Oklahoma Road Trip Awaits Jayhawk Soccer Team

Oct. 14, 2004

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Kansas soccer team takes the road this weekend, traveling to the state of Oklahoma to play in a pair of Big 12 Conference matches. The No. 9 Jayhawks begin the road swing by taking on Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. on Friday at Cowgirl Soccer Complex in Stillwater, Okla., and will conclude the road series with a match against Oklahoma at 1 p.m. at John Crain Field in Norman, Okla.

Kansas enters the weekend 12-2-0 overall and 4-1 in Big 12 play. The Jayhawks have won four consecutive matches and have the best record after 14 games in program history. The Jayhawks are ranked in the national top 10 in two of the four major women’s soccer polls this week. KU climbed one spot to No. 9 in the NSCAA/Adidas Top 25 and rose from No. 9 to No. 6 in the SoccerBuzz Top 30. In the other polls, Soccer America placed KU in the No. 18 spot, up from No. 19, while the Jayhawks stayed at No. 13 in the Soccer Times Top 25. The Jayhawks have been ranked in the top 10 in at least one poll for six of seven weeks this season.

Junior forward Caroline Smith leads the team offensively with six goals, five assists and 17 points. Senior Rachel Gilfillan and sophomore Nicole Cauzillo also chipped in on offense as the duo has combined for nine goals and 23 points. Senior goal keeper Meghan Miller leads the Big 12 in goals against average (0.36) and save percentage (.923).

The Oklahoma State Cowgirls enter the weekend with a 10-2-2 overall record and a 2-2-1 mark within the conference. The team has won only once in its last four games (1-2-1) after beginning the year 9-0-1.

The OSU offense has been potent this season, leading the Big 12 with 43 goals scored and an average of 3.07 goals per game. Eight Cowgirls have scored at least three goals this season, with sophomore midfielder Adriane Radtke leading the way with eight goals. Senior midfielder Nikki Wojtowicz leads the team with 21 points, including a Big 12-high 13 assists.

In goal, Oklahoma State has primarily used freshman Breanna Truelove. The La Habra, Calif., native, has played 1044:16 minutes in goal and posted a 1.38 goals against average and 36 saves for a .692 save percentage.

The Oklahoma Sooners tied their longest winning streak this season by defeating Baylor and Texas Tech last weekend. The Sooners now stand at 6-4-3 overall and 2-3-0 inside the Big 12.

OU is no stranger to close games this season. The Sooner’s games have gone to overtime six times this season and 12 of the Sooners’ games have been decided by one goal or less. Sophomore midfielder Savannah Scott leads Oklahoma with six goals and 13 points. As a team, the Sooners have only scored 20 goals, which puts them seventh in the Big 12 in that category.

A pair of goalkeepers have seen time in net for the Sooners. Senior Catherine Wade has played 602:15 minutes in nine games this season and collected a 0.60 goals against average and a .892 save percentage. Freshman Jennifer Nichols has posted a 1.25 goals against average and a .804 save percentage in 652:27 minutes of action.