Oklahoma soccer: OU splits home matches with Florida, Florida State

Both “football” teams were in action this weekend, and one of them upset a top-ten team Friday night.

Oklahoma soccer returned to the pitch Friday following their big opening weekend. The Sooners knocked off Oklahoma State, 2-0, and drew with the Utah Utes.

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This past weekend, Oklahoma hosted Florida and Florida State. Both teams are ranked in the country’s top ten.

The Gators were up first, and after starting their year 2-0-0, Oklahoma dealt Florida its first loss.

Sophomore Rachel Ressler scored her first career goal on August 22 in a win over Oklahoma State. She added her second in the fifth minute of Oklahoma’s match against Florida.

Ressler used the back of her heel to knock in the first goal of the night. Oklahoma gained the early momentum, and tacked on one more goal in the second half.

Senior midfielder Abby Hodgen cashed in on a penalty kick to give Oklahoma a 2-0 lead with 27 minutes remaining.

Florida’s Savannah Jordan responded nine minutes later with UF’s first goal of the evening. However, Oklahoma’s defense didn’t back down and prevented any shot at an equalizer.

In Kaitlyn Fahrner’s third career start at goalkeeper for the Sooners, she made four saves and earned her second win of the season.

Oklahoma’s upset victory over sixth-ranked Florida was definitely a landmark win for head coach Matt Potter. The Sooners haven’t reached the NCAA Tournament since Potter took over, but they’ve shown they can compete with anyone.

Though, the Sooners picked up their first loss of the year Sunday, but it came against the second-ranked Florida State Seminoles.

The ‘Noles lost the 2013 NCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship Game to UCLA, but look poised and hungry to make another run in the tournament.

FSU’s Dagny Brynjarsdottir gave her squad the only goal they needed 22 minutes in to the match. However, it was the only goal Fahrner allowed.

Florida State stayed aggressive on offense, but Fahrner recorded five saves in her 81 minutes of playing time.

Sophomore goalkeeper Kaitlyn Keith earned her first minutes for Oklahoma this year. She recorded one save, and protected the net in the last eight minutes of Sunday’s contest.

The Sooners had their chances, but Florida State’s defense was too suffocating. However, Oklahoma should not feel bad about this one at all.

Following the weekend, Oklahoma’s record stands at 2-1-1, and teams might want to start respecting the same OU club that was picked to finish last in the Big 12 conference.

Next up for OU soccer is a trip o Lincoln, Nebraska Friday night. Oklahoma’s first road game should tell more of what this team is capable of in 2014. They will return back to Norman for a Sunday afternoon match with Central Arkansas.

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