OU Faces Arkansas, Oklahoma State in Week Two

Thursday, August 25

Norman

7 PM CT

University of Oklahoma

Arkansas

Buy Tickets

OU Faces Arkansas, Oklahoma State in Week Two

August 24, 2022 | Soccer

Tickets vs. Arkansas Tickets at OSU Watch vs. Arkansas Watch vs. OSU Match Notes

Oklahoma

Arkansas

Oklahoma State

vs. Arkansas / Thursday / 7 p.m. CT / ESPN+ / LIVE STATS / TICKETS
at Oklahoma State / Sunday / 7 p.m. CT / ESPN+ / LIVE STATS / TICKETS

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma soccer team continues its 2022 season this weekend with a pair of matches. The Sooners welcome SEC foe Arkansas to John Crain Field on Thursday night for a 7 p.m. CT match before meeting Bedlam rival Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Sunday at 7 p.m. for a non-conference matchup with the Cowgirls. Both matches will be available to watch via ESPN+.

Tickets for Thursday's match are available via SoonerSports.com/tickets and available at the gate at John Crain Field. Adults are $7 and youth tickets are $5.

The Sooners are looking for their first win of the 2022 season after a 1-1 draw with Houston in the season opener last Thursday and a narrow 2-1 loss at Nebraska on Sunday.

Super senior Bri Amos and sophomore Bailey Wesco have tallied goals for OU in the Sooners' two early-season matches, with assists coming from freshmen Hali Hartman and Alexis Washington. Senior Makinzie Short has played all 180 minutes in net for OU, tallying 12 saves on the year.

WEEK TWO STORYLINES

• Defend John Crain Field: The Sooners were 6-2-1 a season ago on their home pitch, including winning four of their last five games in Norman. They opened the home slate last Thursday with a 1-1 draw with Houston.

• Preseason Picks: Oklahoma was picked sixth in the 2022 Big 12 Soccer Preseason Poll after a seventh-place finish in 2021. The Sooners received one first-place vote in this year's poll.

• Short Named Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week: Senior goalie Makinzie Short was named the Big 12 Conference's goalkeeper of the week after a career performance on Sunday in Lincoln, Neb. Short registered a career-high 10 saves in the match after a pair of saves in the opener vs. UH. She leads the Big 12 with her 12 saves after week one of competition.

• Coach Bard-Martel Back with the Sooners: Oklahoma GK coach Maryse Bard-Martel rejoined the Sooners this week after spending the previous month with the Canadian U-20 Women's National Team as the team's GK and set play coach. Former OU GK coach and current OKC Energy goalie coach Alexis Vizarelis stepped in for Bard-Martel while she was away, helping the Sooner keepers start the season.

• Newcomers Making Early Impact: OU welcomed 18 newcomers to the 2022 team and they are quickly making their impact known on the pitch. Eight freshmen or transfers have gotten at least one start in OU's first two matches: Cassie Clifton, Hali Hartman, Emma Hawkins (transfer), Hadley Murrell, Elizabeth Rapp, Makinzie Short (transfer), Chelsea Wagner and Alexis Washington. An additional six have seen playing time: Marianne Baltmanis, Morganne Eikelbarner, Ellie Geoffroy, Taylor Hunter (transfer), Zoe McCabe and Michelle Pak.

FOR THE FANS

• Thursday's match features a handful of fun promotions for the whole family. The match will be a "whiteout" as fans are encouraged to wear white, and the first 250 fans will receive a free OU soccer white t-shirt.

• A petting zoo will be on sight featuring: goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, turkeys, emus, llamas, alpacas, pigs, bunnies and cows.

• A bounce house will also be available for kids in attendance.

• 2022 posters are available at every home match and the Sooners sign autographs postgame.

NEW FACES

New faces will be on display for OU in 2022 as the Sooners have 18 newcomers on the roster: 14 true freshmen and four transfers. The 2022 recruiting class ranked 11^th in the country via Top Drawer Soccer and No. 1 in the Big 12. The class featured five recruits ranked in the top 20 for their region, including three four-stars, a trio of three-stars and a two-star prospect.

OU's four transfers (Brooke Amos, Emma Hawkins, Taylor Hunter, Makinzie Short) bring talent across the pitch. Hawkins looks to be a goal scorer for the Sooners, bringing 34 career goals in her three years at UCA. Short will look to start in goal with 62 career saves at Nebraska. Brooke Amos, younger sister of fifth-year veteran Bri Amos, made 15 starts a season ago as a freshman at Rogers State. Hunter played in 40 career games at North Texas as a defender, making 14 starts and scoring four goals over her three seasons in Denton.

Lead, Short Goalie of the Week _{Senior transfer addition Makinzie Short was named Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week after her week one performance of a combined 12 saves in two matches.}

KEY RETURNERS

Fifth-year senior and high-point scorer from a season ago, Bri Amos, looks to pick up where she left off in 2021. A career year from the Tulsa product saw her score six goals, make five assists and rack up 17 points for OU a season ago. She put 58% of her 46 shots on target and tallied a team-high three game winners. Second-year Sooners Leonie Weber and Ella Pappas bring back a combined five goals, five assists and three game-winning goals. Staples over the past few years in the midfield and on the defensive side, junior Cailey England (33 career starts) and sophomore Sheridan Michel (19 career starts), will look to continue their runs as vital pieces to Carr's squad.

Lead, England SOC _{Junior Cailey England is one of OU's four captains for 2022.}

UP NEXT

After the Sooners face Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Sunday, OU will meet two non-conference opponents next week: at North Texas on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. CT and back home vs. SMU on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.

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