Soccer Falls At Kansas, 3-1

NORMAN, Okla. In the second to last game of the regular season the Oklahoma soccer team suffered a 3-1 defeat to Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Friday.

Kansas got things going in the opening seven minutes of the game off a blocked shot that Lauren Williams rebounded to put in the back of the OU net.

The Sooners countered over ten minutes later to tie the game off a goal provided by Becky Nelson, her sixth goal of the season. She was assisted by Savannah Scott's fourth assist of 2003. The goal tied the game and the Sooners had their chances to take the lead after Nelson provided the spark in the 19th minute but were unable to capitalize.

“We missed some great opportunities today to take a 2-1 lead,” said Oklahoma head coach Randy Evans. “Our offense was getting the shots off but we just could not finish and it came back to haunt us in the end.”

Kansas took the lead in the 23rd minute and put the game away six minutes later when the Big 12 leading goal scorer, Caroline Smith netted her 16th goal of the season. Both teams were held scoreless in the second half in which KU had 11 shots and OU six.

Overall, OU was out shot 20-14 in the contest, as KU took three corner kicks to the Sooners' four. Nelson led the Sooner offensive charge firing nine shots in the contest, six of those on goal.

Goalkeeper Catherine Wade made nine saves in the game, giving up three goals and her record drops to 8-5-4. Her counterpart Meghan Miller made seven saves and is now 13-4-1. The Sooner defense had not allowed more than two goals dating back to Sept., 26 against then-No. 3 Texas A&M.

OU's record falls to 8-5-4 and 3-3-3 in Big 12 competition, while Kansas improves 13-4-1 (5-3-1). The Sooners will wrap up the 2004 regular season in Stillwater against Oklahoma State for the annual Bedlam showdown. Oklahoma State (11-3-2 / 3-3-2) is off this weekend and will have over a week's rest before taking the field against OU on Monday. OSU trails the Sooners, current owners of the No. 6 spot, by one point in the Big 12 standings. Game time is set for 7 p.m. on Oct. 27, at Cowgirl Soccer Complex.

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