Sooners Face TCU in Big 12 Semifinals

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma soccer team continues postseason play with the semifinals of the Big 12 Soccer Championship Thursday evening versus No. 2 seed TCU.

The six-seed OU (9-7-3, 3-5-2 Big 12) meets the Horned Frogs (11-3-5, 5-1-3) at 7 p.m. CT at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex in Round Rock, Texas. The match can be seen via Big 12 NOW on ESPN+.

After an impressive 2022 regular season, the Sooners advanced to Thursday's semifinal of the conference tourney with an upset win over three-seed Texas Tech on Sunday, 1-0.

SEMIFINAL STORYLINES

• Sooners on the Rise: The 2022 Oklahoma soccer team has caught people by surprise, after an 0-2-1 start, OU went on a eight-game unbeaten streak and six-game win streak through the months of September and early October. Both were the longest in each category since 2016. OU sits at 9-7-3, the best record under third-year head coach Mark Carr and the most wins since 2016.

The Sooners, the six seed in the Big 12 Championship, pulled off a dramatic upset over three-seed Texas Tech last Sunday, with freshman Michelle Pak scoring the game-winner, and match's only goal, with nine seconds remaining. The 1-0 win was OU's first win in the Big 12 tourney since 2016 and OU's first win over Tech since 2014. Pak was assisted on the game-winner from fellow freshmen Alexis Washington and Hadley Murrell.

OU is looking to make its third appearance in the Big 12 Soccer Championship finals and first since 2014. The Sooners have never won the Big 12 tournament title.

• The Rematch: OU upset then-No. 12 TCU, 2-1, in Norman on Oct. 20. It was OU's first ranked win since 2018 and the first in the Carr era. The loss was TCU's lone loss in Big 12 play this year. Freshman Ellie Geoffroy was the star for the Sooners, scoring the game-winner in the 82nd minute, her first collegiate goal.

• Record Setters: The Sooners have scored a goal in all 19 matches this season, marking the first time in program history a Sooner squad has scored in every match of the season. OU's 34 goals on the season is three goals shy from tying the single-season goals scored mark of 37, set by the 2005 and 2010 teams.

ALL-CONFERENCE SOONERS

Sophomore Sheridan Michel and freshmen Hali Hartman and Alexis Washington were named all- conference honorees this week by the Big 12. Michel collected All-Big 12 Second Team accolades, while Hartman and Washington were honored with All-Freshman Team status. Michel has led OU's stout backline and scored three goals from her defender position, while Hartman has one goal and started all 19 games as a frosh. Washington has a team-leading nine assists which is also good for a share of the lead in the Big 12.

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. Ten true freshmen have started for Coach Carr in 2022, and 13 of the 14 have seen playing time. Of OU's 34 goals on the year, 17 have come from newcomers, including 11 goals from freshmen.

• Hawkins Packs a Punch: Senior Emma Hawkins has proved to be OU's goalscorer this season. Hawkins leads OU with six goals and 13 points, taking 48 shots on the year and putting 23 SOG (48%).

• Alexis with the Assists: Freshman Alexis Washington has been instrumental to OU's offensive firepower in 2022, making nine assists on the year. Her nine assists broke a program single season record that dated back 17 years. Washington has made an assist in eight games this season and has one game with multiple assists. The San Antonio native has started 18 of OU's 19 games and put four shots on goal.

• Pak & Ramey Collect Top Drawer Soccer Honors: Oklahoma soccer freshmen Michelle Pak and Olivia Ramey were named honorable mentions to this week's Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week. Pak scored the game-winner in OU's win on Sunday over Texas Tech with nine seconds remaining, her third goal of the season and second GWG. Ramey collected her fourth clean sheet of her first-year campaign, shutting out the Red Raiders with a pair of saves.

Lead, Pak SOC Big 12s _{Freshman Michelle Pak was the star in OU's quarterfinal win over Texas Tech last Sunday, scoring the game-winner with nine seconds remaining.}

KEY RETURNERS

Fifth-year senior and high-point scorer from a season ago, Bri Amos, has picked up where she left off, scoring five goals in 2022 to go with two assist and 12 points. Leading OU's stout backline is defender Sheridan Michel who has started all but two games for OU in her two seasons on campus (39 career starts). Michel has tallied three goals this season, while fellow sophomore Leonie Weber has chipped in four goals and 18 shots on goal. Junior captain Cailey England has been a force in the midfield since stepping on campus, starting 51 career games.

Lead, Michel SOC _{Sophomore Sheridan Michel was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team this week, OU's first All-Big 12 honor since 2019.}

UP NEXT

With a win on Thursday night, OU would advance to the Big 12 Soccer Championship Game and meet the winner of No. 1 seed Texas versus four-seed West Virginia. The championship matchup would be Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. CT in Round Rock. The match will be shown on ESPNU.

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