Soccer Closes Home Slate with TCU, WVU

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma soccer team returns to John Crain Field in Norman this week for its final two regular season home matches of 2022.

OU (7-5-3, 2-3-2 Big 12) meets No. 12 TCU (9-2-4, 4-0-2) for a 7 p.m. CT match Thursday night prior to facing West Virginia (5-4-6, 2-1-3) on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Both matches can be seen on Big 12 NOW on ESPN+.

Thursday's match serves as OU Soccer's 'Unity Match'. The team will debut its new alternate uniform, designed by a group of OU student-athletes to emphasize the importance of togetherness and building relationships to better society. OU's other varsity sports are slated to wear "Unity" uniforms during their seasons this academic year. Sunday's match will be Senior Day for three OU seniors: Bri Amos, Taylor Hunter and Makala Thomas. All three Sooners found a home in Norman after transferring in, and have all succeeded in ushering in a new era of Oklahoma Soccer.

WEEK 10 STORYLINES

• Finish Strong: The Sooners responded to an 0-2-1 start by going on an eight-game unbeaten streak and six-game win streak through the months of September and October. OU's 7-5-3 mark is the best start through 15 games under third-year head coach Mark Carr. The team's eight-match unbeaten streak and six-game win streak that was snapped Oct. 2 with a narrow 2-1 loss vs. Texas Tech was the longest of each category since the 2016 season (8 straight).

• Record-Breaking Crowd: Sooner Nation showed out in OU's last match at John Crain Field on Oct. 6 vs. Oklahoma State. The program set a new attendance record with a crowd of 3,197. It marked the largest at a Big 12 game this season, ranked third largest this season involving a Big 12 team and 18th largest for any Division I game in 2022. The previous attendance record at John Crain Field was 2,475 on Sept. 7, 2012 vs. Oklahoma State.

• Everybody Gets a Goal: The Sooners have had 10 different goal scorers in 2022, including four freshmen tallying at least one goal. Additionally, eight Sooners have two-plus goals and five have three or more. Eleven Sooners have also made at least one assist this season.

• Postseason Coming Soon: OU closes the regular season next Thursday at No. 23 Texas in Austin. The Sooners currently hold a tie with Kansas State for the No. 6 spot in the conference with seven points. The Big 12 Soccer Championship takes place in Round Rock, Texas, Oct. 30-Nov. 6.

NEW FACES CONTINUE TO SHINE

New faces have been on display for OU in 2022 as the Sooners have 18 newcomers: 14 true freshmen and four transfers. The 2022 recruiting class ranked 11th in the country via Top Drawer Soccer and No. 1 in the Big 12. Nine true freshmen have started for Coach Carr in 2022, and 13 of the 14 have seen playing time. Of OU's 28 goals on the year, 14 have come from newcomers, including eight goals from freshmen.

• Hawkins Packs a Punch: Senior transfer Emma Hawkins has proved to be OU's goalscorer this season. Hawkins leads OU with six goals and 12 points, taking 42 shots on the year and putting 19 SOG (45%).

• Washington Named Top Drawer Soccer Midseason Top 100 Freshman: OU freshman Alexis Washington was recently named the No. 23 freshman in the country according to Top Drawer Soccer's Midseason Women's Top 100 Freshmen list. Washington leads the team with six assists and has started 14 of OU's 15 matches.

Lead, Washington SOC at NEB _{Freshman Alexis Washington was ranked the No. 23 freshman in the country according to Top Drawer Soccer.}

KEY RETURNERS

Fifth-year senior and high-point scorer from a season ago, Bri Amos, has picked up where she left off, scoring four goals in 2022 to go with one assist and nine points. Leading OU's stout backline is defender Sheridan Michel who has started all but one game for OU in her two seasons on campus (36 career starts). Michel has tallied three goals this season, while fellow sophomore Leonie Weber has chipped in three goals and 16 shots on goal. Junior captain Cailey England has been a force in the midfield since stepping on campus, starting 47 career games.

Lead, Amos Baylor _{Senior captain Bri Amos is one of three OU seniors set to be honored on Sunday during Senior Day vs. West Virginia.}

UP NEXT

After OU's final homestand this week, the Sooners will meet Red River rival Texas in the regular season finale on Oct. 27 in Austin. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. CT start and can be seen on Longhorn Network.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma Soccer, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_WSoccer) and like Oklahoma Soccer on Facebook.