PLAYOFF PROWL: Tigers boys, girls soccer teams ready for return to postseasons

Tahlequah boys and girls soccer are gearing up to return to the playoffs after a long absence.

When the Tigers take the field, Monday, May 4, vs. Bishop Kelley, they will compete in the first playoffs since the 2015 season.

“It means a lot personally,” THS junior midfielder Gabe Czlonka said. “To have so many good players come before us and never had a chance to do it, it’s a privilege to see all our work add up to something. I feel like in the past we’ve had a lot of great individuals but this year I feel like we’ve been brought together like a team.”

The same day, the Lady Tigers will play vs. Coweta marking their first playoff appearance since the 2018 season.

“I’ve been through a lot of rotation of seniors and other players,” THS senior midfielder Avrie Baker said. “To be that group that finally did it shows that we have something going on. I’m honored to be the group to accomplish it.”

Tigers

Marking their first postseason in over 10 years, the Tigers are 9-8-1 at the end of the regular season.

With a solid group of juniors stepping up this season, the offense and defense have been in stride since game one. With only Christian and Daniel Sosa and Isaac Williams as seniors on the roster, juniors have stepped up this season.

Heading into the playoffs, the Tigers beat Claremore and Midwest City. Over the last four games, the Tigers have outscored opponents 19-12 for a 3-2 record.

“Everybody has been willing to play their role and we have good coaching,” THS junior defender Tosh Pevic said. “A lot of things have gone our way this year and we’ve made the most of opportunities.”

THS will face off with a BKHS team that has a 9-8 record but finished with a 7-1 record in district play. However, they did lose the most recent game, Thursday April 30 vs. Holland Hall.

“I think it’s going to be a tough game,” Williams said. “I think the outcome is really determined by our mindset going into it and how focused we are as a game. I think we have a really close group and it is all about team chemistry.”

Lady Tigers

Last season, the Lady Tigers missed the playoffs, but by just one game. This season the roster used it as motivation.

After winning 10 games last season, THS bested this string of wins by one in 2026.

“It motivated us a lot, it encouraged a lot of the girls to push even though our harder districts,” Lady Tigers senior defender Kenzie Daniels said. “I know that the more games we won the better off we were.”

This season, the Lady Tigers knew that the defensive unit was going to be strong manned by all seniors. Along with Daniels, Audi Espinoza, Lizzie Hubbard, Shaylee Sherrill and Baker give senior experience to the Lady Tigers defensive side of the ball.

That experience has driven the Lady Tigers throughout the season.

“I think it’s been really good because we know what we are doing now and don’t make a lot of mistakes that we made [when we were younger],” Sherrill said. “It’s been nice to relax on the field.”