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May 14, 2012

2012 Soccer Schedule Schedule in PDF format Highlights - Eight games against seven teams from 2011 NCAA Tournament. - Two games against Oklahoma State; Non-conference in Norman on Sept. 7 and Big 12 contest in Stillwater on Sept. 30. - 10 home games plus an exhibition against Tulsa on Aug. 11. - Non-conference games with Nebraska (season opener on Aug. 17), LSU, Vanderbilt, UNLV, Rice, SMU and Virginia Tech. - First Big 12 meetings with TCU (Oct. 14 in Norman) and West Virginia (Oct. 19 in Morgantown). - Big 12 home games against Baylor, Texas, Kansas and TCU.

NORMAN, Okla. -- First year head coach Matt Potter and University of Oklahoma Vice President/Athletics Director Joe Castiglione released the 2012 soccer schedule on Monday.

Overall, the Sooners will play eight games against seven teams that advanced to the NCAA Championship, including two games with Oklahoma State, which advanced to the Elite Eight and finished 22-2-2 overall. OU meets OSU in a non-conference game in Norman on Sept. 7 and returns the trip for the Big 12 Conference game on Sept. 30. It marks the third straight year that the Bedlam Soccer Series will be played in the regular season on both home fields.

The remaining 2012 opponents from last year's tournament include Baylor (15-4-3), Kansas (11-9-1), LSU (13-7-1), Texas (11-9-1), West Virginia (17-5) and Virginia Tech (14-8-1).

"As competitors, you are always looking to challenge yourself," said Potter. "Graeme (Abel, assistant coach) has done a great job of balancing the non-conference schedule with both home and away games against quality teams that will be competing in their respective conferences. Across the board, we play against several teams that have NCAA pedigree and potential."

The 2012 slate consists of 19 regular season games, including 10 contests at one of the premier collegiate soccer facilities in the nation, John Crain Field at the OU Soccer Complex. The Sooners will play one exhibition game on Aug. 11 against Tulsa at home before opening the regular season in Norman against Nebraska on Friday, Aug. 17.

The game with the Huskers, the first meeting since 2010, is the first of four home games to begin the regular season slate. OU will also host LSU, Nicholls State and Vanderbilt. The Sooners also welcome Oral Roberts on Sept. 9 in non-conference action in Norman.

A non-conference slate that will prepare the Sooners for the Big 12 schedule features road games at UNLV, Northern Arizona, Rice, SMU and Virginia Tech.

"I think without question it prepares us for conference play, which both players and staff are looking forward to," added Potter. "The Big 12, historically, is a competitive conference with great teams and great coaches. I'm sure with the coaching changes across the conference and the new programs coming in, many are looking forward to the opportunity to establish their programs. We are no different, it certainly makes for a fun and competitive season."

Big 12 play kicks off at home on Friday, Sept. 21 against Baylor and the Sooners will complete the weekend on Sept. 23 with Red River rival Texas. Oklahoma will also host Kansas (Oct. 12) and new Big 12 rival TCU (Oct. 14) in league play.

The challenges on the road include Texas Tech (Sept. 28), Oklahoma State (Sept. 30), West Virginia (Oct. 19) and Iowa State (Oct. 26).

The Big 12 Championship (Oct. 31-Nov. 4) will once again be held in San Antonio, Texas, at the Blossom Soccer Stadium. The top eight teams will compete in a single-elimination tournament to determine the conference's champion and the automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

The 64-team field in the NCAA Championship start things off on Nov. 9 and the tourney concludes on Dec. 2 at the Women's College Cup in San Diego, Calif.

OU returns all but two starters for the 2012 season, including a pair of three-year starters in goalkeeper Kelsey Devonshire and midfielder Katharine Nutman. The Sooners (7-13 overall, 2-6 Big 12) finished the 2011 season with its second straight appearance in the Big 12 Championship, a first since the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

The Sooners recently completed an undefeated four-game spring schedule that included wins over Arkansas and Oral Roberts.

"The players leave in a good place, physically, with a clear understanding of the expectation to build on that good work through the summer," said Potter. "If they return in a position where we can build on the foundation of the spring, we can look forward to a great fall. They have certainly shown the potential and appetite to want to succeed. It's certainly an exciting time for Sooner soccer as we look to begin the journey of establishing ourselves as one of the nation's elite programs."