Soccer Team Starts Regular Season Friday In Edmond

Aug. 23, 2000

Upcoming Games

Oklahoma vs. Tulsa (Edmond, Okla.)
Friday, Aug. 25, 8 p.m.

Oklahoma vs. Oral Roberts (Edmond, Okla.)
Sunday, Aug. 27, 7 p.m.

So Far, So Good
The 2000 Oklahoma Sooners women's soccer campaign has gotten off to a very promising start with a pair of exhibition victories.

OU won both its preseason games by identical 2-0 scores over Oklahoma City University and the '82 OKC Royals club team, respectively.

"I thought the preseason was a great test for our team in terms of getting us ready for the season," said second-year Oklahoma Head Coach Randy Evans. "We're much further along than we were at this time last year and we're anticipating a successful year."

A Balanced Attack
One of the promising things that came out of OU's successful preseason was a balanced offensive attack across the board.

Oklahoma's four exhibition goals were tallied by four different players (Jonette Coquat, Heather Martinelli, Shannon Wing and Logan Womack).

The Offensive Leaders
Here's a rundown on the scoring leaders for Oklahoma during the 2000 preseason:

Player               G    A    Pts.

Jonette Coquat         1    2     4

Heather Martinelli     1    1     3

Shannon Wing           1    1     3

Logan Womack           1    1     3

The Soccer Challenge
OU will be participating in the inaugural AT&T Wireless Soccer Challenge this weekend at the Edmond Soccer Complex in Edmond. In what could be for state bragging rights, all four Division I schools in Oklahoma will be on showcase together.

On Friday, Aug. 25, Oklahoma State goes up against Oral Roberts at 6 p.m. followed by OU and Tulsa at 8 p.m. On, Sunday OSU plays Tulsa at 5 p.m. and OU battles Oral Roberts at 7 p.m.

Driving Directions
The Edmond Soccer Complex is located at 1502 Danforth. From Norman, take I-35 North to downtown Oklahoma City where it turns into I-235 North. I-235 North becomes Broadway. Follow Broadway until it ends and take a left on Danforth. Proceed approximately 1.5 miles and look for the complex on the left.

About Tulsa
OU's first opponent of the 2000 season will be the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa. Tulsa lost its lone preseason contest, 4-0, at Texas on Aug. 16.

The Golden Hurricane posted an 8-10 mark in 1999, the first season under Head Coach Damon Gore. Nine starters return to a squad that finished seventh (with a 1-5 record) in the Western Athletic Conference's Mountain Division.

Some of the players Tulsa returns include sophomore Julie Twellman, a second-team All-WAC pick in 1999, and junior defender Beth Taruscio. In 1998, Taruscio was a freshman All-America selection, the WAC Mountain Division Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-WAC pick. Senior forward Kelly Noonan was an All-WAC second-team selection last season.

About Oral Roberts
ORU concluded the 1999 campaign with its fourth consecutive winning season at 12-9-1. The Golden Eagles captured the Mid-Continent Conference title last year, finishing with a 4-1 league mark.

Third-year coach Kyle Cussen returns eight starters for the 2000 season including seniors Michelle Griffen, Beth Ingram and Kari Harrison.

Like Tulsa, ORU has competed in one exhibition game. The Golden Eagles defeated St. Gregory's, 6-0, last Saturday in Tulsa.

Home, Sweet Home
The Oklahoma women's soccer program is counting down the days until it plays its first game at the new OU Soccer Complex. That inaugural contest is slated for Friday, Sept. 8 versus nationally ranked SMU at 7 p.m. The OU Soccer Complex is located at the corner of Chautauqua and Imhoff, next to Lloyd Noble Center on OU's campus.

Photos of the the Sooners' new home can be viewed on OU's official athletic web site on the following page:

/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/construction-main.html