Soccer Set for Week Two Matchups

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma soccer team continues the 2023 season this weekend with a pair of non-conference matches. OU concludes its three-game home stand to start the season on Thursday with an 8 p.m. CT match vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff at John Crain Field. Sunday marks the Sooners first road contest as the team travels to Birmingham, Ala., to face Samford at 1 p.m. Both matches can be seen via ESPN+. Tickets are still available for Thursday's game via SoonerSports.com/tickets and both matches can be seen via SoonerVision on ESPN+.

SEASON STORYLINES

• Starting Fast: The Sooners and first-year head coach Matt Mott opened the 2023 season at a scorching pace last weekend, going 2-0 with wins over Tulsa (6-0) and ORU (4-2), scoring a combined 10 goals. It was the most goals through two games since the 2007 team had 12 in the first two matches. OU starts a season 2-0 for the first time since 2019, when the program began 3-0-1.

• Emma En Fuego: Oklahoma redshirt senior forward Emma Hawkins has led OU with a record-breaking two-game start to her final college season. Hawkins was named United Soccer Coaches Player of the Week and Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week after scoring a combined five goals and putting up 11 points last week. Hawkins' had a hat trick in the season opener to tie the program single-game record for goals, and she set the program record for single-game points with seven vs. Tulsa. Hawkins' has scored multiple goals in consecutive matches for the first time in her career, and her national honor was the first for OU since 2012 (Renae Cuellar).

• 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.

Lead, Hawkins POTW _{Emma Hawkins earned OU's first national player of the year honor since 2012 after her five-goal performance in OU's two games last week.}

UP NEXT

Following OU's pair of matches this weekend, the Sooners continue their road swing with two matches in Spokane, Wash., next week. Thursday the Sooners will face Gonzaga on their home field before a Sunday neutral-site match vs. Montana.

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