Sooners Set to Cap Weekend at Tulsa

#15 Oklahoma at Tulsa
Sept. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Tulsa, Okla.

Player to Watch
Madeline Brem // Fr. // Defender Defender Madeline Brem posted two goals in OU's 5-0 win over Central Arkansas last weekend. Brem has been an anchor in Oklahoma's stifling back line that has surrendered only four goals in six matches. The true freshman has started every match for Oklahoma, playing 540 total minutes so far this season, and owns two goals on four total shots for the Sooners.

SOONER NOTEBOOK: NOTES FOR WEEK FOUR

1. ROAD STAND BEGINS
With six matches under its belt--five of which have been at home--the No. 15 Oklahoma soccer team will open a two-week road stand this weekend. The Sooners are slated to face North Texas on Friday night in Denton before challenging Tulsa on the road on Sunday evening. This weekend marks OU's first set of back-to-back away matches this season.

2. START WELL, END BETTER
The Sooners have opened the 2014 campaign with a 4-1-1 record overall, including a 2-1 mark against top 25 teams. OU's start through six games is the program's best since starting 4-1-1 overall in 2009. Oklahoma's finest beginning through both seven and eight games came in 2005, when the squad made it through four weekends of play with a 7-1-0 record. OU's best-ever showing in non-conference play also came in 2005, an 8-1-0 beginning to the season.

3. RECORD-SETTING RANK
A week after achieving the program's first national ranking since 2005, the Sooners climbed to No. 15 nationally in the latest NSCAA/Continental Tire coaches' poll. The No. 15 ranking is Oklahoma's highest in program history, exceeding the previous mark of No. 18 set in the 2003 season. OU is 2-1 vs. ranked teams this season and is one of four Big 12 teams to appear in at least one national poll. The Sooners are also ranked No. 20 in this week's Soccer America standings and were tabbed as receiving votes in the Top Drawer Soccer rankings.

4. DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE
Through the first six matches of the season, Oklahoma is showing remarkable improvement defensively from the same point last year. OU has allowed less than half as many goals (4 vs. 11) and has also slashed its goals-against average from 1.83 per game to only .67 per game. The Sooners are holding their opponents to a shot percentage of .062 and own a 4-1-1 record overall.

5. SET PIECES SHINE
In the last four matches, Oklahoma has scored four total times off set pieces. OU's high came against Nebraska, when the Sooners posted an equalizing goal off a corner kick, and the game-winning golden goal in overtime off a free kick.

Players Mentioned

Madeline Brem

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University of Oklahoma Athletics