Sooners Beat Iowa State

The University of Oklahoma soccer team locked down the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Big 12 Conference Championship by shutting down Iowa State, 3-0, Friday in the 2012 regular season finale at Cyclone Sports Complex in Ames, Iowa.

The OU (7-8-4, 3-3-2) victory over ISU (10-10, 1-7) sets up a Red River Rivalry showdown against No. 4-seeded Texas next Wednesday, Oct. 31, in the conference tournament's first round in San Antonio, Texas.

The Sooners set the tone for the win over the Cyclones with two first-half goals. Eleven of OU's 15 shots were on goal. Senior goalkeeper Kelsey Devonshire made four saves to help post her third shutout of the 2012 season and 17th of her career, which ranks as the second most in Oklahoma history behind Catherine Wade's 18 (2001-04).

The Sooners struck in the third minute when OU senior Renae Cuellar found junior Annalisa Hall for her first goal of the season.

Oklahoma made it to two goals just before the end of the first half as junior Samantha Howell tallied her second goal of the season off of an assist from junior Zoe Dickson.

The Sooners put the game out of reach in the 60th minute thanks to Cuellar's team-leading 12th goal of the season that came with an assist from senior Katharine Nutman.

OU will be taking aim at its first Big 12 Championship and third NCAA Tournament appearance in the 16-year history of the soccer program.