University of Oklahoma Athletics
Oklahoma Falls 1-0 To No. 7 Tennessee In First Round Of NCAA Tournament
November 14, 2003 | Soccer
Knoxville, Tenn. The University of Oklahoma soccer team battled No. 7 Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and lost, 1-0, on Friday night in Knoxville, Tenn.
The Lady Vols struck first in the 23rd minute off a cross that found Lyndsey Patterson for her 11th goal as she banged it in the back of the net from six yards out.
The Sooners had some good opportunities to score in the first 45 minutes but were unable to get the ball past UT's V. Phillips-Bosshart who stopped four OU's first half shots. The Lady Vols had 10 shots in the first half, as OU's Catherine Wade saved six.
With 26 minutes remaining Wade made a spectacular stretched out save preserving the one goal deficit. Wade deflected Patterson's shot away from the corner of the goal forcing the corner kick. In the game, UT held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.
The one corner kick created by OU came with 20 minutes remaining and it presented a scoring chance for Samantha Faulkner who was pushed up on the play. Faulkner put a good foot on the ball but Phillips-Bosshart made the diving save preventing the score.
"I am obviously disapointed some but this is a great milestone for us," said Oklahoma head coach Randy Evans. "Hopefully this establishes a new standard for us as to where we can finish each year and we will accept that responsibility and build from this loss. I am extremely proud of this team in how they played against a very good Tennessee team. This season was very encouraging."
Overall in the game, OU trailed in the shot column 17-8 as Wade made seven saves. Seven of OU's eight shots were on goal, as Phillips-Bosshart made seven saves.
The Sooners, 8-7-5, finish one of the more successful seasons in school history while Tennessee, 16-4-2 will face Georgia on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
