Sooners Remain Unbeaten in Norman, Beat K-State 2-0

Thursday, September 21

John Crain Field

7 PM CT

University of Oklahoma

5-4-1, 1-0-1

Kansas State

2-5-3, 0-1-1

Kansas St.

Oklahoma

Sooners Remain Unbeaten in Norman, Beat K-State 2-0

September 21, 2023 | Soccer

Box Score Big 12 Standings Game Book

By: OU Athletics Communications

NORMAN – Oklahoma knocked off Kansas State, 2-0, in Norman on Thursday night to stay unbeaten at home and in Big 12 play.

Oklahoma's (5-4-1, 1-0-1 Big 12) win extended its unbeaten streak at home to six matches, now the second-longest sprint in program history behind only an eight-game home win streak in 2005. An early goal from Cailey England and an own goal from Kansas State (2-5-3, 0-1-1 Big 12) paired with a first-career clean sheet from Sierra Giorgio were enough to power the Sooners to victory.

"That was a pretty complete game for us," first-year head coach Matt Mott said after the win. "I thought that was probably our most complete game of the season against a really tough Kansas State team. We scored early and then had a couple of good looks to get a second one in the first half, but didn't get it until the second half. We got some breathing room after that and we're really happy to get a complete, team performance."

The Sooners got off to their fastest start of the season as Leonie Weber took a corner kick just as the clock passed the one-minute mark. Her service found the back of Andie Wolfe as the ball floated to Cailey England, who headed it off the crossbar and into the goal to make it 1-0 at the 1:14 mark. It was Oklahoma's seventh-fastest goal in program history and the fourth goal of England's college career.

The rest of the first half was nearly even as OU held a narrow 5-4 lead in shots, but a dominant 6-1 advantage from the corner spot as Mott's team had 60% of the half's possession.

Determined to create separation on the scoreboard in the second half, Oklahoma pressed early out of the break, which paid off eight minutes into the half when Alexis Washington drew a foul just outside the right side of the 18-yard box, leading to a dangerous set piece for Oklahoma. Weber sent the ball into the box where it found K-State's Kenzi Gillispie, who, in an attempt to clear it, sent the ball past the Wildcats' goalkeeper for an own goal to give the Sooners a 2-0 lead in the 53rd minute.

In the 65th minute, Muriel Kroflin nearly added a third Oklahoma goal when her right-footed attempt from 25 yards out struck the right post and went back into play. The Sooners then played the possession game, forcing the Wildcats to send attackers forward to threaten the OU backline. K-State's best chance came in the 69th minute when Gillispie headed a corner toward frame, forcing OU goalkeeper Sierra Giorgio to make one of her five saves on the night. Giorgio's five saves were her most of the season as the redshirt sophomore registered her first career clean sheet as Oklahoma dispatched Kansas State 2-0 to notch its first conference win.

When the final whistle blew, Oklahoma had outshot K-State 12-10, doubled the Wildcats up from the corner spot (12-6) and won 59% of the match's possession.

The Sooners are one of the six remaining unbeaten Big 12 teams in conference play, as Oklahoma's four points are good enough to share fourth in the Big 12 standings.

OU now hits the road for a pivotal two-game road trip where it takes on Big 12 newcomer Houston on Sunday at 1 p.m., followed by a trip to No. 25 Texas Tech next Thursday night.