OU Opens Season at Texas

Friday, September 25

Austin, Texas

7 PM

University of Oklahoma

Texas

Photo by: Ty Russell

September 24, 2020 | Soccer

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NORMAN — The Oklahoma soccer team opens its 2020 season Friday night at Texas (0-2) inside Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. CT and the match can be watched on Longhorn Network and the ESPN app.

"It's been a long wait but we're really excited," said OU head coach Mark Carr. "I've been so proud of our team, our staff and everyone associated with our program. It's been a difficult period with everything going on but tomorrow night we get to play.

"We know it will be a tough opponent in Texas but every game in the Big 12 is a challenge. I'm looking forward to our team taking the first step together and hopefully we perform well and come out on the right end of the result."

Redshirt senior Lauren Haivala looks to help the Sooners top Texas for the first time since winning back-to-back contests in 2015 (2-1) and 2016 (2-1).

"I'm excited to finally get back out there," said Haivala. "We've faced some adversity the past couple of weeks but we're excited to get back on the field and play a game, especially against Texas."

"We all understand each other, on and off the field. The long preseason we had has been a benefit for us," the senior added. "We're excited to get out there and show what we have."

GAMEDAY STORYLINES

MATCH BASICS

The Sooners kick off their 2020 campaign with Red River rival Texas in Austin following postponements to OU's first two scheduled games of the season vs. Oklahoma State (Sept. 11) and at Kansas (Sept. 18) due to COVID-19 precautions.

OU, under first-year head coach Mark Carr, brings back 16 Sooners with starting experience from its 2019 squad along with the addition of four transfers and seven freshmen. The Longhorns come into the match 0-2 on the season following losses to No. 9 Kansas (0-1) and No. 14 TCU (0-3).

The two teams faced off in the regular season finale in 2019, with Texas edging Oklahoma in a double-overtime battle in Norman, 3-2.

WE'RE BACK

After playing two spring games in February and early March, victories over Stephen F. Austin and Texas Tech, the Sooners return to competition this fall after an unprecedented spring and summer.

The Big 12 Conference announced its revised 2020 soccer schedule Aug. 25, a slate that has Oklahoma scheduled to play nine conference games and no non conference opponents.

Each Big 12 team will play a single round-robin schedule, with the season running through Nov. 6. Teams are not permitted to play any non-conference opponents in the fall and make-up matches are permissible after Nov. 6 if necessary.

CARR'S FIRST SEASON

Lead, Carr Texas

OU Athletics Director Joe Castiglione announced the hiring of Mark Carr as head coach of the Sooners' soccer program in December 2019.

Carr has spent the last six years coaching with the U.S. Soccer Federation, serving the last year as head coach of the Under-20 Women's National Team as it prepared for World Cup qualifying in February 2020. He was also head coach of the University of San Francisco's women's team from the 2007 through 2011 seasons.

Prior to coaching the U.S. U-20 Women's National Team, Carr presided over the U-17 Women's National Team in 2017 and '18. He led USA to the 2018 Concacaf Women's U-17 Championship and earned a berth in the World Cup. His squad beat Haiti in the Concacaf semifinals and Mexico in the championship game and entered the World Cup with a 14-1-3 record.

In 2016, Carr coached a U.S. team that participated for the first time in the Concacaf U-15 Girls' Championship. He led the USA to shutout wins in all seven games, compiling a 49-0 goal difference. His squad defeated Costa Rico 5-0 in the semifinals and Canada 2-0 in the championship game to win the regional title.

Carr came to U.S. Soccer after spending three years (2012-14) as the Girls' Premier League Director and Technical Director for the Lonestar Soccer Club in Austin, Texas. He was also active in the Women's National Team programs, serving as a scout, helping run U.S. Soccer Training Centers in Texas and assisting with U-14 national camps.

From 2003 to 2011, Carr was a collegiate coach, first as an assistant at UCLA (2003-06) and then as the head coach at San Francisco, where his players won 16 all-conference honors. During his time at UCLA working with Ellis, the Bruins posted an 81-15-5 record, produced nine All- Americans, won four Pac-10 titles, advanced to four Final Fours and to two NCAA championship games. They also posted an 18-4 record in the NCAA Tournament.

Carr graduated from England's Bournemouth University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international marketing. A decorated amateur player, he competed on various youth teams until he was 18. He holds a USSF National "A" License, a USSF "A Youth" License, a USSF National "Goalkeeping" License and an English FA Coaching Certificate.

STAR-STUDDED STAFF

Carr announced the addition of former Oregon, Saint Louis and UNLV head coach Kat Mertz to his coaching staff in January.

Mertz, who has participated in nine NCAA Tournaments as a coach and who has 12 year of experience coaching in the U.S.W.N.T. program, spent the last seven seasons in charge at Oregon, guiding the Ducks to 47 wins and to a program-high No. 14 RPI ranking in 2018. She also served as head coach at Saint Louis (2012) and UNLV (2005-09) and as an assistant coach at Texas (2010-11), UCLA (2000-04) and Virginia (1999).

Mertz was the lead assistant coach at UCLA for five years (2000-04), teaming with Carr during the 2003 and '04 seasons. The Bruins reached the NCAA Tournament round of 16 in each of her five years in Westwood, advanced to the NCAA College Cup three times and won three Pac-10 championships.

A goalkeeper at North Carolina State (1994-97), where she helped the Wolfpack qualify for three NCAA Tournaments and reach the 1995 national quarterfinals, Mertz started 88 of a possible 90 matches. She still owns school records for saves in a career (436) and in a season (135 in 1994) and ranks third in career shutouts (24).

Mertz earned a bachelor's degree from N.C. State in natural resources, ecosystem assessment in 1998. She holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" national coaching license and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Advanced National Diploma. She is also a member of WeCOACH, an organization dedicated to the recruitment, advancement and retention of women coaches of all sports and levels.

Joining Mertz on Carr's 2020 staff is Maryse Bard-Martel (first name pronounced mah- REESE). Bard-Martel will serve as assistant coach and work with the OU goalkeepers following coaching stops at Missouri State and IMG Academy in Florida.
The Boisbriand, Quebec, native joins the Oklahoma staff after one year at IMG where she served as assistant coach for the girls soccer team.

Prior to her time in Florida, Bard-Martel spent two seasons at Missouri State as assistant coach and goalkeeper coach. She helped the Bears to a Missouri Valley Conference title and the program's second NCAA tournament appearance in 2017.

A four-year letterwinner at the University of Memphis (2013-16), Bard- Martel holds numerous career goalkeeper records with the Tigers.

She ranks first in career goalkeeper minutes played (7,259), second in career wins (44) and second in career saves (267). Additionally, Bard- Martel set freshman program records in saves (79), shutouts (6) and minutes played (1856:59).

On the international stage, Bard-Martel was a part of the U-17 Canadian National Team in the 2012 FIFA World Cup in Azerbaijan and was in the U-20 Canadian National Team Pool.

FAMILIAR FACES

The Sooners return 20 student-athletes, including five seniors, with playing experience for 2020. Sophomore Maya McCutcheon and senior Yuuka Kurosaki lead the returners in goals scored from 2019, each recording three last season.

Tovy Lead Senior Erika Yost looks to cap a strong career for the Sooners, having scored three goals in her OU career. Junior Megan Reilly also returns to the team in 2020, leading OU with five assists in 2019. Additionally, sophomores Carolina Berutti and Jordan Lund and junior Lauren Tovy started all 20 games for the Sooners a year ago. Sophomore Megan Nielsen will look to contribute in 2020 as well after seeing action in 16 games last season, recording two shots on goal.

Senior Emma Ledbetter is poised for a comeback season after missing 2019 due to injury after starting a combined 39 games for the Sooners as a freshman and sophomore. Redshirt senior Lauren Haivala will also bring veteran experience to the field. The fifth year senior looks to make a presence after starting all 16 games as a sophomore and five as a junior a season ago.

In goal, OU brings back three of its goalkeepers from 2019. Senior Nikki Panas looks to lead a group that includes junior Megan McClay and sophomore Leah Radow. Panas led the squad with 42 saves last season, tallying over 1,100 minutes played.

FRESH FACES

Head coach Mark Carr announced this spring four transfer additions to the 2020 Sooners.

Joining OU this fall will be Bri Amos from the University of Kansas, Reagan Glisson from the University of Georgia, Olivia Odle from Virginia Tech and Sakura Yoshida from Oregon.

Amos, a junior from the Tulsa area, started 35 games as a Jayhawk, recording one goal and four assists in a 2019 campaign that saw her start all 25 games. Glisson, a native of Savannah, Ga., played three seasons at UGA, appearing in 55 straight games and starting 51. In her three seasons as a Bulldog, Glisson scored 13 goals and recorded 10 assists. Odle, out of Matthews, N.C., brings ACC experience to the Sooners, having appeared in 12 games for the Hokies and making two starts.

The fourth and final transfer, Yoshida, comes to Norman from Washington state. The USWNT U20 team member was named a Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honoree a season ago as a freshman at Oregon.

Additionally, the Sooners bring in seven freshmen for 2020: CeCe Cross, Cailey England, Mary Kate Magness, Abby Mitchell, Mackenzie Rudden, Sydney Sharts and Jaycee Vladic.
Lead, SOC Yoshida

UP NEXT

The Sooners open their home slate by welcoming Texas Tech to Norman Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. CT. The match is scheduled to air on FOX Sports Oklahoma.