Soccer opens at Oklahoma Sunday
8/20/2009 11:30:00 AM | Soccer
Sam Houston State's young women's soccer team opens their 2009 season Sunday traveling to Norman, OK, to face the University of Oklahoma at 7 p.m. at the OU Soccer Complex.
The Bearkats feature a young lineup with seven newcomers in the starting lineup. The team defeated Navarro Junior College 4-0 last Sunday in a preseason exhibition. Freshmen scored all the goals for the Kats as Haley Rohlmeier, Lindsey Posner, Kayla Anderson and Leah Snelson all tallied in the exhibition.
"We've had a good preseason camp and are pleased with the way the newcomers and the veterans have been coming together," SHSU head coach Tom Brown said. "The players are excited to get the season started."
Brown knows his squad faces a much bigger challenge this weekend against a talented Big 12 opponent. Oklahoma defeated Arkansas 1-0 last week in a preseason exhibition. The Sooners are led up front by forwards Jordan White and Whitney Palmer.
"Oklahoma has a quick, physical team that will challenge us in a lot of ways," Brown said. "This will be a stern test for our young players to see how they react to their first match at the NCAA Division I level. During our pre-conference matches, we want to put the players in situations we can use to teach them about what it takes to get to the next level. They need to learn how to make tactical adjustments game to game as they play within their role in our system."
Sam Houston State rolled up a 9-7 record last year, the first winning season in the six-year history of the program. Now in his second season as head coach, Brown looks for strong leadership from the players who return from last year's squad.
"Our returning players showed last year they have bought into what we are doing here," Brown said. "Their leadership will be important to our success."
Two top veterans will be crucial to the Bearkats' defensive efforts Sunday at Oklahoma. Goalkeeper Jenny Pence set a school record last season with 17 goals against and seven shutouts. Nicole Watkins is a two-year starter on the back line.
"Oklahoma is really going to be a test for our defense," Brown said. "We won't be able to play quite as aggressively as we did against Navarro."
Sunday's matchup with the Sooners is the first six road contests for the Bearkats. Sam Houston will play its first home match on Wednesday Sept. 16 against Texas Southern.
