Sooners Start Big 12 Slate in Norman

Oklahoma vs. No. 15 Texas Tech
Sept. 25 | 7 p.m. CT | Norman, Okla.

Oklahoma vs. Iowa State
Sept. 27 | 1 p.m. CT | Norman, Okla.

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Live Stats

FCSA // FOX Sports Go (vs. TTU)

FCSC // FOX Sports Go (vs. ISU)

KREF Sports Talk 1400 Radio (vs. ISU)

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Player to Watch
Caren Nelson // Jr. // F Nelson leads the Sooners in goals (four) and points (eight) and is tied for third in shots taken (13). Seven of Nelson's 13 shots have been on goal, good for a .538 shots on goal percentage. In the Big 12 standings, Nelson ranks within the top 10 in goals (T4th, four), goals per game (T4th, 0.44), points (T9th, eight) and points per game (T9th, 0.89).

NORMAN — Big 12 play gets underway this weekend for the Oklahoma soccer team as it welcomes No. 15 Texas Tech and Iowa State to John Crain Field to close out a four-match homestand. The Sooners (5-4-0 overall) will face the Red Raiders (6-1-2 overall) on Friday at 7 p.m. CT before playing the Cyclones (5-4-0 overall) on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.

SOONER NOTEBOOK: WEEK SIX

1. BIG 12 PLAY
The Sooners kick off their Big 12 slate this weekend when they host No. 15 Texas Tech and Iowa State on Friday and Sunday, respectively. Friday's match will air on FOX College Sports Atlantic and Sunday's on FOX College Sports Central. All nine Big 12 squads have records of .500 or better, and the teams enter conference play on a 15-match unbeaten streak after posting a 14-0-1 record last weekend.

2. FACING THE TOP 25
OU continues to face stout competition as five of its 2015 opponents are currently ranked or receiving votes in the NSCAA/Continental Tire poll, including Texas Tech at No. 15. So far this season, the Sooners are 1-2 against ranked opponents. OU defeated then-No. 18 Arizona State by a 2-0 score and also faced South Carolina and Stanford, who were ranked No. 11 and No. 2, respectively, by the NSCAA at time of competition. The Sooners received 13 points in this week's poll.

3. TOP-50 RPI
The first NCAA Women's Soccer RPI was released this week, and the Sooners found themselves within the top 50. OU checks in at No. 46 in the RPI, the third best in the Big 12. West Virginia (No. 14) and Texas Tech (No. 28) are the only Big 12 squads ranked ahead of the Sooners. Oklahoma State (No. 64), Kansas (No. 72) and Texas (No. 74) are all within the top 100 of the rankings. OU's Sunday opponent Iowa State checks in at No. 111.

4. DEPTH KEY FOR SOONERS
A total of 23 Sooners have made an appearance in at least one match this season. In nine contests, OU has recorded 21 goals from 11 different players. Notching multiple scores for the Sooners have been junior Caren Nelson with four, freshman Emily Parker with three and junior Liz Keester, sophomore Tori Bowman and freshman Kaylee Dao with two apiece. Additionally, seven players have at least one assist.

5. ROAD TO KANSAS CITY
The start of Big 12 play means the Sooners are on the road to Kansas City and the Big 12 Soccer Championship again. Last season, OU entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed but went on to finish as the runner-up to No. 1 seed West Virginia by a score of 1-0.

SCOUTING REPORTS

TEXAS TECH
• Texas Tech is 10-7-1 against OU. Last year, OU broke a six-match losing streak to the Red Raiders with a 1-0 double overtime victory in Lubbock, Texas.

• Eight Red Raiders have scored a combined 13 goals this season, led by senior midfielder/forward Caity Heap with three.

• Texas Tech has not lost since its season opener against USC and is coming off a 1-0 double overtime victory over previously-unbeaten South Florida on Sunday.

• Senior midfielder Alli Murphy was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 22 following her two-goal performance against South Florida.

IOWA STATE
• Sunday's contest between OU and Iowa State will mark the 20th time the two programs have met. The Cyclones lead the overall series, 9-8-2, but the Sooners took last year's matchup in Ames, Iowa, by a score of 1-0.

• The Cyclones are coming off a 2-0 victory over Drake on Sunday in Des Moines, Iowa, breaking a three-game losing streak where all the contests were decided by a goal.

• Seven players have combined to score 14 goals in 2015. Junior forward Koree Willer leads the way with four goals, three of which have come in the last two games, and three assists.

PROMOTIONS

Friday vs. Texas Tech
Military Appreciation Day - $4 admission with a military ID; balloon animals from 6-8 p.m.; postgame autographs

Sunday vs. Iowa State
Free sno cones from Eskimo Sno from 12-1 p.m.; face painting from 12-2 p.m.; postgame autographs

SOONER NOTEBOOK: WEEK SIX

SCOUTING REPORTS

PROMOTIONS

Players Mentioned

Tori Bowman

Kaylee Dao

Liz Keester

Caren Nelson

Caren Nelson

Emily Parker

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics