Soccer Narrowly Falls to Omaha

Sunday, September 17

Omaha, NE

1 PM CT

University of Oklahoma

4-4-1, 0-0-1

Omaha

3-3-2, 0-0-0

Oklahoma

Omaha

Photo by: Morgan Givens, OU Athletics

September 17, 2023 | Soccer

Box Score Final Stats

By: OU Athletics Communications

OMAHA, Neb. – Oklahoma was the more pressing team, outshooting Omaha 20-5 on Sunday afternoon, but the Sooners could not equalize in the second half, falling 2-1 to Omaha in their final non-conference test of the season.

After surrendering a pair of goals in the first half, Esalenna Galekhutle notched her first goal as a Sooner to pull OU within one, but Oklahoma (4-4-1, 0-0-1 Big 12) wasn't able to find the match-tying goal despite several chances in the box.

Omaha opened the contest attacking the OU backline early, scoring the match's first goal in the 12th minute on just its second shot of the day. Oklahoma nearly responded in the 14th minute when an Emma Hawkins shot forced Omaha (3-3-2) goalkeeper Emma Konsmo to make a save. But a few minute later, a corner kick from the Mavs led to a sustained attack that led to Omaha's second goal of the afternoon, making it 2-0 in the 20th minute. Through the first 20 minutes of the contest, OU outshot the Mavs 4-3, but over the remaining 70 minutes, the Sooners controlled the game, outshooting UNO 16-2.

In the second half, OU threatened, with Muriel Kroflin and Leonie Weber registering shots early in the second 45. Oklahoma's breakthrough finally arrived in the 62nd minute when Alexis Washington dashed down the right side, past her mark and delivered a perfectly-placed cross into the box that found Esalenna Galekhutle, who headed it past the keeper for her first goal as a Sooner to make it 2-1.

Washington's assist was her team-high fifth of the season and 14th of her career. She needs one more assist to enter into a tie for second in career assists at Oklahoma. The record of 18 is held by Lauren MacIver (2002-05).

After Galekhutle's goal, OU continued to press higher up the pitch as head coach Matt Mott's team tallied seven more shots, including three on frame, over the rest of the contest, but Konsmo made a trio of game-clinching saves to send Oklahoma home with a 2-1 loss.

The Sooners return to John Crain Field on Thursday at 7 p.m. for a conference matchup against Kansas State. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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