HISTORIC

Isaac Waltman half-heartedly suggested Kingfisher’s victory over Mount St. Mary a couple weeks ago was the biggest in the boys’ soccer program’s history.

He wholeheartedly has a new suggestion - the correct one.

Zander Padilla found the back of the net with just four seconds left in sudden victory overtime to lift KHS to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Christian Heritage Academy in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.

Monday night’s road win is the first-ever playoff win for the boys’ soccer program.

“This really was a bigtime win for our program,” Waltman said, noting it was just the third trip to the playoffs for KHS.

Padilla’s game winner came on an assist from Aaron Delatorre as time was winding down in the first overtime period.

Had the game still been tied, the teams would have played one additional 10-minute sudden victory period before it would have been decided on penalty kicks.

None of that was necessary, but the overtime period also almost didn’t happen.

CHA was threatening to score in the final minute of regulation.

A shot right in front of the goal sailed a bit high and caromed off the crossbar.

With new life, the Jackets were able to get into overtime before eventually winning.

Santiago Ortega gave KHS its first goal as he scored with 10 minutes left in the first half. Padilla earned an assist on that goal and the match was tied 1-1 at the break.

CHA quickly struck to start the second half for a 2-1 lead, but the Jackets roared right back.

Delatorre scored just moments later on an assist from Ortega.

The scoring came to a halt until the waning seconds of overtime.

Diego Muñoz had six saves for the Jackets.

“Like the last time we had a big win, we had several people step up for us,” Waltman said.

On top of Padilla and Ortega, Waltman commended the play of Hayden Green, and Jaden Bain.

“They really stepped up and fought for that win,” he said of the group of sophomores.

“And we had great help from our three senior captains, Aaron and Uriel Delatorre and Landon Livingston.”

The win puts Kingfisher into Thursday’s quarterfinals at Heritage Hall at 7 p.m. The Chargers beat Oklahoma Christian School 2-0 on Monday.

Heritage Hall is 9-1 on the season and was the District 3A-2 champ with a 5-0 mark.

Among those district wins was an 8-0 shutout at KHS on April 11.

The Jackets followed that up with a loss to district runner-up Community Christian before rattling off three straight district wins.

“This has been a crazy season filled with injuries and tough matchups, but the way we turned things around to end the regular season put us in a place where we could come out and have a real chance to do something in these playoffs,” Waltman said.

With that chance, the Jackets made history on Monday and the opportunity for more awaits.

“We have a tough matchup with Heritage Hall, but we are coming in expecting to play the best soccer we have played all season,” he said.

“We are not the same team we were four weeks ago and we hope this recent momentum can help us out in the second round.”