Girls soccer preps for season with TU Festival
Posted on 02/21/2019
Girls soccer practice(SPS) - Looking to build off of last year’s 10-win, playoff-bound season, the Lady Chieftains soccer program is putting the final touches on their preseason.

They head to the University of Tulsa on Feb. 23 to play two games in the TU Festival. Sapulpa is one of 14 schools participating in the day-long event held at three different fields on the TU campus.

It’s the third straight year, head coach Lori Arundell has taken the team to the exhibition and she drew a tough matchup in game one - Mustang, the 6A state runners-up.

“I am excited to play a harder team to see how we match up. Last year was good for us against the stronger teams so I am excited to start off with a bang as well,” said Arundell.

The girls face a familiar foe in their second game, Edmond Santa Fe. The Lady Chieftains blanked the Wolves in Edmond 3-0 last season and will see them again in April. But coach Arundell isn’t changing her strategy Saturday despite the upcoming District matchup at Westside Sports Complex.

“I am not looking to hide or show anything,” said coach Arundell. “They know us from last year and know we have the same 11 players playing.”

Speaking of her starting 11, Arundell has high expectations for the girls who led the 2018 squad to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

“I expect to make it farther in the playoffs than last year,” she said. “I want this team to be the team that has gone the furthest in SHS history!”

And if you think this group of girls is sitting back and resting on the success of last season, think again.

“They want to do better and go farther. They have never accepted being mediocre or staying the same,” said Arundell. “They love playing together and can’t wait to get on the pitch as a team again.”

You can catch the girls on the pitch on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. They have one more scrimmage before the season opens on March 1.

Joining Sapulpa at the festival are:

Bishop Kelley
Bixby
Booker T. Washington
Broken Arrow
Deer Creek
Edmond North
Edmond Santa Fe
Jenks
Memorial
Mustang
Owasso
Union
Westmoore

Both Sapulpa games will be played on Harwell Field at the University of Tulsa. Harwell is located between the fraternity and sorority houses behind the Lorton Performance Center.