STILLWATER, Okla. —
Last weekend, Stillwater beat Enid 6-0 in the Stillwater Cup. Friday, the two teams played again at Pioneer Stadium to open district play. There are advantages and disadvantages to playing a team twice in one week.
But the advantage went to Stillwater. The Lady Pioneers were held scoreless in the first half, but exploded for four second-half goals in a 4-0 win over the Pacers.
Stillwater wins its district opener for the second-straight year and has won the last five meetings with Enid. In Stillwater’s five wins, they’ve outscored Enid 16-0.
“We had a frustratingly slow start tonight,” coach John Fields said. “We worked really hard this week at practice at being first to to the ball, working on making really fast passes. We reformed in the second half and the girls came out and took control of that game.
“Those girls came back out in the second half, and talked amongst themselves without me and came back out and took care of business the way they’re supposed to.”
It didn’t take long for Stillwater (5-3) to get on the board. Six minutes into the second half, junior Paige Wikle launched a shot from 25 yards out that sailed over the head of the goalkeeper to give the Lady Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
Wikle is having a breakout season. Wikle has seven goals this season after finishing last season with zero goals.
“My girls are very giving players. They get a lot of satisfaction out of assists,” Fields said. “Paige has been in kind of an assist mode the last year and a half. This year, she’s starting to push up and take those shots we know she can make.
“She’s still a great giving player, but now she’s balancing the two. It’ll come to her.”
Nearly 10 minutes later, Wikle added a goal and two minutes later, added another goal to put Stillwater up 3-0 with 23:29 left in the match for the hat trick. She would assist on Chablee Sanders’ goal with 11:36 left in the match.
Stillwater played stellar defense throughout the game, allowing zero shots on goal. Enid crossed midfield once during the entire second half.
Stillwater has been on an offensive surge, scoring 13 goals in the last four games.
“I think it builds up more confidence in the girls,” Wikle said. “We all want to come out and win really bad. I think we’ve connected really well as a team this year.”
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