Sooners Cruise to 3-0 Win Over Tulsa

NORMAN, Okla. -- The OU soccer team (6-1-0) extended its season-high winning streak to four games on Friday, at John Crain Field, with a 3-0 victory over Tulsa (2-3-2) in the first game of the annual Oklahoma Shootout. OU is 4-0 when playing at home this season and has outscored the opposition 12-2 in those contests.

Scoring goals for the Sooners were senior captain Lauren MacIver and sophomores Tenesha Duncan and Allyson Kucera.

The OU defense was stellar again recording its third shutout of the year. Sophomore goalkeeper Jennifer Nichols faced just four Tulsa shots, with zero saves, to improve to 6-1 on the year.

“We recognized that Tulsa scored four goals in its last game and tonight our game plan was to concentrate on what we wanted to do,” said Oklahoma head coach Randy Evans. “We did a great job of possessing the ball and initiating our attack on our own terms.

“We scored when we needed to and our defense limited Tulsa's ability to create scoring opportunities. I am proud of the team's effort. Now we need to concentrate on Sunday's game and continue to play solid soccer before Big 12 play opens next weekend.”

Box Score: OU 3, Tulsa 0 | Updated 2005 Stats

MacIver put OU on the scoreboard in the 36th minute on a free kick just outside of the box. MacIver maneuvered the ball over the Tulsa defensive wall, underneath the crossbar and over the hands of Tulsa goalkeeper Meredith Hart to find the back of the net. Hart (2-3-2) made four saves in the game on seven shots on goal.

MacIver, who scored her fourth goal of the season, set a school record for becoming the first Sooner in OU history to score a goal in four consecutive games. Before today, only five other players had scored in three consecutive games. The goal also puts the Tulsa, Okla., native into a tie for sixth place on OU's career goals list.

After holding a 1-0 lead at halftime and an 8-2 advantage in shots, the Sooners wasted no time adding onto its lead with a Tenesha Duncan goal scored 1:48 into the second half. Duncan, who scored her second goal of the season, put herself into position for the easy goal and was assisted by MacIver (3).

The OU offense continued to successfully execute its attack with another goal in the 53rd minute off the foot of Allyson Kucera (4). Kucera blasted a shot from 20 yards out after Lauren Harris (3) provided the pass to set up the score and give OU a 3-0 lead that it would not relinquish.

After managing just two shots in the first half, the Golden Hurricane, who scored four goals against Texas Tech last weekend, continued to struggle in the second session with two more shots. Tulsa's total marked the second time this season that OU held an opponent to just four shots in a game (Arkansas - Aug. 28).

OU totaled 17 shots on Friday and held a 2-1 advantage in corner kicks. The Sooners have outshot the opposition 117-49 in their six wins this season.

In addition, OU's 6-1 overall record ties the best start by any OU team in the program's ten-year history. The last team to start a season 6-1 was the 2002 Sooners. That OU team won six consecutive games (school record) to start off the season before dropping two straight contests.

OU will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 18 and will conclude the Oklahoma Shootout (hosted by Oklahoma State) in Stillwater, Okla., at 4:30 p.m. against Oral Roberts (3-3). OSU defeated ORU, 2-0, Friday at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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