Soccer Hosts SFA in Exhibition Game

Soccer vs. Stephen F. Austin
Date	Friday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. (CT)
Location	Norman, Okla. \| OU Soccer Complex
Tickets	Live Stats
TV/Radio	Admission is Free
Promotions	Autographs after the game \| Posters and schedule cards available

NORMAN, Okla. -- The 2008 Oklahoma soccer team will face its first and only opponent in preseason action on Friday, Aug. 15 as it hosts Stephen F. Austin.

The Sooners and Ladyjacks will kick things off at 7 p.m. at John Crain Field at the OU Soccer Complex. Admission to Friday's exhibition game is free.

Oklahoma is led by first year head coach Nicole Nelson, who was hired on Dec. 21, 2007 after the Sooners finished last season with a 6-10-3 overall record and a 2-7-1 mark in Big 12 play.

Nelson comes to Norman after successful stints as an assistant coach at Texas and Baylor. Prior to her work in the Big 12 Conference, Nelson was the head coach at Stephen F. Austin where she left the program after three years as the all-time winningest coach.

Season Preview Part I | Part II | 2008 Schedule | Roster | Newcomers

The 2008 Sooners return 15 letterwinners and seven starters from last year's squad. Sophomore Whitney Palmer highlights that group as the leading scorer in 2007 with six goals, including four game winners.

Only five upper classmen can be found on this year's roster as three seniors (Katie Corbitt, Traci Dickenson and Helen Ajufo) and two juniors (Ashley Farrand and Kate Marr) will look to lead a young squad. Despite the lack of juniors and seniors, OU returns 14 sophomores, five of which saw significant playing time in 2007 and scored 22 of the team's 30 goals.

A talented recruiting class joins the returners, including two Division I transfers Lisa Jett (UCLA) and Sage Coralli (Pepperdine). The remaining freshman class is made up of Michelle Alexander, Danielle Digeralamo, Abbey Golliher, Kelsey Kraft, Jordan King and Jordan White.

Stephen F. Austin is also under new leadership as George Van Linder, the former head coach at Baylor, takes over the helm for the 2008 season.

The Ladyjacks are coming off a 13-5-2 season in 2007 that saw them win a share of the SLC regular-season championship and sweep two SLC Tournament games to reach the NCAA Championships.

Four players were named to Southland Conference's preseason first team while two others were selected to the second team. Junior midfielder Kelli Wilson headlines the group as the top returning scorer with nine goals and five assists in 2007.

The Sooners and Ladyjacks have met on two previous occasions, with the last coming in 2006. OU won that meeting 3-0, avenging a 2-1 loss to SFA in 1998.

Players Mentioned

Helen Ajufo

Michelle Alexander

Sage Coralli

Katie Corbitt

Traci Dickenson

Danielle Digeralamo

Ashley Farrand

Abbey Golliher

Lisa Jett

Jordan King

Kelsey Kraft

Kate Marr

Whitney Palmer

Jordan White

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics