Sooners Set for In-State Battle at Tulsa

NORMAN -- The Oklahoma soccer team will face another in-state rival on Sunday when it travels to Tulsa for a 7:30 p.m. CT matchup with the Golden Hurricane.

GAMEDAY STORYLINES

BEDLAM DRAW
Senior Kaylee Dao was the difference maker, netting a pair of goals in the second half with the Sooners down 2-0. The Tulsa, Okla., native had one of her best offensive performances as she tallied eight shots with six on goal. Dao's first goal of the night came off a penalty kick in the 75^th minute after an OSU handball. Dao easily converted the attempt, making it a 2-1 game.

With just three minutes to go in regulation, Dao once again found the back of the net. From the corner of the 18-yard box, Dao sent a cross into the opposite corner to pull the Sooners even with the Cowgirls in the 87^th minute.

WEEKENDS ARE FOR WARRIORS
The Sooners faced a tough opening weekend facing a pair of 2018 NCAA Tournament teams. OU secured its first season opening win since 2014, defeating Albany 1-0 on Aug. 22. Yuuka Kurosaki, a junior transfer from Kentucky, tallied her first goal as a Sooner to lead OU to victory. On Aug. 25, the Sooners hit the road for Fayetteville, Ark., to face a Razorback squad that won 14 games in 2018. Senior Kaylee Dao scored the double-overtime golden goal to lift the Sooners to the 1-0 win.

PANAS RECOGNIZED BY BIG 12
Goalkeeper Nikki Panas was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after helping lead the Oklahoma soccer team to a victory at Arkansas.
A transfer from Arizona State, Panas was instrumental in the Sooners' double-overtime road victory on Sunday night. In her first appearance in the Crimson and Cream, Panas recorded a pair of saves and made multiple clutch plays to keep the Razorbacks off the board.

ON THE HORIZON
The Sooners will continue their road swing with four games away from Norman. OU will head to Arizona for a pair of games against Arizona (Sept. 6) and Arizona State (Sept. 8), before returning to the Midwest. OU will travel to former Big 12 foe Nebraska on Sept. 13 and wrap up the road swing at Creighton on Sept. 15.

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

Tulsa is 2-0-0 on the season afted defeating Arkansas-Little Rock on Friday night. Tulsa took a 2-0 lead into halftime an added an insurance goal in the second half after Little Rock made it a 2-1 game. The Golden Hurricane secured an impressive win in its season opener over Texas Southern on Aug. 23, winning 7-0. Seven different players all scored in the match as Tulsa outshot Southern 22-2.

UP NEXT

The Sooners will travel to Arizona for a pair of matches. OU will face Arizona at 9 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 6, before heading to Arizona State on Sunday, Sept. 8 for a 7 p.m. kickoff.