Lady'Backs fall in Norman 3-0

NORMAN, Okla. – It was a rough day for the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team on Sunday afternoon as they succumb to the heat of the Oklahoma plains in a 3-0 loss to the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.

The loss drops the Lady Razorbacks to 1-1-0 on the season while Oklahoma improves to 2-0-0.

“We flat out got beat by a better team today,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “I was disappointed that we didn’t play to our potential, but you have to hand it to Oklahoma for doing some of that. Oklahoma just played a better game today.”

The Sooners took an early lead when a modest Oklahoma attack paid big dividends. Stringing four passes together outside the penalty area, an Oklahoma she was blocked by Katie Taylor well outside the box. The rebound from the blocked shot ricocheted directly to OU’s Allyson Kucera who struck a 24-yard worm burner into the bottom left corner of the net to make it a 1-0 contest at 14:23.

Several scoring opportunities presented themselves for both squads following the Sooner’s goal, but solid defense and goalkeeping by both squads kept it a 1-0 game at the half.

The second half had an ominous start for the Lady Razorbacks as they gave up Oklahoma’s second goal less than one minute into the period. A bad Arkansas pass led to a rifle of a shot by OU’s Lauren Harris that was blocked by the Arkansas defense and sent flying out of bounds for a corner kick. Shana All took the free cross and sent it to the back post where Kucera was able to get a head on it and deposit it to the back of the onion bag.

Five minutes later, Oklahoma made it a three goal contest when a cross from the right side found the head of Savannah Scott 12 yards from the goal mouth. The ensuing header left Lady Razorback goalkeeper Carrie Dillsaver little time to react as it shot by her into the goal.

Still playing to the end, the Lady Razobacks kept applying pressure to the Oklahoma defense. One Arkansas run saw Christina Burger have a chance one-on-three against the Oklahoma defense, but a solid play by OU kept Burger from the shot.

Freshman Lindsay Patterson also had a solid opportunity, as she drove past the Oklahoma defense, but with a Sooner defender bearing down she was forced to take a longer shot than she would have liked which allowed the Oklahoma keeper to make a save.

The Lady Razorbacks are back in action next Friday night when they take on the defending Big XII champion Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kan. For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.