Sooners Soar Past Golden Eagles, Move to 2-0

Sunday, August 20

John Crain Field

7 PM CT

University of Oklahoma

2-0-0, 0-0-0

Oral Roberts

0-1-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Oral Roberts	2	0	2
Oklahoma	2	2	4

Sooners Soar Past Golden Eagles, Move to 2-0

August 20, 2023 | Soccer

Box Score Box: OU 4, ORU 2 Photo Gallery

NORMAN — Oklahoma soccer moved to 2-0 on the season with a 4-2 win Sunday evening over Oral Roberts at John Crain Field.

Redshirt senior forward Emma Hawkins continued her exceptional start to the season with two goals in the match to bring her season total to five in two games. Chipping in OU's other two goals were junior Leonie Weber and sophomore Hadley Murrell.

"Really good game, they tested us from the opening whistle," said OU first-year head coach Matt Mott. "Give ORU a ton of credit, they're really well-coached and well-drilled in what they're trying to do. They gave us fits in the first half, we got on top at 2-1 and they came back with a really good counter-attack goal. We went in the locker room and talked about it and came out and worked a little harder defensively, stopped their momentum some and I thought we did a good job of that.

"Overall, certainly happy to be 2-0. I think it's really important that you can learn things in games and still win. That's a real positive."

The match started at a high pace as ORU (0-1-1) tallied the first goal in the fourth minute before Weber's goal in the 12th minute evened the score. Following a foul outside the 18-yard box, Weber executed a free kick to perfection, finding the upper right of the net for her second goal of the season.

OU (2-0-0) moved ahead in the 19th minute courtesy of great passing and a goal from Hawkins. Following a pass into the box from redshirt senior Dani Wolfe to Weber, Weber made the extra pass to Hawkins on the right side who buried her first goal of the match.

The Golden Eagles found the equalizer in the 27th minute from Hailey Nichols to bring the score to 2-2 at half.

The second 45 belonged to the Sooners as Oklahoma tallied a pair of goals in the 56th and 71st minutes.

In the 56th, after having her shot blocked, Murrell's second effort found the back left of the net for the sophomore's first career goal.

The Sooners distanced themselves in the 71st minute on another goal from Hawkins, assisted off a corner kick by redshirt sophomore Muriel Kroflin.

Oral Roberts had an opportunity in the 77th minute that was shut down by Sooner sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Ramey. Ramey collected six saves on the night to tie her career high.

With the win, Oklahoma starts a season 2-0-0 for the first time since the 2019 season when the program started 3-0-1.

OU's 10 goals through the first two games of the season are the most since the team scored 12 through two games in 2007.

The Sooners return to the pitch for another home match Thursday, Aug. 24th vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. CT start and can be seen via ESPN+. Tickets are still available via SoonerSports.com/tickets.

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