Dao’s Golden Goal Lifts Sooners to Victory

Sunday, August 25

Fayetteville, Ark.

6:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

2-0-0

Arkansas

1-1-0

Oklahoma

Arkansas

Photo by: Ty Russell

Dao’s Golden Goal Lifts Sooners to Victory

August 25, 2019 | Soccer

Box Score Highlights Box Score Bedlam Next Tickets

By: Lindsey Morrison

NORMAN – Kaylee Dao was golden.

An overtime golden goal in the 105^th minute by Dao ensured the Oklahoma soccer team a 1-0 victory over Arkansas Sunday night in Fayetteville, Ark.

"(Tonight was) tough conditions and a tough environment against a tough team," head coach Matt Potter said. "We found out something about ourselves and kudos to all the staff for their work behind the scenes in preparing the group. However, the night belongs to the players. They showed the character needed and moments of the quality we believe they have in them."

The Sooners improved to 2-0 on the year and posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since last season when they shut out Kansas State and Texas Tech on Sept. 23 and 28, respectively.

"Starting the season 2-0 with two clean sheets against two great teams and with so many players contributing early, the signs are very encouraging," Potter said. "We will certainly enjoy this one and then go back to work tomorrow."

With no scoring opportunities in the first overtime period for either side, it looked as though the match would end in a scoreless draw.

Five minutes in to the second overtime period, sophomore Hailey Davidson took a point-blank shot that was deflected off the Arkansas keeper. Dao collected the rebound, took a shot from close range and found the back of the net to end the game.

The Sooners came out aggressive in the first half. In the eighth minute, junior Yuuka Kurosaki had a good look on goal, but sent her shot attempt wide of the post. Just moments later, sophomore Megan Reilly took a chance to put the Sooners on the board, but her attempt was saved by the Arkansas keeper.

Late in the first half, the Sooners put on the offensive pressure, firing off multiple shot attempts in the final seven minutes.

Sophomore Lauren Tovy tried a shot from the top of the 18-yard box in the 38^th minute but didn't get enough power to push it past the Razorbacks keeper. Junior Erika Yost looked like she might be able to find the back of the net just a minute later but had her shot saved.

The OU defense came up clutch in the second half, preventing an Arkansas goal on a scrum in front of the net. In the 71^st minute, Arkansas earned a corner kick and fired off three consecutive shots. The OU defense and keeper Nikki Panas blocked all the Arkansas attempts to keep the game scoreless.

The first overtime period saw both teams fighting to control possession, with neither being able to find any scoring opportunities. Neither team recorded a shot in the first 10 minutes of extra play.

Panas recorded a pair of saves in goal and came off her line to make multiple clutch plays throughout the game.

The Sooners return to the friendly confines of John Crain Field for the annual non-conference Bedlam battle on Thursday, Aug. 29. The Sooners and Cowgirls will kick off at 7 p.m.