Soccer Drops Opener to Cougars

Thursday, August 19

Houston, Texas

7 PM

University of Oklahoma

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Houston

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Oklahoma	1	0	1
Houston	1	2	3

SOC - University of Oklahoma vs University of Houston

Photo by: For Oklahoma Athletics

August 19, 2021 | Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: OU Athletics Communications

HOUSTON – The Oklahoma soccer team opened its season with a 3-1 loss at Houston on Thursday night.

Despite firing nine shots and tallying more corners than Houston, the Sooners (0-1-0) allowed two second-half goals in a three-minute span that proved to be too much to overcome.

Houston (1-0-0) opened the match with a goal off a rebound in the box in the 19th minute to take a 1-0 lead. But the Sooners pressed high for an equalizer and found one in the 28th minute when Bri Amos intercepted the UH clearance and fired a shot on net, forcing the Cougar keeper to make a save, which deflected toward Cailey England, who buried the second goal of her career to tie the match.

Oklahoma opened the second half in good form, creating three strong chances in the first 15 minutes, but second-year head coach Mark Carr's team wasn't able to net its second goal. Houston would find a go-ahead goal in the 65th minute and then a final goal in the 68th to claim the 3-1 victory.

Nine of Carr's 16 newcomers, including six freshmen, saw action at Carl Lewis Field in the match. Leonie Weber, Muriel Kroflin, Alexis Strickland, Molly Feighan and Sheridan Michel all earned their first starts wearing the Crimson and Cream.

Senior, Bri Amos, led OU with three shots and two on goal, while Strickland added two more. Makala Thomas made her Oklahoma debut and nearly gave OU the lead in the 40th minute as her first shot as a Sooner went just high of the crossbar. Canadian freshman, Keera Melenhorst, was strong for the Sooners in her debut, creating multiple chances in the second half.

Junior goalkeeper Leah Radow collected four saves in the loss.

The Sooners return to the field on Sunday night when they travel to Beaumont, Texas, to take on Lamar at 7:30 p.m. OU will then open its home slate on Thursday, August 26, when it hosts Oklahoma State in a non-conference Bedlam match at 7 p.m.