No. 20 Soccer Set for Split Weekend

#20 Oklahoma at Nebraska
Sept. 5 | 5:30 p.m. | Lincoln, Neb.

#20 Oklahoma vs. Central Arkansas
Sept. 7 | 1 p.m. | Norman, Okla.

Player to Watch
Rachel Ressler // So. // Defender Another week meant another key goal for OU defender Rachel Ressler. Ressler set an early tone for Oklahoma's upset victory over No. 6 Florida, posting her second goal of the season on a backheel shot in the fifth minute of play. Oklahoma's win over UF was its first over a top 25 opponent since 2012. Ressler has started every match for OU this season, totalling 141 minutes of play last weekend.

Player to Watch

Rachel Ressler // So. // Defender
Another week meant another key goal for OU defender Rachel Ressler. Ressler set an early tone for Oklahoma's upset victory over No. 6 Florida, posting her second goal of the season on a backheel shot in the fifth minute of play. Oklahoma's win over UF was its first over a top 25 opponent since 2012. Ressler has started every match for OU this season, totalling 141 minutes of play last weekend.

SOONER NOTEBOOK: NOTES FOR WEEK THREE

1. AWAY WE GO
After four consecutive home matches to open the season, the Sooners will hit the road for the first time this season on Friday night. Oklahoma is set to face No. 16 Nebraska in Lincoln at 5:30 p.m. CT, giving OU its first road test after four consecutive home matches to open the year. The squad will return home for a Sunday contest against Central Arkansas in Norman, with match time set for 1 p.m.

2. THE DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Compare the 2013 Sooners to the 2014 squad with two weeks of play under their belts, and you might not see much difference at first: a 2-2-0 record for one (2013), a 2-1-1 mark for the other (2014). But dig deeper and the defensive change begins to appear. OU is surrendering less than half as many goals per game (0.75 vs. 1.75) and has also slashed its opponent's shot percentage (.057 vs. .189). The Sooners had let in seven goals in four games to start 2013; after four games in 2014, Oklahoma has surrendered only three.

3. TAKE DOWN THE TOP
The theory is simple: become elite by playing elite teams. Including Friday's match against Nebraska, Oklahoma has opened the 2014 year by facing five consecutive 2013 NCAA Tournament teams. OU is 2-1-1 so far in those contests, with its sole loss coming in a narrow 1-0 defeat by defending NCAA runner-up Florida State. The Sooners' win over No. 6 Florida marked the program's first victory over a top 25 team since OU defeated No. 3 Oklahoma State in 2012.

4. ON THE RISE
When the Oklahoma soccer team found itself in the NSCAA top 25 rankings this week, it was just another check in the book for a program on the rise under head coach Matt Potter. OU's No. 20 national ranking is the program's first since 2005 and its highest appearance since 2003. The Sooners were last ranked nationally in October of 2005 after a win over No. 21 Texas; their best ranking is No. 18 nationally, set in the 2003 season.

5. START FAST, HANG TOUGH
OU's athleticism is coming in handy this year as the Sooners continue a trend of scoring early and playing tough defense. The team has outscored its opponents 4-2 in the first half this year while surrendering only one second half goal in four games.

Players Mentioned

Rachel Ressler

Rachel Ressler

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics