Oklahoma soccer: Sooners’ west coast trip ends with losses to UC-Irvine and San Diego

The 19th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners dropped to 5-3-2 over the weekend after making a trip to the state of California.

The Sooners dropped four spots in the Top 25 last weekend after narrowly beating North Texas in overtime and being held scoreless in a 0-0 tie with Tulsa.

Head coach Matt Potter’s club has been in the Top 25 for a month now, but they may fall out after two unranked out-of-conference opponents, UC-Irvine and San Diego, dealt Oklahoma their second and third losses of the season.

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OU made the trip Friday night to Irvine, California where the UC-Irvine Anteaters scored the match’s first two goals.

UCI Senior midfielder Cami Privett (54′) and senior forward Laura McGrail (79′) sent in UC-Irvine’s two goals in the second half.

Privett’s goal came off an assist from McGrail and freshman forward Noel Baham. McGrail put in the Anteaters’ second goal off a header that was assisted by Baham.

Following McGrail’s goal, it only took three minutes for Oklahoma junior forward Devin Barrett to put in OU’s first goal of the match in the 82nd minute.

The Sooners couldn’t find the equalizer, and Potter’s squad experienced its first road loss of the season.

OU’s frehsman goalkeeper Kaitlyn Fahrner made three saves and played all 90 minutes Friday night, however, it just wasn’t OU’s weekend.

Fahrner only played the first 45 minutes of Oklahoma’s Sunday trip to the University of San Diego. In the first half, Fahrner allowed a goal from San Diego senior Mariah Butera in the 40th minute.

OU sophomore goalkeeper Kassidie Stade, who started 17 games last year for the Sooners, took over for Fahrner in the second half. However, she allowed a goal to USD senior defender Jacey Birtcher in the 84th minute.

Oklahoma’s offense has struggled as of late, but their four-game road trip is finally over and they’ll play just one more out-of-conference club before they finish they finish their Big 12 slate.

The Oklahoma Sooners return to Norman Friday night when they face in-state foe Oral Roberts. However, they’ll get Sunday off to prepare for a tough two-game Big 12 road trip the next week.

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