Defying the Odds

Baylor

0 (2)

0 (3)

Oklahoma

Stat Comparison
Category	BU	OU
Shots	7	15
Shots on Goal	2	4
Corners	3	8
Fouls	15	17

Penalty Kicks
Player	Result
1. Chelsea Jackson	N
2. Madeline Brem	Y
3. Laura Rayfield	Y
4. Rasha Roberts	Y

Goalkeepers
Player	Mins	GA	S
OU: Kaitlyn Fahrner	90:00	0	2
OU: Kassidie Stade (PKs)	00:00	0	0
BU: Michelle Kloss	90:00	0	4

Player of the Game
Ayana O'Neal // So. // Renton, Wash. Defender Ayana O'Neal stepped in for the clutch for the Oklahoma defense. The sophomore subbed in for OU after a teammate was injured, playing 90 minutes and anchoring a defense that repeatedly denied Baylor. O'Neal and the Sooner defense blanked Baylor's seven shots and three corners. She also posted one shot on goal for the Sooners.

KANSAS CITY -- The Oklahoma soccer team has defied nearly every expectation--except its own.

For the first time since 2010 and only the second time in program history, the Sooners are headed to Big 12 Soccer Championship final. OU tied Baylor 0-0 in regulation on Friday night, advancing on penalty kicks by a final mark of 3-2.

Oklahoma netted PKs from Madeline Brem, Laura Rayfield and Rasha Roberts, while Baylor missed three of its five attempts to seal OU's win. Oklahoma shut out its opponent for the eighth time this season, tying for the second-most shutouts in program history.

Oklahoma is now only the second team in conference history to make it to the Big 12 championship match after being picked to finish last in the preseason coaches' poll.

The first half saw an even match-up between the two teams; OU led shots (5-3) but deadlocked with Baylor in shots on goal (1-1) and corners (2-2). The teams did battle at midfield, vying for field position with occasional break-throughs in both directions.

Laura Rayfield had a pair of early chances for Oklahoma, both off free kicks from fouls. Her first attempt came in the 14th minute as the junior hammered a ball from 25 yards out that was blocked before it could reach the goal. She followed up with another long attempt in the 17th minute that Baylor goalkeeper Michelle Kloss corralled.

The Sooners knocked at the door multiple times in the second half. Tori Bowman broke through the Baylor defenses down the right side in the 62nd minute, popping in a shot to the left post that Baylor's Michelle Kloss just managed to punch away. OU was in the area to connect on a second chance, but Baylor's defense cleared out the ball before the Sooners could make a dent.

Just minutes later, Oklahoma had another opportunity when Shiloh Price sent in a beautiful cross to teammate Devin Barrett. Barrett connected but the Lady Bear defense was there again to prevent an OU go-ahead goal.

The teams traded fouls as they vied for field position and a potential game-winner, but neither could find it and the match went to overtime.

Baylor came dangerously close to the game-winner in the first overtime when a trio of Bears cut into the box and sent a corner kick past Fahrner, but the goal was negated by an offside whistle. The Sooners responded with a corner of their own moments later, but Kloss got a hand on it and the Bears were able to clear.

Baylor capped the first overtime with a last-second free kick off a foul. Kaitlyn Fahrner was there to counter the long shot, punching the ball well clear of the goal as the last seconds of the period ticked off the clock.

It was all Sooners in the second overtime period, with Ayana O'Neal sending in an attempt off a corner kick from Hodgen that was snagged by Kloss. Hodgen drove down for another chance in the final seconds of the period, but the shot sailed high and the match moved to PK--and an eventual Sooner win.

Oklahoma will compete on Sunday afternoon for a shot at the program's first-ever Big 12 Championship. The Sooners are set to face top-seeded West Virginia at 3:30 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1.

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Players Mentioned

Devin Barrett

Tori Bowman

Madeline Brem

Kaitlyn Fahrner

Chelsea Jackson

Ayana O'Neal

Shiloh Price

Laura Rayfield

Rasha Roberts

Kassidie Stade

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics