OKLAHOMA CITY FC WINS EPIC MIDWEST CONFERENCE FINAL

 

Midwest Conference Final
Oklahoma City FC  3-2  Lou Fusz Athletic

 

Staging one of the most epic comebacks in league history, Oklahoma City FC scored three unanswered goals playing down a player in the final 27 minutes of the match to cap an incredible 3-2 comeback to give the Heartland Division winners the Midwest Conference title. 

 

U.S. Youth International Rylee McLanahan (UNiversity of Florida 2025- ) tallied a brace to pull the game level and Narissa Fults (University of Arizona 2024- ) scored the winner for OKCFC. Haden Vleck (Indiana University 2024- ) scored for Lou Fusz to make it 2-0 after an OKCFC own goal. 

 

Things went sideways for Oklahoma City early when goalkeeper Callie Sullivan (University of Oklahoma 2025- ) misplayed a Lou Fusz corner kick batting the ball into her own net in the 10th minute. 

 

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts in the 43rd minute when center back Vleck made it 2-0 for the Gateway Division champs, nodding home corner kick from Meghan Belrose (Northern Kentucky University 2024- ) just two minutes before the halftime whistle. 

 

“Our message to the team before the game was ‘stay the course.’” We haven’t been behind for more than 10 minutes all season, and we anticipated today wouldn’t go as smoothly,” Niall Crick, Oklahoma City FC co-head coach, said. “You can’t always predict how your team will react to adversity. We are just so proud of the group and their resilience. When you have special players, you’ll always have a chance.” 

 

The first glimmer of hope came in the 63rd minute when McLanahan beat two defenders off the dribble inside the penalty area before tucking her shot inside the far post. 

 

Just when things looked to be turning around for Oklahoma City FC, Sullivan was shown a straight red card for handling the ball outside of her box after coming out to stifle a quick Lou Fusz counterattack. The controversial call left Oklahoma City down both a player and a goal with 25 minutes to play. 

 

With 10 minutes to play OKCFC thew everything into the attack searching for the equalizer. Sabrina Guzman (Grand Canyon University 2024- ) rewarded a streaking McLanahan run in the box with a sublime through ball McLanahan had little difficulty slotting to the far post for her second on the night and eighth of the season. 

 

With Lou Fusz reeling, it was the shorthanded OKCFC’s game to take. With less two minutes on the clock , match MVP McLanahan slotted Fults through inside the penalty area. Fults cooly slotted home the winner, giving Oklahoma City the Midwest Conference title. 

Oklahoma City FC will host the Central Region Playoffs July 12 and 13. 

 

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Oklahoma City FC: Callie Sullivan; Aniya Facen, Elle Abbey, Hannah Voskuhl, Katie Jones, Lydia Viets, Molly Shepherd, Narissa Fults, Rylee McLanahan, Sabrina Guzman, Samantha Guzman. 

Substitutes: Cammy Hargrove, Chloe Murphy, Evie Munn, Hali White, Jenna Munson, Kenzie Clouse, Macey McFarlane.

 

Lou Fusz Athletic: Caroline Ritte; Maggie Duggan, Haden Vlcek, Abby Wiedermann, Brooklynn Greene; Ashley Miller, Peyton Hatfield, Meghan Belrose; Madison Vasiloff, Rylee Howard, Mia Devrouax. 

Substitutes: Aubrey Kaupas, Emma Gianino, Jacie Tottleben, Lucy Molitor, Megan Molner, Mia Martin, Payton Lauer.

 

Mustang High School
Mustang, Okla. 

 

0-1: Callie Sullivan (OG) 10’
0-2: Haden Vlcek 43’
1-2: Rylee McLanahan 63’
2-2: Rylee McLanahan 81
3-2: Narissa Fults 89’