Sooners Pick Up Bedlam Soccer Victory

With a score in the 81st minute from sophomore Kaylee Dao, the Oklahoma soccer team picked up a 1-0 victory in a non-conference Bedlam matchup against Oklahoma State. The match was played Friday night at John Crain Field in front of a crowd of 1,886, the fifth largest in program history.

The win was the seventh in school history for OU over its in-state rival and the fifth under head coach Matt Potter’s direction. The Sooners are now 5-3-1 against the Cowgirls with Potter, who is in his fifth season, at the helm of the program.

"Obviously, we probably feel we left some goals out there, but by the same token, they showed their class at times, too, where they could be threatening," Potter said. "We had to defend very, very well against some quality players, and probably overall, that’s the most rewarding fact: that we were able to keep a very good team off of the score sheet.”

The Sooners controlled the offensive pace in the first half but were unable to take advantage of their opportunities around the goal. In the second period, OU continued to push the pace and finished with a 17 to four advantage on shots over the Cowgirls, including an eight to two edge in shots on goal.

In the 81st minute, the Sooners finally broke onto the scoreboard when Dao headed in the score off a cross from senior midfielder Shiloh Price to put the home team on top. The goal was the second of the season for Dao, who also scored in the non-conference Bedlam match a season ago.

“Sometimes when you keep shooting and keep shooting, it can get frustrating, but you just have to keep going at them," Dao said. "Seventeen shots, and they had seven saves, and that really shows you, we did have possession, we were creating chances, and from now on, we just have to learn how to put those in the back of the net.”

Redshirt senior Kassidie Stade improved to 2-0-1 on the year with the win, recording two saves in the match. The Sooners displayed depth as 12 different players took shots, led by senior Madison Saliba with three. Senior Liz Keester, Dao and freshman Kristina O'Donnell tallied two apiece.

Although it is early in the season, Potter said this match gives the team something off which to build.

“There’s things we’ve got to continue to work on and develop, we know that, but it’s a great indicator if we can build off this type of performance," Potter stated. "When we had to show a little bit of grit, we showed it, and we had to show that we can play, we played. Overall, we’re obviously very pleased with the result tonight."

Up next, the Sooners close their season-opening homestand when they host Utah Valley at noon CT on Sunday.