There's No Place Like Home

Oklahoma soccer will be back in action vs. Baylor this Sunday at 7 p.m. at John Crain Field. The match will be FREE for all fans as part of Fan Appreciation Night.

When the Oklahoma soccer team opened its season against Oklahoma State in August, it was safe to expect a competitive game--after all, Bedlam is Bedlam.

But after being picked to finish last in the Big 12 and coming off a 2013 year full of growing pains, it was hard to know what kind of Sooner team would take the field.

With a team led by a handful of veterans and filled with dynamic newcomers, OU rose to the challenge with a 2-0 shutout win over OSU. The team proved itself again the following weekend, upsetting No. 6 Florida on its home field by a mark of 2-1.

Sooners fans have responded in force to the revitalized 2014 squad. OU is 4-1-2 in Norman this season and counts on big crowds for an extra boost each weekend.

In honor of Fan Appreciation Night, SoonerSports.com asked several players, “What does home field advantage mean to you?”

JEMMA COTA

“Everything, in a way. Fans are a great base for us. They provide a lot of excitement and oomph into our games and we feed off of that. Whenever we're attacking and have opportunities, the fans encourage us and we always hear positive things. Home field advantage is big for us. We appreciate [the fans] and we thank them.”

ABBY HODGEN

“To me it just means getting the biggest crowd and having that energy from the crowd and playing for them. Just kind of feeding off of them, because when we hear them it makes us play harder. We just want to win for the crowd.

“In the middle of the [2012 Bedlam] game it started raining and you could see some of the fans getting up and leaving, but a lot of them stayed, and then when we won they just went crazy. They were with us the whole time even though it was raining. It was one of our biggest crowds we've ever had, so that was a big game. And then the home opener was Bedlam again this year, and that was a huge crowd as well. It really helps when we have fans behind us and helping us get through the game and just playing for them.”

MADISON KINZER

“I think that phrase means getting out in front of our fans and our families. Our fields are top-of-the-line, and our locker room—the whole environment of being at Oklahoma is the advantage.

“Your fans are going to be there, they're all supporting you, you have the most fans normally at home. I think the support of the fans gets you going and makes you succeed.”

LIZZIE LUALLIN

“Home field advantage—I definitely think it is a huge advantage for us, first of all. It helps to be at home and have all the support there. Protecting your field is a big thing that we stand for. It's always fun to play at home.

“[My freshman year] has been awesome. I definitely know there are a lot of fans and I know our fan base is growing, but we try to stay humble.”

MOLLY RICHEY

“It means you have to protect your home. As far as home field advantage, you get the advantage of not having to travel. You're staying home and you get to kind of bring it to the other team. I think there's always a more aggressive style of play whenever you're playing at your home because you want to do your best to defend the name of John Crain Field.

“I just think that people, especially us, take pride in not just our field but all our facilities. I think we have some of the best facilities in the nation, and that's [every sport] at OU.”

University of Oklahoma Athletics

JEMMA COTA

ABBY HODGEN

MADISON KINZER

LIZZIE LUALLIN

MOLLY RICHEY

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