Sooners Set for Road Battle at Arkansas

Sunday, August 25

Fayetteville, Ark.

6:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

Arkansas

Photo by: Ty Russell

Sooners Set for Road Battle at Arkansas

August 24, 2019 | Soccer

SEC Network Live Stats

By: Lindsey Morrison

NORMAN-- After opening the season with a win at home, the Oklahoma soccer team will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for a Sunday night matchup with Arkansas at Razorback Field. The game is schedule for a 6 p.m. start on the SEC Network.

GAMEDAY STORYLINES

WIN NO. 1
The Sooners opened their 2019 season with a victory, defeating Albany, 1-0, Thursday night at John Crain Field. After a slow first half, OU came out firing in the final 45 minutes, finding the back of the net in the 48^th minute. Junior transfer Yuuka Kurosaki wasted no time as she curled a free kick beautifully into the goal to give OU the 1-0 lead. Sophomore goalkeeper Megan McClay posted her first clean sheet of the year in her first collegiate start.

STARTING STRONG
With a win in the season opener, the Sooners have now won six of eight home openers under eighth year head coach Matt Potter and nine of their last 11.

OFF TO SEC COUNTRY
The Sooners will face Arkansas for the first time since the 2014 NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks won the last meeting, 3-2, in Norman, but OU leads the all-time series 7-1. In program history, OU has shut out Arkansas three times, all by scores of 3-0. OU's last victory over the Razorbacks came in 2005 in Norman. The Sooners have never lost to Arkansas in four trips to Fayetteville.

ON THE HORIZON
Following opening weekend, the Sooners will face a pair of in-state rivals for week two. The first of two Bedlam battles with Oklahoma State will kick off on Thursday, Aug. 29. The Sooners will then travel to Tulsa on Sunday, Sept. 1, for a matchup against the Golden Hurricane.

2019 NEWCOMERS
This fall, the Oklahoma soccer team is joined by 13 freshmen in Caroline Berutti, Madison Dichiara, Nicola Lebakos, Jordan Lund, Maya McCutcheon, Megan Nielsen, Shalom Prince, Leah Radow, Sydney Sheehan, Jenna Sheely, Carsyn Smittle, Madison Stenslie and Taylor Tufts. The Sooners welcomed a trio of transfers in the offseason in midfielder Yuuka Kurosaki (Kentucky), defender Erika Middleton (Miami) and goalkeeper Nikki Panas (Arizona State).

"With the 2019 class we have added much needed depth at a number of positions, which in turn helps fuel the competition for playing time and places. Certainly, as a staff we are ready to see what the future can bring us with hard work, and a commitment to the program goals. This is an exciting time for all involved with Sooner soccer."

DAO NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12
Oklahoma redshirt senior Kaylee Dao was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Soccer Team, the conference office announced Aug. 6. A forward hailing from Tulsa, Okla., Dao has started 57 games in her four seasons with the Sooners. After missing the majority of her sophomore season due to injury, Dao has been the leading goal-scorer for the Sooners the last two seasons. She has tallied 16 goals in her career, including six game-winners.

SCOUTING REPORT

ARKANSAS
The Razorbacks opened their 2019 campaign with a 3-0 victory over UNC-Greensboro Thursday night in Greensboro, N.C. Arkansas outshout UNCG 27-2 on the night including a 14-1 shouts on goal edge. All three goals for the Razorbacks came in the second half.

Arkansas is coming off a 14-win season in 2018, their third consecutive year playing in the SEC Tournament final and fifth NCAA Tournament appearance. Head Coach Colby Hale has only missed the NCAA Tournament once since taking over in 2013. Arkansas returns a trio of starters who accounted for 19 of its 43 goals in 2018 in Tori Cannata, Taylor Malham and Marissa Kinsey.

UP NEXT

The Sooners will return to the friendly confines of John Crain Field for a non-conference matchup with Oklahoma State. The two teams will face off at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, Aug. 29.