Sooners Sweep Bedlam Soccer

For the first time this season, the Oklahoma soccer team found itself down at John Crain Field. But, trailing 1-0 to rival Oklahoma State, the Sooners responded with two scores in a two-minute stretch on Friday night to sweep the Bedlam series for the first time in program history.

The Sooners (10-6-3 overall, 3-2-3 Big 12) finished their home season with a 6-0-2 record, the first time they have ever gone unbeaten at home. The match served as Senior Night for OU’s Devin Barrett and Laura Rayfield.

OU and OSU have met twice in the regular season since 2010. The Sooners also claimed this season's non-conference matchup, 2-0, on Aug. 28 in Stillwater, Okla.

In the 32nd minute, senior midfielder/forward Allie Stephenson opened up the scoring after tapping the ball into the open net, giving OSU the 1-0 advantage.

After a handball in the box by Oklahoma State in the 58th minute, Rayfield lined up for the penalty kick with a chance to knot up the game at 1-1. However, OSU sophomore goalkeeper Michela Ongaro made a kick save on the shot to keep the Cowgirls on top.

Following the missed penalty kick, the Sooners ramped up the intensity, outshooting the Cowgirls seven to three in the closing stretch.

Guarded closely by a Cowgirl defender, sophomore defender/forward Jordyn Knox-Webster sent a cross through the box, which found the foot of sophomore midfielder/defender Rasha Roberts. Roberts then sent a rocket toward the back of the net from 17 yards out to tie up the match in the 70th minute. The score was the third of the season for Roberts.

With the momentum in its favor, OU took advantage quickly. Just two minutes and 14 seconds after the Roberts score, the Sooners used a corner kick from Rayfield to take the lead. When Rayfield put the ball into play, defender/midfielder Paige Welch deflected it into the goal for her second score of her freshman campaign.

“We talked at halftime that we needed to be a little bit more courageous and have a little bit more belief,” fourth-year OU head coach Matt Potter said. “Obviously to have two goals in the second half, we showed that strength of character and that willingness to work for each other, and we got that reward.”

Barrett added that the resolve shown tonight is characteristic of this OU squad.

“It’s what we do - we never give up,” Barrett said. “We believe that no matter what the score is and no matter what the time is that we have the ability to win. It’s awesome because it’s a fight and we have the competitiveness to win.”

OU outshot the Cowgirls (9-8-2 overall, 2-4-2 Big 12) by a mark of 15-12 in the contest, while the two squads were tied with seven shots on goal apiece.

Both goalkeepers in OU junior Kassidie Stade and OSU’s Ongaro recorded five saves. Stade improved to 8-6-3 on the year, while Ongaro fell to 9-8-2.

Potter said that wins like this can help build momentum for his team entering the postseason.

“Any win at this time of the year is a wonderful thing because it allows your mind to play more freely and allows you to have that swagger and belief that you can do things,” Potter stated. “It just builds positive momentum, so I can’t be anything but pleased for the group and pleased for our seniors, and hopefully long may it continue.”