NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma soccer team (3-2-1) faces the final non-conference home games on the 2012 slate this weekend, starting with the The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Bedlam Series on Friday at 7 p.m. The rivalry game between the Sooners and No. 3 Cowgirls (6-0) is the first of the 2012 season. OU and OSU will meet in a Big 12 game on Sunday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. in Stillwater.
Oklahoma State, picked to finish first in the Big 12 Conference preseason coaches’ poll, is undefeated on the year with wins over UMKC, Weber State, Vanderbilt, Creghton, UAB and most recently a 3-2 win over then-No. 24 Memphis on the road.
Head Coach: Colin Carmichael
2011 Record: 22-2-2
Big 12 Conference Record (finish): 6-0-2 (1st)
Starters Returning/Lost: 6/7
Game 8 | vs. Oral Roberts
On Sunday, Sept. 9, Oklahoma welcomes Oral Roberts (2-3-1) to Norman for the 14th meeting in the series. The Sooners and Golden Eagles are scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at the OU Soccer Complex. OU leads the all-time series 11-2, including a 4-1 win at home a year ago. The Golden Eagles are idle on Friday before facing the Sooners.
Oral Roberts is coming off a split last weekend at home which featured a 5-0 win over Northwestern State on Friday and a 3-1 loss to Missouri State on Sunday. ORU was picked fifth in the Southland Conference coaches’ preseason poll.
Head Coach: Ryan Bush
2011 Record: 7-10-2
Summit Conference Record (finish): 4-4-1 (T-5th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 8/3
On TV and on the Web
Both games will be televised by Sooner Sports TV on FS Oklahoma (Cox Ch. 722 in OKC/Tulsa). Chad McKee (play-by-play) and Mo Boreham will have the call live on Friday, Sunday is tape delayed at 8 p.m. Live stats for both games can be found on the schedule page on SoonerSports.com. Fans can also catch updates via Twitter on the official page of the soccer program, @SoonerSoccer.
Player to Watch -
#10 Kelly Price | So. | F | River Forest, Ill. (St. Ignatius College Prep)
One of the first Sooners off the bench in the last four games, Price scored a career-high two goals against Nicholls State at home on Aug. 24. The outing tripled her career goal total with her first score coming last season against Missouri. Besides senior transfer Renae Cuellar, Price is the only Sooner on the roster with more than one goal in 2012.
2012 Stats: Four games played, two goals, five shots, three shots on goal
Promotions and Tickets
Included in this weekend's festivities is $4 admission at both games for fans that show their OU-Florida A&M football ticket.
Season tickets are on sale now for purchase online and by phone (800-456-GoOU). Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children and senior citizens. Single-game tickets are also on sale and will also be available at the gate the day of the game.
Below is a look at some of the promotions planned for this weekend:
Military Appreciation Night - Friday, Sept. 7 vs. Oklahoma State at 7 p.m.
- First 100 students receive free Raising Cane's chicken fingers.
- $4 admission for Military and fans presenting OU-Florida A&M football ticket.
- Free face painting for kids
- Friday night fireworks
- Halftime performance by Pride of Oklahoma
- National Anthem performed by 77th Army Band of Fort Sill.
- Pre-game music provided by Fort Sill Rock Band
- Post-game autographs
Sooners' Best Friend - Sunday, Sept. 9 vs. Oral Roberts at 1 p.m.
- $4 admission for fans presenting OU-Florida A&M football ticket.
- First 250 fans receive free popcorn and coke
- Second Chance Dog Rescue will be on site
- Post-game autographs
More on the Bedlam Series
The 2012 season marks the third straight year that the rivals will meet twice during the regular season. OSU has not been defeated in 11 straight games in the series and leads 17-2-2 overall. That streak does include a tie in the 2010 Big 12 Championship game when OSU won the title via penalty kicks. The 2005 season is the last time the Sooners topped the Cowgirls, thanks to a 3-2 decision in Stillwater. OU’s only other win in the series came in 2001 in Norman (OU 2, OSU 1). The remaining tie occurred in 2003 in Stillwater, a scoreless decision.
In the 21 games, 15 have been decided by one goal or less, including the last meeting, a 1-0 OSU win in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big 12 Championship in San Antonio, Texas.
More on the ORU Series
The Sooners and Golden Eagles meet for the second straight season after OU claimed a 4-1 victory over ORU last season in Norman. OU leads the all-time series 11-2, including the last five meetings. The Sooners are 7-0 against the Golden Eagles when the game is played in Norman.
Last Time Out
The Sooners went 1-1 in their first road weekend after playing in the Rebel Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. OU opened the tournament with a 2-1 defeat in double overtime against host UNLV. The game winner came with three minutes left in the second overtime session and marked OU’s third game played in extra time in the last four outings. On Sunday, the Sooners bounced back with a 3-1 comeback victory. Renae Cuellar scored the game winner, her team-leading fourth score of 2012, and also assisted on the Sooners’ third goal.
Next Week
Oklahoma heads down I-35 to take on Rice in Houston on Friday at 7 p.m. and then heads back north to take on SMU in Dallas on Sunday at 7 p.m. Rice and OU will be meeting for the third time in the series. OU won the last outing 1-0 in Norman during the 2010 campaign. SMU leads OU 4-2-1 in the seven all-time meetings, including a 1-0 decision last season in Norman.
OU in Overtime
Oklahoma has played in double overtime in three of the last five outings. The Sooners are 0-2-1 in extra time this season after not appearing in one overtime game a year ago. OU’s last win in an overtime game came in the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship against Texas A&M on Nov. 5. That game was decided in the first overtime and was followed by the championship match against OSU, which was decided in penalty kicks.
Devonshire’s Shutouts
In 2009, goalkeeper Kelsey Devonshire set an OU freshman record with six shutouts. She followed up that stellar debut with six more shutouts in 2010. She ranks third all-time at OU with 14 career shutouts after blanking BYU in 2011 on Sept. 17 and Kansas on Oct. 28.
She also ranks second all-time at OU with 322 saves (trails Catharine Wade with 345). Below is a look at the all-time leaders at OU in shutouts:
1. Catharine Wade (2001-04) - 18
2. Jennifer Nichols (2004-07) - 16
3. Kelsey Devonshire (2009-present) - 14
Potter Posts Career Win No. 90
In his 10th season coaching at the Division I level, Matt Potter recorded his 90th career victory on Friday with the 3-1 win over Nicholls State. Potter is 90-70-27 in his DI head coaching career and is the first Sooner head coach to win his debut game.
