Soccer Faces TCU on Senior Night

NORMAN — The OU soccer team (0-4-1) returns to action Friday evening at John Crain Field in Norman for a matchup with the No. 4 TCU Horned Frogs (6-0-1). The match will serve as senior night, honoring OU's six seniors.

"Senior night is always a special night," said OU head coach Mark Carr. "Being a new coach, what's really impressed me about this group is their willingness to be a part of something different and new. The collective buy-in from them has been incredible.

"What they've achieved and the experiences they've had go back before I was here and I hope we play for them tomorrow night. Regardless of result, the footprints and the hands they've had in solidifying where we want to go will have a lasting impact.

On Friday night's matchup, the head coach looks for the Sooners to replicate much of their performance from last week against West Virginia.

"When we show our standard of performance like we did last week, that needs to become the expectation," said Carr. "We have a chance to replicate that standard of performance and build on it and that will be the challenge for us. We know TCU is very good and talented, but it's really on ourselves if we can bring that same level of intensity and competitiveness and execute our game plan. If we do that we'll give ourselves the best chance of getting a good result tomorrow night."

GAMEDAY STORYLINES

MATCH BASICS

The game marks the second consecutive week that OU has faced off against the top team in the conference standings after last week's bout with WVU. TCU overtook the top spot in the Big 12 following a 3-2 overtime victory over Kansas State on Oct. 25.

Friday's game is available to watch on a subscription basis via SoonerSports.tv.

The Sooners and Frogs last met Sept. 26 last season, a 2-0 TCU victory in Fort Worth. The Sooners saw looks from current senior Yuuka Kurosaki, junior Lauren Tovy and then-senior Kristina O'Donnell. OU keeper Nikki Panas recorded four saves in goal.

SENIOR NIGHT

Friday's match serves as senior night to honor OU's six seniors in 2020: Reagan Glisson, Yuuka Kurosaki, Nikki Panas, Emma Ledbetter, Erika Yost and Lauren Haivala.

Coming to Norman for her senior season, Glisson has been a leader on the pitch for OU, pacing the Sooners in shots with 11 and shots on goal with 4, along with scoring one goal.

Kurosaki has made the most of her two years in Norman, playing in 22 games and starting 13 for the Sooners. The Japan native has scored four goals, two of which were game winners.

OU's Canadian keeper, Panas, has been a force in goal for the Sooners in her two seasons in Norman, starting 17 games and registering 66 saves and counting. She's also recorded six games with five-plus saves.

The first of OU's four-year seniors, Ledbetter has played in 39 games for the Sooners, making 36 starts. She's tallied 22 shots with five on goal in her career and is an Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree.

A leader on and off the pitch for the Sooners, Yost has started 28 games for OU since her freshman year, recording 53 shots, 15 on goal, to go with three goals and one game-winner. Yost is also a two-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree.

OU's lone fifth-year senior, Haivala has started 26 games for the Sooners, registering 18 shots with six on goal. The 2020 captain is also an Academic All-Big 12 honoree.

LAST TIME OUT

The Sooners are coming off a competitive 1-0 loss to No. 6 West Virginia Oct. 23 in Norman. WVU scored the game's only goal in the 20th minute off a deflection in the box.

The Sooners held their own against the Mountaineers, who hold the second spot in the conference standings. West Virginia narrowly edged OU in shots, 12-8. The game was competitive throughout with OU committing 12 fouls to the Mountaineers 10.

Sophomore Sakura Yoshida and senior Reagan Glisson led OU with two shots on the night, each recording one on goal. Freshman Abby Mitchell, junior Olivia Odle, and seniors Erika Yost and Yuuka Kurosaki all had one look a piece. Senior Nikki Panas registered seven saves in goal for the Sooners.

TEAM EFFORT

OU's squad has spread the wealth in terms of shots in 2020, averaging nearly 12 shots per game.

15 Sooners have taken a shot this season, with 10 Sooners registering shots on goal. Senior Reagan Glisson leads all Sooners with 11 shots and four on goal in the season, with fellow transfer Bri Amos right behind her with seven looks this season and two being on goal.

Sophomore Sakura Yoshida and freshman Cailey England have each recorded six looks with Yoshida registering four looks on goal, good for second on the team.

UP NEXT

The Sooners hit the road for the first time in three weeks for a matchup vs. Baylor on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. CT. The match will air on Big 12 NOW on ESPN+.

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