Sooners Fall Short to No. 14 OSU

STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma soccer team battled with No. 14 Oklahoma State, but a pair of converted second-half penalties for OSU separated the two sides as the Sooners were downed 2-0 in Stillwater Saturday.

"Obviously disappointed in the result, but I'm proud of how resilient we were," head coach Mark Carr said. "We had some good chances to equalize out there today from Jazzy (Richard's) header and Paige (Thompson's) free kick, but just came up short. Oklahoma State is a good team and a tournament team, and we aren't far off. The future is really bright."

The Sooners came out firing with Bri Amos putting a shot on goal in the first minute of action, but the Oklahoma State keeper was able to keep the ball from completely crossing the end line to keep OU off the board. The Sooners would put three more shots up in the first 45 minutes but couldn't find the opening goal.

The second half would prove to be the difference for the two sides, as Oklahoma State got on the board in the 50th minute after an Oklahoma handball in the box gave the Cowgirls a penalty that Grace Yochum converted. The Sooners tried to answer in the 63rd when Megan Reilly fed a through ball into the box, but before Bri Amos could connect, the Cowgirls' keeper scooped it up, ending the threat.

"We have to stop giving up PKs in the box," Carr added. "It's something we have to stop quickly. We've talked about it, brought awareness to it. We've addressed how to defend it and now it's just about execution. We have to execute. It's not always about the person giving away the PK, but the events in the build up to the penalty or how we don't leave people to defend on their own."

Maya McCutcheon was fouled in the 72nd minute just outside of the 18-yard box to give Oklahoma another chance. Paige Thompson lined up for the free kick and fired a shot into the box, ricocheting off OSU's keeper, who then scooped it up before a Sooner could finish it.

"When you look back to where we were in the fall, we're definitely getting more chances now," Carr said. "In the fall, I felt like we were a very defensive team, and now we're a team that's still defensive, but we're able to jump out and be more proactive. It may not show up on the big scoreboard, but the development is there, and we're moving in the right direction."

As Carr's team pressed for an equalizer, the Sooners got caught on a counter-attack in the 85th minute. A tackle in the box led to another Oklahoma State penalty, which Olyvia Dowell netted to make the final score 2-0.

Leah Radow had a pair of saves in the first half to keep things even, including a 14th-minute save off an OSU counter. The sophomore goalkeeper finished the afternoon with a career-high five saves.

The Sooners finished with seven shots, the second most of the spring slate.

Oklahoma will return home for the final two games of the season, hosting Baylor on April 10 and Kansas State on April 17.

Players Mentioned

Bri Amos

Maya McCutcheon

Leah Radow

Megan Reilly

Paige Thompson

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics