Oklahoma high school soccer: Heritage Hall scores late goal to win Class 3A boys title

NEWCASTLE — Tucker Austin had been on fire all evening.

The Heritage Hall sophomore had two goals to his name in a Class 3A boys soccer state championship match against Crooked Oak on Friday. He then found himself with a golden opportunity to secure a hat trick during the 76th minute with the score knotted up.

Austin raced down the left side of the field and got to within striking range. But rather than attempting a contested shot from a tough angle, he sent a pass toward Noah Ragozzino.

The freshman secured the ball in stride and fired it into the back of the net, sealing Heritage Hall’s 3-2 win and a state title.

"That's all because of (Austin), playing me the ball in the box so I could score," Ragozzino said. "I was a little nervous. But when it went in the back of the net, I just felt happy."

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Heritage Hall struck first in the 26th minute thanks to Austin, who chased down a ball and snuck it past Crooked Oak’s diving goalkeeper.

But Heritage Hall’s momentum got halted soon afterwards by a 45-minute weather delay, and Crooked Oak capitalized in the second half. Fabian Hernandez delivered a pair of goals in the 46th and 51st minute to give the defending state champs a 2-1 lead.

"We didn't know if it was going to be delayed completely or if it was going to be done until tomorrow," Heritage Hall head coach Tommy Riley said. "We came out maybe a little but slow. Crooked Oak jumped out and scored on us. We knew that was a possibility to happen."

But Heritage Hall kept at it, and Austin led the rally.

The second-year Charger knotted the score at 2-2 in the 56th minute, and he delivered an assist to Ragozzino in the closing moments to secure the title.

Ragozzino's goal completed Heritage Hall's epic comeback. It also allowed the team to exact some revenge after it fell to Crooked Oak in last season's state title match.

"That was a tough one," Riley said. "(Crooked Oak) has been a little bit of an Achilles' heel for us. ... It's a great feeling, especially since we had a tough one last year."

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS soccer: Heritage Hall beats Crooked Oak for Class 3A title