Class 4A girls soccer: Layney Molini's 2 goals carry Oologah to program's 1st state title

Even before her Oologah teammate had the ball, Layney Molini saw the play developing and began to sprint up the field.

By the time Kailee Seaba started the breakaway, the speedy Molini had a headstart on the Weatherford defenders. And with a deft pass from Seaba, Molini put the go-ahead goal in with her left foot, powering the Mustangs to a 2-1 win over Weatherford in the Class 4A girls soccer championship game Friday night at Taft Stadium.

“I have to give Kailee all the credit,” said Molini, who had both of Oologah’s goals as they won their first-ever girls soccer state title. “She hit a perfect ball right in front of me.”

Weatherford scored first on a goal by Marley Gregston, but Molini answered quickly, knocking in a free shot from just outside the box and the game remained tied at 1 until the middle of the second half.

Molini, a junior, finished the season with 42 goals, and she was strong on the attack all night.

More: Class 4A boys soccer: After move up in class, Heritage Hall repeats as state champion

“Their defense did a really good job of closing down my shots,” Molini said of Weatherford. “I took a lot of shots and a lot of them got blocked.”

Sam Bowers, an experienced coach who came out of retirement to lead this team, says he’s never coached a player in his more than three decades with Molini’s combination of skills.

“She’s one of the best attacking kids I’ve ever coached,” Bowers said. “At times that we don’t play real well, she can change a game real quick.

“I’ve never coached one like that. She has a nose for the goal and you can’t teach that.”

More than anything, Molini has been encouraged by the growth of the fanbase for girls soccer over the course of the season, and she hopes bringing the program its first state title will build into the future.

“I think it’s super-important for our school and the girls, because we’re finally getting support out for girls sports, and that means a lot,” she said. “We made this run and showed how much we can do, and people began to come out and support us. And I hope all the support leads into next season, so we start off with a big crowd in the season, not just in playoffs.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Class 4A girls soccer: Layney Molini's 2 goals carry Oologah to title