University of Oklahoma Athletics
University of Oklahoma
Stephen F. Austin
Kelly Leads Offense Past Ladyjacks
September 10, 2006 | Soccer
NORMAN, Okla. -- The OU soccer team's offensive struggles ended on Sunday in Norman as senior Kady Kelly netted two goals to lead OU past Stephen F. Austin, 3-0. The scoring arrived just in time as the Sooners open Big 12 play at home on Friday, Sept. 15 against Bedlam rival Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma entered Sunday's contest with two goals on the season and had failed to lead a team in shots in the first five games of the season. That all changed against the Ladyjacks as the Sooners more than doubled their season total in goals and outshot Stephen F. Austin 23-6, including a 14-2 advantage in the second half.
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The win improves OU's record to 2-4 and avenges the only other meeting in the series with Stephen F. Austin, who defeated the Sooners 2-1 in 1998 in Nacogdoches. Sunday's loss drops the Ladyjacks to 3-2 overall in 2006.
“I obviously liked the fact that we scored three goals and had a shutout, but I felt we could have had more (goals) after all the opportunities we created,” said head coach Randy Evans. “We need to continue to train hard and hope to improve each week as the Big 12 season gets underway.”
Kelly and the Sooners wasted no time getting on the board. The senior's second goal of the season hit the back of the net after 26 seconds had run off the clock. The tally was assisted by freshman Daphne Fitzpatrick, who recorded her first career point as a Sooner.
With a 1-0 lead at halftime, OU added two more scores in the second session, the first coming off the foot of senior Savannah Scott in the 70th minute. The goal was the first of the season for Scott and was assisted by junior Lauren Harris' first of the year. The goal was also the 18th of Scott's career, moving her into a tie for fifth place all-time at Oklahoma with Lauren MacIver.
In the 79th minute, Kelly struck again with her second goal of the game and third of the season. Kelly was set up by junior Tenesha Duncan, who received credit for her first assist of the season.
“It was nice to open up our scoring today,” said Kelly following the first multi-goal game of her career. “We needed a performance like this heading into the start of the Big 12 season with Oklahoma State on Friday.”
Kelly, Fitzpatrick and junior Allyson Kucera led the way with five shots apiece as the Sooners recorded a season-high 23 shots. Oklahoma also held a significant advantage in corner kicks with seven chances opposite Stephen F. Austin's zero opportunities.
Junior goalkeeper Jennifer Nichols (2-4) recorded three saves in the game en route to her ninth career shutout. The Tulsa, Okla., native only trails Jana Cunningham (11) and Catherine Wade (18) on OU's career shutout list.
The Sooners continue their current six-game home stand on Friday with the Big 12 opener and the annual Bedlam Series against Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m. at John Crain Field. OU concludes the home stand on Sunday with another in-state rival, Oral Roberts. Sunday's contest is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.
