Top-20 Showdowns Await Soccer in Week 7

NORMAN — Oklahoma is set for its toughest week of the season as the Sooners take on a pair of top-20 teams that are undefeated in Big 12 play. OU travels to No. 14 Texas Tech on Thursday night for a battle with the undefeated, league-leading Red Raiders before returning to Norman for a Sunday showdown with No. 19 UCF.

A win on Thursday would mark OU's first over a top-25 team on the road since it knocked off then-No. 10 Texas Tech, 1-0, in Lubbock in 2014. It would also notch the first ranked win of the Matt Mott era. Sunday's test vs. the Knights marks the first meeting between the teams as UCF embarks on its first season in the Big 12 Conference.

Oklahoma's (6-4-1, 2-0-1 Big 12) seven points on the Big 12 table through three matches are the program's most since it tallied nine over its first three contests in 2016.

FOR THE FANS

Thursday's game at Texas Tech (9-0-2, 3-0-0 Big 12), will be streamed on ESPN+ and starts at 7 p.m.

Sunday's home contest vs. UCF (7-2-0, 3-0-0 Big 12) is slated for 1 p.m. CT and is OU's annual Pink Game. The Sooners will wear pink kits and fans are encouraged to wear pink as we raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. Fans that purchased a ticket to Saturday's Oklahoma vs. Iowa State football game in Norman, can buy tickets for Sunday's match for $3.

SEASON STORYLINES

• Goal Scoring Machine: Through 11 games, OU has 30 goals and its 2.55 goals/game would break the school record of 2.43 (2008). OU ranks inside the top 30 in goals/game (30th), SOG/game (13th), assists (24th) and points (21st).

• Record Watch: Alexis Washington, who set the school record as a freshman for single-season assists (9) already has five this year. Her next assist moves her into a tie for second all-time at Oklahoma. The school record is 18 (Lauren MacIver).

• No Place Like Home: The Sooners are unbeaten (5-0-1) at John Crain Field this season, where it is outscoring opponents 27-6. OU's six-game unbeaten streak at its home pitch is the program's longest in 14 seasons.

OU soccer defeated Murray State, 5-1, at John Crain Field in Norman on Thursday night. _{The Sooners will have two opportunites to secure the first top-25 win of the Mott era this week.}

UP NEXT

Following OU's pair of matches this weekend, the Sooners hit the road for their longest trip of season as they take on West Virginia in Morgantown on Oct. 5 and then travel to Cincinnati for a match with the Bearcats on Oct. 8. Oklahoma's next home match is Oct. 12 when the Sooners host Texas at John Crain Field.

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