnard capped her high school career as a Lady Cardinal last month with the Class 3A championship, having chipped in nine goals and 17 assists through the squad's 19-game season. She will play at Eastern Oklahoma State next season.

Force, a Southern Nazarene University signee, scored 36 goals during her career with Rejoice Christian. Her school teammate Katy Volnic also played.

Lauren Bulcroft, who was perhaps the best female soccer player in the state this year after scoring 53 goals for Verdigris, played in the game as well. She will play at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo., next year.

Lexy Borgstadt, also from Verdigris, was a member of the team, too. She is signed to play basketball at Oklahoma Christian in Edmond.

Joining the Verdigris trio were Rhianna Hayes and Avery Welch of Inola.

In the Class 4A boys game, Brayden Eubanks of Oologah registered three saves as a goalkeeper for the East team in a 4-2 victory. Jayla Lucas of Catoosa had a save on the girls side, but the West went on to claim a 2-1 win.

Luis Lara and Ayden Nelson of Oologah, as well as Catoosa's Edgar Nino also competed in the 4A boys game, while Oologah duo Elizabeth Kaiser and Kiah Purdunn played alongside Lucas in the girls game.

Elsewhere, Claremore athletes Kelsey Caldwell, Tyler Douthitt and Dolton Scott helped the East squads complete the sweep of the West with wins of 6-3 (girls) and 3-2 (boys). Makaya Crisp of Pryor managed six saves in the girls game, and Collinsville's Jacey Rupe played a role in the win as well.

Chloe Wilkins and Cierra Gann represented Owasso in the Class 6A girls game, which the East won 1-0, while Keaton Rasmussen, Caleb Birkenfield and Austin Smith of the Rams' boys program helped the East notch a 3-0 victory.

The Class 3A boys game, which was set to feature Braxton Bulman, Romario Fuentes, Garrett Hoffman, Tyler Kruis and Wyatt Ramsey of Sequoyah, was postponed because an East player tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus after a practice earlier in the week.