Sooners Top Cougars, 2-1

Sunday, September 22

Norman

1:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

5-3-2

Houston

3-6-0

HOU

Photo by: Ty Russell

September 22, 2019 | Soccer

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By: Lindsey Morrison

NORMAN – The Oklahoma soccer team wrapped up non-conference action with a victory, downing Houston, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at John Crain Field.

The Sooners improved to 5-3-2 on the season, while Houston fell to 3-6-0. With the win, OU is now 4-1-0 on Sundays.

"It's never bad to get back to winning ways and more importantly we wanted to get back to winning ways for the people that came out to watch today so mission accomplished in that sense," head coach Matt Potter said. "It is good to be back on the right side of a game. The more wins you can get in non-conference and the type of non-conference schedule we play every year is very competitive. The fact that we go in with five wins is very encouraging. Now we look forward to TCU and Texas Tech and it is going to be tough."

The Cougars took the lead in the 32^nd minute on an unassisted goal from Jazmin Grant. Grant dribbled through the middle of the box, firing a point-blank shot from 12-yards out.

The lead wouldn't last long as the Sooners would respond in the 37^th minute. Junior Erika Yost tallied her first goal of the year, perfectly curling a corner kick into the near post to knot things up at 1-1.

The Sooners would take a lead they would never relinquish in the 58^th minute off the foot of junior Yuuka Kurosaki. Freshman Jordan Lund crossed in the ball outside the 18-yard box, finding Kurosaki at the top of the six-yard box. Kurosaki headed the ball into the upper corner to give OU the 2-1 lead.

Sophomore Megan McClay improved to 4-2-1 on the year while Houston keeper Samantha Cude fell to 0-2-0.

OU outshot the Cougars 11-8 on the day, including a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal. Sophomore Jazzy Richards led the team with three shots. Yost and freshman Maya McCutcheon each netted a pair of shots, while Hailey Davidson, Kristina O'Donnell, Megan Nielsen and Kurosaki recorded one each.

The Sooners will open Big 12 play with a pair of road games. OU will face TCU on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in Fort Worth, Texas before travelling to Lubbock, Texas to face Texas Tech on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m.

"I think No. 1 the goal is to get the conference off to the same start that we did at the beginning of the year," Potter said. "It is almost like a new season beginning. We have to take all the lessons we learned along the way and be the best version of ourselves. I look forward to the challenge TCU and Texas Tech present. We look forward to them rising to the challenge of us too."