Aiming for a Crown

Big 12 Championship: Final
Oklahoma vs. West Virginia
Nov. 9 | 3:30 p.m. | Kansas City, Mo.

Notes

Last Time Out
SEMIFINALS: OU 0, BU 0 (PKs: 3-2) Oklahoma tied with Baylor in regulation, advancing by a mark of 3-2 on PKs in semifinal action. OU netted attempts from freshmen Madeline Brem and Rasha Roberts and junior Laura Rayfield in penalty kick action.

SOONER NOTEBOOK: BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

1. WE'RE BACK
Oklahoma has advanced to the Big 12 Soccer Championship final for only the second time in program history, facing top-seeded West Virginia on Sunday afternoon. The Sooners last advanced to the title match in 2010, falling 5-4 in PKs to Oklahoma State. OU is only the second team in league history to advance to the Big 12 Championship final after being picked to finish last in the preseason coaches' poll. 2014 marks the second consecutive season that the conference final will see the No. 1 seed face the No. 6 seed.

2. B-E AGGRESSIVE
The Sooners have been on the offensive attack since arriving in Kansas City, logging 28 shots over the course of its last two matches. That mark is the team's highest two-match total since it posted 28 shots against UC-Irvine and Tulsa (Sept. 14-19). Oklahoma has also picked up 15 corners in the last two matches while holding its opponents to just five attempts.

3. TAKE DOWN THE TOP
Sunday's match against No. 9 West Virginia marks the eighth time this season that OU has faced a foe ranked in at least one top-25 poll. The Sooners own a 5-2-0 mark in matches against ranked teams, the best win total of any team in the Big 12. Oklahoma has knocked off three top-15 teams, including Florida (No. 6), Texas Tech (No. 10) and Kansas (No. 14).

4. HOT STREAK
OU has found its groove again after snapping a four-match losing skid in the second half of Big 12 play: Oklahoma is undefeated since Oct. 31, logging a pair of wins over ranked opponents (both vs. Kansas) while allowing only one goal over the course of those three contests. OU has also picked up two shutouts in its last three matches, pushing its season total to eight overall. The Sooners have used the streak to hit the 10-win team mark for the first time since 2010—the last season OU qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

5. THE DIFFERENCE IN A YEAR
At this time in 2013, OU's season was finished. Difference-makers for Oklahoma have come across the board, but one sticking point has been its defense: OU has allowed 11 fewer goals in 2014 (19 vs. 30), slashing its goals per game in half (0.90 vs. 1.89). The Sooners have stifled opponents' attempts on goal, holding foes to a .392 shot on goal percentage (93 in 237 total attempts).