University of Oklahoma Athletics
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Kansas
Sooners Drop 3-0 Decision To No. 6 Kansas
October 17, 2004 | Soccer
NORMAN, Okla. The University of Oklahoma soccer team lost its second consecutive game on Sunday, suffering a 3-0 decision to No. 6/9 (Soccer Buzz/NSCAA) Kansas at John Crain Field. It marks the worse loss of the season for OU, who had previously lost by one goal in each of the remaining five defeats.
“They (Kansas) did a good job of finishing the opportunities that the offense created,” said Oklahoma head coach Randy Evans. “Kansas is a good team and they are certainly not overrated. We wanted to get back to high level of play today after Friday's loss to Iowa State and we did that but our offensive front line was not dangerous.”
The Kansas offense struck first with a goal in the 20th minute from Monica Brothers and four minutes later, Jessica Smith put the Jayhawks ahead 2-0 and that was all their defense needed to close out the game. The KU defense has only allowed five goals on the season and have outscored its last six opponents 17-2. Kansas' Caroline Smith added some extra insurance in the second half at the 62:55 mark to ensure the Jayhawk's sixth consecutive win.
Despite the score, OU only trailed Kansas 12-8 in overall shots and 4-3 in corner kicks. Sophomore Savannah Scott and junior Becky Nelson led the Sooners' offense with two shots each.
OU's senior goalkeeper Catherine Wade made her first start in six games and surrendered two KU's goals while recording three saves. Wade, who only gave up her fifth and sixth goals of the season, is now 3-2-1 in the Sooners' goal this year. Freshman goalkeeper Jennifer Nichols started the second half for OU in goal and allowed one goal and made one save.
Kansas leads the all-time series 6-3 after winning the last three meetings. A year ago, the Jayhawks topped OU 3-1 during the regular season and 1-0 in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. The last time the teams met in Norman was in 2000, a 4-0 Sooners victory.
“Friday night's game was theoretically a must-win situation but now we are getting into some mathematical must-win games,” added Evans. “We have three games remaining and we certainly have the ability to win at Colorado and then finish the season with two more wins at home versus Nebraska and Oklahoma State. I have a lot of confidence this group can still get it done.”
The loss drops the Sooners to 6-6-3 overall and 2-5-0 in Big 12 play while Kansas improves to 14-2-0 (6-1-0). The Sooners have three games remaining on the season starting with Colorado on Oct. 22 in Boulder, Nebraska at home on Oct. 24 and then the season finale with Bedlam soccer on Oct. 29.
Going into today, OU was ninth in the Big 12 standings and trailed eighth place (Colorado) and seventh place (Oklahoma State) by one point. Although 11 teams compete in women's soccer in the Big 12, only eight squads will advance to the Big 12 Conference Tournament on Nov. 3-7 at Blossom Stadium in San Antonio, Texas.
