Soccer Opens SEC Play at Kentucky

NORMAN — No. 20 Oklahoma opens up its second season in the SEC when the Sooners go to Kentucky Friday, Sept. 12. The match is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.

HOW TO FOLLOW
The match will be streamed on SEC Network+ and live stats will be available on statbroadcast.com.

LAST TIME OUT
Oklahoma scored four times in the first 26 minutes and Kayla Keefer tallied three assists as OU cruised by Omaha, 5-1, Sunday, Sept. 7

SERIES HISTORY
OU and Kentucky have met once … the Sooners and Wildcats played to a 2-2 draw in Norman Sept. 29, 2024 … Alexis Washington tallied an assist in that game.

THE SCOUT
Kentucky is 6-2 after an eight-match non-conference slate … the Wildcats' offense has generated 25 goals … Alexis Tylenda is behind OU's Naomi Clark with six goals … Kentucky's two losses have come against Illinois and Ohio State … head coach Troy Fabiano is in his fourth season at the helm.

BEST START
OU's 7-0-1 record through seven games is OU's best start through eight matches in program history … OU started the season with six consecutive wins, tying a program record … OU went unbeaten in non-conference play for the first time in program history.

QUICK FACTS

Naomi Clark and Elle Canty both tallied braces in their first OU starts
OU's .938 winning percentage is third in the nation
The Sooners set the program corner kicks record with 16 at Tulsa Aug. 24
OU has posted 74 shots in the first half and 72 in the second half
Three different Sooners have posted a brace this season (Clark, Canty and Juliette Rayo)
The August 21 game against East Texas A&M saw OU set the program single game attendance record (3,211)
OU has scored 26 goals this season. The Sooners scored 38 all of last year, which was a program record.
Of OU's 79 points, 52 have come from a newcomer
Lexi Dendis ranks 13th in the nation with four assists
OU ranks first in the nation for penalty kick percentage
Ally Laccinole was named SEC Freshman of the Week Aug. 18, the first SEC weekly honor for a Sooner ever

WE PICK CLARK
Naomi Clark ranks first in the SEC in goals (seven), which is good for fourth in the country. Clark also ranks fifth in the nation in points with 17.

BOLSTERED THE BACKLINE
The Sooners have turned in three shutouts this season … Caroline Duffy has tallied 16 saves in goal … Riley Brown is coming off a 90-minute effort in the 1-0 win against North Texas … freshmen Ally Laccinole and Drue Legan have started all six matches on the backline … senior back, Cassie Clifton, made a key stop on a one-versus-one late in Sunday's win against UNT.

SOONERS IN THE POLLS
Oklahoma entered the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the first time since 2017, earning the No. 22 slot as announced Tuesday, Aug. 19. OU is ranked No. 20 as of this past week.

WASHINGTON SETS THE ASSIST RECORD
Senior Alexis Washington became OU's all-time leader in assists after providing another August 24 at Tulsa, bringing her to 20 for her career.

SOONER HONORS THIS SEASON

United Soccer Coaches Midfielders to Watch - Alexis Washington
SEC Preseason Players to Watch - Naomi Clark, Kayla Keefer, Caroline Duffy, Hadley Murrell, Alexis Washington and Michelle Pak
SEC Freshman of the Week - Ally Laccinole
Top Drawer Soccer Player of the Week - Naomi Clark

HISTORIC DEBUT
Junior transfer Naomi Clark tallied a brace in her OU debut Thursday against Creighton, scoring in the 11th minute as well as the 57th. She is just the second Sooner in program history to notch a brace in their OU debut and the first since Jonette Coquat against Tulsa Sept. 1, 1998.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Riley Brown

Elle Canty

Naomi Clark

Cassie Clifton

Lexi Dendis

Caroline Duffy

Kayla Keefer

Ally Laccinole

Drue Legan

Hadley Murrell

Michelle Pak

Juliette Rayo

Alexis Washington

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