Sooners women鈥檚 soccer program continues resurgence
NORMAN, Okla. (BVM) – Through 11 games this year, the Oklahoma Sooners women鈥檚 soccer team has experienced nearly every scenario imaginable, and after a 2020 season in which the Sooners finished 1-12-2, the team only had one way to go: up.
In his second season as head coach, Mark Carr has already developed the team into an unfavorable matchup for opponents. The Sooners currently sit at 5-5-1 overall, picking up big wins over Air Force, Nebraska, and most recently, Utah Valley.
Oklahoma took down Utah Valley by a score of 4-2, in a match where the Sooners offense recorded a total of 24 shots, including 11 on target. Though the most recent Sooners game ended in a loss, Oklahoma dominated No. 24 SMU in Dallas.
Outdeuling the Mustangs in nearly every statistical category, the Sooners came home from Dallas with a bitter-sweet taste in their mouths. However, the building blocks have been set, and the program is on the rise.
Flipping the script, Oklahoma currently averages 1.5 goals per game this season, after scoring only .47 goals per game in 2020. Freshman forward Ella Pappas has been a major contributor to the new look Sooners attack.
Though only having three starts to her name, Pappas has already recorded two goals and two assists. The Oklahoma native says she 鈥渄idn鈥檛 expect to get the opportunity to play so much as a freshman, and it means a lot to me to have contributed to my team鈥�.
The offensive spark the Sooners have received so far has led to Oklahoma to play with a hunger that wasn鈥檛 as visible in seasons past. The Sooners’ newfound aggression and fire has also led to many bookings, which Pappas believes stems from their 鈥渁ll-out play.鈥�
鈥淥ne of the key points our coaches always say is to play with relentlessness, and I think we鈥檝e done a good job doing this during games,鈥� describes Ella.聽
It is evident already the Sooners are not only much improved from last season but have also developed a killer instinct. Starting on Thursday, the Sooners begin exclusive Big 12 Conference play in Lubbock. Followed by a home game against the hated Longhorns on Sunday.聽
When asked about her first-ever match against Texas this Sunday, Pappas made it clear 鈥渙ur main focus is Texas Tech on Thursday鈥� We always go one game at a time so that we can have a full understanding of the game plan.鈥�
This mentality has also helped to develop defensive discipline. In 2020, opponents averaged 14 shots and 5.7 corner kicks per game on the Sooners’ defense. This season, Oklahoma鈥檚 back wall, spearheaded by senior goalkeeper Nikki Panas, has held the competition to only 10.6 shots and 3.9 corner kicks per outing.
After going 1-11-2 against Big 12 opponents in 2020, the Sooners must continue to progress through the completion of the 2021 season.聽
Oklahoma takes on Texas Tech Thursday, September 23rd in Lubbock, and returns home for a Sunday showdown against Texas in Norman, which can be found on Bally Sports Oklahoma.
