OU Opens Home Slate Friday Against Arizona

Arizona vs. ¹⁶ Oklahoma
Aug. 18 | 7 p.m. CT | Norman, Okla.

¹⁶ Oklahoma at SMU
Aug. 20 | 7 p.m. CT | Norman, Okla.

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FCSA, FSOK // FOX Sports Go (vs. Arizona)

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2016 STATISTICAL COMPARISON
	OU	UA	SMU
Record	14-7-2	9-9-1	13-7-2
Goals	36	28	48
Assists	26	19	45
Points	98	75	141
Shots	295	296	322
Corner Kicks	86	93	129
Saves	74	69	55
Shutouts	9	7	6
Goals Allowed	22	25	23

NORMAN — Oklahoma opens its 2017 campaign with its home opener against Arizona on Friday before traveling to SMU on Sunday to wrap up the opening weekend of action. Friday night's match against the Wildcats at 7 p.m. CT. OU's match at SMU is set to begin at 7 p.m. CT. Sunday.

OU defeated Arizona on the road last year, 2-1, in Tucson. The Sooners defeated SMU, 1-0, in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament.

Friday's match will air through Sooner Sports TV on FOX College Sports Atlantic and Fox Sports Oklahoma as well as the FOX Sports Go app. Chad McKee and former OU soccer player Molly Ritchie will call the action, and Megan McDonald will be on the sidelines. The matches will also air on KREF radio (99.3 FM, 1400 AM).

GAMEDAY STORYLINES

NEW YEAR BEGINS
After advancing to the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament, the Oklahoma soccer team begins its 2017 campaign with six returning starters from last year's team that finished 14-7-2. The journey begins this weekend as the Sooners host Arizona and SMU.

OU has won four of its last five home openers under head coach Matt Potter. The Sooners are unbeaten in eight consecutive home openers dating back to the 2008 season.

FAMILIAR FOES
Oklahoma faced both Arizona and SMU last season with the Sooners winning both matchups by a one-goal margin. The Sooners topped Arizona on the road, 2-1, last year behind a pair of second-half goals. Rachel Ressler scored the equalizer in the 55th minute and Liz Keester gave OU the lead in the 81st minute to give OU the victory.

OU's 1-0 win over SMU was historic for the program, marking the Sooners' first-ever victory in the NCAA Tournament. Paige Welch headed home a free kick in the box from Tori Bowman for the decisive goal as goalkeeper Kassidie Stade turned in her ninth shutout of the season. The win also allowed the Sooners to set the program record for single-season victories with 14.

ARIZONA SOONERS
Four Sooners hail from the state of Arizona: junior Bethany Block (Phoenix), redshirt sophomore Kyle Escobedo (Phoenix), junior Emily Parker (Tucson) and freshman Erika Yost (Fountain Hills). OU's list of former players that are from Arizona include 2016 All-Big 12 selections Jemma Cota and Rachel Ressler.

EXHIBITION RECAP
No. 16 Oklahoma soccer dropped a 1-0 decision in its exhibition match against No. 8 BYU Friday night at the OU Soccer Complex. OU put pressure on BYU's backline early in the match and controlled possession throughout much of the first 45 minutes of the contest, but could not find the back of the net. BYU generated the majority of its scoring opportunities in the second half, recording 11 shots. OU redshirt sophomore Kaylee Dao registered three shots in her return to action. Freshman McKinley Crone started in goal for OU and logged six saves in 66 minutes during her first collegiate action.

SOONERS PICKED THIRD
Oklahoma was picked third in the Big 12 Soccer Preseason Poll in a vote of conference coaches. This matches the highest preseason Big 12 ranking in program history for the Sooners, with the 2016 squad also claiming third.

WELCH NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 TEAM
Oklahoma junior defender Paige Welch was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Soccer Team on Aug. 9. The Austin, Texas, native has started all 41 games she has played in as a Sooner. In her two first two seasons, Welch has helped OU to 17 shutouts. Welch owns three career goals, all game winners. Her 12th-minute goal against SMU in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament helped the Sooners advance during last year's postseason run.

SCOUTING REPORTS

ARIZONA
• Arizona finished seventh in the Pac 12 standings and posted a 9-9-1 overall record in 2016. The Wildcats are under the direction of fifth-year head coach Tony Amato, who is 43-30-9 at Arizona.

• Senior forward Gabi Stoian headlines the attack for Arizona. Stoian led the team with six goals and ranks second all-time in program history with 25 goals. Lainey Burdett returns for the Wildcats in goal after recording seven shutouts a year ago.

SMU
• SMU returns nine starters and 17 letterwinners from last year's NCAA Tournament squad. Forwards Vanessa Valadez, Allie Thornton and Blair Thorpe paced the Mustangs' attack, combing for 24 goals, 16 assists and 75 shots on goal. Thornton and Valadez were recently named to the All-AAC preseason squad.

• Midfielder Claire Oates tied for the team lead in goals last year with 10, six of which were game-winners. The senior was an All-AAC second team selection a year ago and was a 2017 preseason All-AAC pick. On the back line, SMU looks to replace two starters, but returns AAC all-freshman team selection Jessica Cooley.

PROMOTIONS

Friday vs. Arizona
Face painting from 6-8 p.m.; Giveaway: schedule cards and posters; Postgame autographs

UP NEXT

The Sooners return home next weekend as they host a pair of matches at the OU Soccer Complex. OU takes on in-state rival Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. CT on Friday in a Bedlam non-conference match before hosting Tulsa at 6 p.m. CT next Sunday.