The Oklahoma Sooners women's soccer team represents the University of Oklahoma in NCAA Division I college soccer. The team competes in the Big 12 Conference, and plays its home games at John Crain Field in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners are currently led by head coach Matt Mott.
History
The Sooners women's soccer program was established in January 1996, becoming the school's 20th sport with Bettina Fletcher being named the first head coach three months later.[2] Fletcher joined the Sooners after previously serving as an assistant coach for North Carolina and UNC Greensboro.
1996–1998: Bettina Fletcher era
In their debut game, the Sooners lost 8–0 against Nebraska. On September 6, 1996, the Sooners played their first home game against Regis University where My Ta scored the first goal in team history. Despite a 4–0 loss against the 8th-ranked Texas A&M, Fletcher applauded her team for holding the Aggies to two goals in each half. In the final game of the season, Kayce Casner had the game-winning goal to defeat McNeese State 3–2 for the team's first win. In its first season, the Sooner finished 1–13 with Caser and Mindy Field leading the team in goals.[2]
After finishing 2–14 in their second season, the Sooners went 6–1 at home, 8–9 overall in their third season, however failed to qualify for the six-team Big 12 Conference tournament. Following the season, Fletcher announced her resignation, citing personal and family reasons.[3] In Fletcher's tenure, the Sooners complied a 11–36 record, 3–16 in conference play in its first three seasons.
1999–2007: Randy Evans era
On January 12, 1999, Randy Evans was named as the team's second head coach after serving as an assistant coach for Vanderbilt for six seasons.[4] In Evan's second season, the Sooners qualified for the Big 12 Conference tournament including a team record 10 wins which featured a 2–1 road win against the 2nd-ranked Nebraska. Evan was later named as the Big 12 and the NSCAA Central Region Coach of the Year.[5]
In the 2003 season, the Sooners clinched their first ever NCAA tournament appearance. Despite an 8–5–5 overall record and a loss in the Big 12 tournament, the Sooners received an at-large bid after Oklahoma State defeated Missouri in the championship game. In the tournament, the Sooners were defeated by Tennessee 1–0 in the first round.[6]
The Sooners set team records for wins, goals, assists, and points in its 10th year during the 2005 season. Opening the season, the Sooners recorded their best start in team history at 11–1–1. However the team failed to keep the same momentum on the road, finishing 13–6–1 overall and 5–4–1 in Big 12 play. For the fourth time, the Sooners made an appearance in the Big 12 tournament, but lost against the 2nd-seeded Colorado in the 2005 Big 12 tournament. Despite a team-high in wins, the Sooners were not selected to the 2005 NCAA tournament.[7]
After nine seasons and an overall 78–79–16 record, Evans announced his resignation which was accepted by athletics director Joe Castiglione. With Evans, the Sooners made five Big 12 tournament appearances, an NCAA tournament appearance, and a team-high 13 wins in the 2005 season.[8]
2008–2011: Nicole Nelson era
On December 21, 2007, Nicole Nelson was named as the team's third head coach after an impressive three-year tenure as the head coach of Stephen F. Austin and stints as an assistant coach at Texas and Baylor. Nelson, a native of Oklahoma, accumulated a 33–19–9 record while at Stephen F. Austin.[9] After two under .500 seasons, the Sooners posted double-digit wins for the first time since 2005. The Sooners returned to both the Big 12 tournament and the NCAA tournament in 2010. Prior to the Big 12 tournament, Nelson was named as the Big 12 Co-Head Coach of the Year alongside Colin Carmichael. The Sooners defeated then-21st-ranked Texas and then-6th-ranked Texas A&M before falling to longtime rivals Oklahoma State in the championship game. In the NCAA tournament, the Sooners lost in the first round to Washington.[10] After four seasons, Nelson resigned with an overall 29-46-6 record and a Big 12 championship appearance.[11]
2012–2019: Matt Potter era
On December 27, 2011, Matt Potter was named as the team's fourth head coach. Potter's head coaching stint with Washington State included three NCAA tournament appearances in the last four years and five double-digit win seasons.[12] Under Porter, the Sooners had their best three seasons in succession from 2014–2016, posting a 34–23–9 overall record. In their best season to date, the Sooners finished the 2016 season with a 14–7–2 overall record and 4–3–1 in conference play. Celebrating their 20th season, the Sooners highlighted their season with a team-high 14 wins and six players being named to All-Big 12 selections. In the 2016 NCAA tournament, the Sooners defeated SMU 1–0 for its first ever NCAA tournament win before losing 2–1 to the 4th-seeded BYU.[13] After eight seasons, athletics director Joe Castiglione and Potter announced that Potter will leave the team at the end of the 2019 season. With Potter, the Sooners owned a 63–77–23 and produced four first-team All-Big 12 selections and six second-team honorees.[14]
2020–2022: Mark Carr era
On December 21, 2019, Mark Carr was named as the team's fifth head coach after spending last year as head coach of the Under-20 Women's National Team with U.S. Soccer.[15] In Carr's first season, the Sooners posted an overall record of 1–12–2, their worst season since their inaugural year. In the 2022 season, Carr led the Sooners to their first winning season since 2016 with a 9–8–1 record. During the team's spring exhibition schedule, athletics director Joe Castiglione announced that Carr will not return for a fourth season.[16]
2023–present: Matt Mott era
On April 30, 2023, Matt Mott was named as the team's sixth head coach after 13 seasons as the head coach at Ole Miss. With Ole Miss, Mott accumulated a 139–97–32 record, which included six NCAA Tournament appearances.[17]
Coaches
History
| # | Years | Name | Record | W% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996–1998 | Bettina Fletcher | 11–36 | .234 |
| 2 | 1999–2007 | Randy Evans | 78–79–16 | .497 |
| 3 | 2008–2011 | Nicole Nelson | 29–46–6 | .387 |
| 4 | 2012–2019 | Matt Potter | 63–77–23 | .450 |
| 5 | 2020–2022 | Mark Carr | 18–31–6 | .367 |
| 6 | 2023–present | Matt Mott | – | – |
Honors
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Randy Evans | Big 12 Coach of the Year |
| NSCAA Central Region Coach of the Year | ||
| 2010 | Nicole Nelson | Co-Big 12 Coach of the Year |
Seasons
| Year | Record | Head Coach | Big 12 | Big 12 Tournament | NCAA Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1–13–0 | Bettina Fletcher | – | DNQ | |
| 1997 | 2–14–0 | 1–9 | |||
| 1998 | 8–9–0 | 2–7 | |||
| 1999 | 4–13–1 | Randy Evans | 2–8 | DNQ | |
| 2000 | 10–9–1 | 4–5–1 | 1–1 (Semifinals) | – | |
| 2001 | 11–7–1 | 4–5–1 | 0–1 (Quarterfinals) | – | |
| 2002 | 11–8–0 | 4–6 | DNQ | ||
| 2003 | 8–7–5 | 3–3–4 | 0–1 (Quarterfinals) | 0–1 (First round) | |
| 2004 | 7–8–3 | 3–7 | – | ||
| 2005 | 13–6–1 | 5–4–1 | 0–1 (Quarterfinals) | – | |
| 2006 | 8–11–1 | 3–6–1 | 0–1 (Quarterfinals) | – | |
| 2007 | 6–10–3 | 2–7–1 | DNQ | ||
| 2008 | 3–15–1 | Nicole Nelson | 2–7–1 | DNQ | |
| 2009 | 7–10–2 | 2–7–1 | |||
| 2010 | 12–8–3 | 5–4–1 | 2–1 (Finals) | 0–1 (First round) | |
| 2011 | 7–13–0 | 2–6–1 | 0–1 (Quarterfinals) | – | |
| 2012 | 7–9–4 | Matt Potter | 3–3–2 | 0–1 (Quarterfinals) | – |
| 2013 | 4–13–1 | 1–7 | DNQ | ||
| 2014 | 10–9–4 | 3–4–1 | 2–1 (Finals) | 0–1 (First round) | |
| 2015 | 10–7–3 | 3–2–3 | 0–1 (Quarterfinals) | – | |
| 2016 | 14–7–2 | 4–3–1 | 1–1 (Semifinals) | 1–1 (Second round) | |
| 2017 | 3–13–4 | 1–5–3 | 0–1 (Quarterfinals) | – | |
| 2018 | 7–10–2 | 3–5–1 | 0–1 (Quarterfinals) | – | |
| 2019 | 8–9–3 | 3–5–1 | 0–1 (Quarterfinals) | – | |
| 2020 | 1–12–2 | Mark Carr | 1–11–2 | DNQ | |
| 2021 | 8–11–1 | 4–5 | 0–1 (Quarterfinals) | – | |
| 2022 | 9–8–3 | 3–5–1 | 1–1 (Semifinals) | – | |
| 2023 | 8–10–2 | Matt Mott | 3–5–2 | 1–1 (Semifinals) | – |
Players
Current roster
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honors
Big 12 Player of the Year
- Renae Cuéllar (2012)
- Cuéllar led the Sooners with 26 points from a team-high 12 goals during the regular season, which ranks as the third-most in a single season in Oklahoma history at that time. Her 13 points from six goals in eight Big 12 matches paces the conference.[18]
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Renae Cuéllar |
All-Big 12[19]
- Logan Womack (2000–02)
- Womack became the first Sooner to ever earn all-conference first-team honors. At the time, she ranked all-time in goals at 20 and points at 43.
- Whitney Palmer (2007–10)
- Palmer became the third Sooner to be selected to first team. At the time, she ranked second all-time with 29 career goals and third with 61 points.
- Kaylee Dao (2017–19)
- Dao led the Sooners in goals in all three seasons, became third all-time in team history with 29 career goals, and second all-time with 11 game-winning goals at the time.
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References
- ^ "Colors – OU Brand Guide". April 20, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ^ a b "First Sooner Season a Learning Experience". soonersports.com. June 16, 1999. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "OU Women's Soccer Coach Resigns". oklahoman.com. November 13, 1998. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "OU Hires Randy Evans to Guide Women's Soccer Program". soonersports.com. June 16, 1999. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "Randy Evans Named Big 12 Soccer Coach Of The Year". soonersports.com. October 31, 2000. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "Soccer Makes NCAA Tournament For First Time In School History". soonersports.com. November 10, 2003. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ "2005 Soccer Season Review". soonersports.com. January 5, 2006. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ "Evans Resigns as Head Coach". soonersports.com. November 6, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ "Nelson Named Soccer Head Coach". soonersports.com. December 21, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ "Building Tradition: 2010 Season Review". soonersports.com. December 10, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ "Nelson Resigns OU Soccer Post". soonersports.com. November 12, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ "Matt Potter Named Soccer Head Coach". soonersports.com. December 27, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ "Record-Breaking Season Comes to a Close". soonersports.com. November 17, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ "OU Announces Change in Soccer Program". soonersports.com. November 1, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ "OU Hires Mark Carr as Head Soccer Coach". soonersports.com. December 21, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ "OU Announces Head Soccer Coach Change". soonersports.com. April 17, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ "Matt Mott Named OU Head Soccer Coach". soonersports.com. April 30, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ "Cuellar Named Big 12 Offensive POY". soonersports.com. October 29, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ "2023 OU Soccer Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved September 4, 2023.
