Soccer Season Starts Thursday

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma soccer team opens the 2023 season this weekend with a pair of home matches at John Crain Field in Norman. The Sooners start the season Thursday evening at 7 p.m. CT vs. Tulsa before a Sunday 7 p.m. match vs. Oral Roberts. Tickets are still available via SoonerSports.com/tickets and both matches can be seen via SoonerVision on ESPN+.

SEASON STORYLINES

• Head Man Mott: Head coach Matt Mott begins his first season at the helm of the Sooners in 2023, bringing with him over 25 years of coaching experience, including the last 13 years as the head coach at Ole Miss (139-97-32 record). Mott brings with him two members of his staff at Ole Miss, Richard Beebe and Jessica Hiskey, as assistants in Norman. The newly- added third assistant spot for the Sooners will be Warren Russ, serving as GK coach.

• Old & New Faces: Four-year starter and senior captain Cailey England returns in 2023 with over 50 starts, while last season's leading goal-scorer Emma Hawkins is back for her fifth year as is sophomore Alexis Washington who recorded a program record nine assists to pace the team a season ago. Mott quickly added to the team when he started in April, adding seven student-athletes from the transfer portal in addition to the six freshmen entering their first season as Sooners. Super senior Dani Wolfe (Michigan) looks to contribute from the forward position, while her sister junior Andie Wolfe (Michigan State) is poised to chip in on the defensive side.

• Building Off 2022: The 2023 squad looks to build off a solid 2022 campaign that saw the Sooners go 9-8-3 and win the program's first postseason win since 2016. OU also went on an eight-game unbeaten streak and six-game win streak through the months of September and early October 2022. Both were the longest in each category since 2016. OU's nine wins were the most since 2016.

• Home-Opening Weekend for the Fans: This weekend's season-opening matches at the friendly confines of John Crain Field gives Sooner Nation the opportunity to get a first look at OU's 2023 soccer squad, as well as the first athletic events of the 2023-24 academic year. Fans can save time and money by purchasing their tickets online via the $4.05 ticket deal running for OU's matchups vs. two opponents from the 918 area code. In addition to ticket deals, Thursday night's pregame festivities will feature a petting zoo where fans can interact with all kinds of animals including llamas, goats, ponies and more!

Lead, Hawkins Big 12 _{The 2023 Sooners return 12 players with starting experience from a season ago, including last year's leading goal-scorer senior Emma Hawkins.}

UP NEXT

Following OU's season-opening weekend vs. Tulsa and ORU, Oklahoma continues the home slate next Thursday vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff at John Crain Field at 7 p.m. CT before the first road trip of the season takes the team to Alabama to face Samford on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 1 p.m. CT.

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

SEASON STORYLINES

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Players Mentioned

Cailey England

Emma Hawkins

Alexis Washington

Andie Wolfe

Danielle Wolfe

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics