The Sooners celebrated 20 years of their program in 2016, and Potter says their ambition was to have a season that highlighted the past years.
"The day to day, month to month, year to year work that goes on, often goes unnoticed or unrewarded, and in many ways the journey still has unknowns. Your worth is judged by others and so you always have an element of fear or pressure that drives you. We operated under the premise that we have earned the right to have the privilege of pressure and what was enjoyable was the manner in which the group embraced and strived to do something special and never wavered from that goal." - Matt Potter
STARTING OUT STRONG
EIGHT STRAIGHT WINS
After starting the season with a 2-0-1 record, the Sooners dropped a pair of matches to Utah Valley and on the road at No. 3 Virginia. However, they responded by then rattling off eight straight victories, the second-longest winning streak in school history. Six of those came away from Norman and were three of OU's program-record nine total wins in road or neutral site contests in 2016.
The Sooners snagged wins at George Mason, against Tulsa and Memphis in the Tulsa Classic, Arizona, Grand Canyon and Iowa State and picked up home victories against TCU and Texas in that stretch.
"With each game we played, despite the adversity of losing key players to injury (one which we never complained or told others about) you could see how it galvanized the group to want and achieve more. Incredible competitive spirit driven by a senior class. Another major factor was the staff (and team behind the team), everyone played an important role and contributed beyond measure. The staff changes asked questions but the results and successes of the season serve as markers and indicators of a job done well." - Matt Potter
During that historic winning streak, OU opened its Big 12 slate with three consecutive wins, its first 3-0 start in conference play since 2005. One of those victories came in thrilling overtime fashion in a Red River battle against the Texas Longhorns on Sept. 25. Trailing by a goal with under five minutes left to play, junior Rasha Roberts tallied the equalizer in the 86th minute to force overtime. With just 29 seconds remaining in the extra frame, junior Lizzie Luallin tallied the game winner to keep OU's streak alive.
BIG 12 SUCCESS
Kansas City Bound
The Sooners secured a spot in the Big 12 Championship for the 11th time in program history, recording a 2-0 victory over Iowa State on Nov. 2 before falling to No. 1 West Virginia in the semifinals.
Shutout Stade
With a clean slate against Iowa State in the Big 12 quarterfinals, redshirt senior Kassidie Stade set the school standards for both single-season and career shutouts with eight and 19, respectively. The Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., native added to that total against SMU in NCAA play, finishing her decorated career with 20 shutouts.
Conference Accolades
Oklahoma was picked to finish third in the Big 12 Preseason Poll, marking the highest ranking in program history. The Sooners matched that prediction by tying for third, matching their best-ever Big 12 showing.
The Sooners earned various awards from the conference, including:
A program-record six All-Big 12 accolades
- Rachel Ressler (first team, also named to preseason team)
- Liz Keester (second team, also named to tournament team)
- Jemma Cota (second team, also named to preseason team)
- Tori Bowman (second team)
- Paige Welch (second team)
- Kristina O'Donnell (freshman team)
Ten Sooners were recognized for their work in the classroom, earning Academic All-Big 12 honors. First Team: Liz Keester, Caren Nelson, Shiloh Price, Rachel Ressler, Madison Saliba, Tori Bowman, Madeline Brem, Lizzie Luallin, Paige Welch; Second Team: Angela Boyle
Additionally, Keester and Brem were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Seven Team, and the Sooners earned the NSCAA Team Academic Award for the seventh straight year.
Even with all individual successes enjoyed by this group of Sooners, their focus was always on the whole unit.
"What was rewarding to see was that when a player went down the group responded and most importantly the injured player led from the seat they found themselves in, never making it about them. This with the attitude of the players stepping up was integral to our success at the end, players coaching players was one of the biggest successes. My hope is it is a staple moving forward." - Matt Potter
NATIONAL ATTENTION
On Sept. 27, the Sooners broke into the national rankings, checking in at No. 23 in both the NSCAA and Top Drawer Soccer polls. It marked OU's first appearance in the NSCAA poll since Sept. 21, 2014. OU was ranked as high as No. 22 and entered the postseason at No. 25.
The Sooners also were highly favored in the weekly RPI, opening at No. 8 in the first listing and climbing as high as No. 5. In the nine RPI listings, OU found itself in the top nine in all but one, where it was at No. 13.
TOURNAMENT TIME
No. 25 Oklahoma vs. SMU
NCAA First Round | Nov. 11, 2016 | Norman, Okla.
History made.
With a 1-0 victory over SMU, the Sooners secured their first-ever win in NCAA play. Additionally, the victory represented their 14th of the season, the most in school history.
Sophomore Paige Welch tallied her first score of the season in the match, heading in a long free kick from junior Tori Bowman in the 12th minute.
"Incredibly proud of the group and its record setting accomplishments. To me the records suggest we are doing things the right way and with the right people. The traditions of the University and department are winning traditions and this season enforces how close we are getting to that expectation and standard." - Matt Potter
No. 25 Oklahoma vs. No. 4 BYU
NCAA Second Round | Nov. 17, 2016 | Columbia, S.C.
SENIOR CONTRIBUTIONS
The 2016 senior class without a doubt left its mark on the OU program. After winning just four matches as freshmen, the group put together three straight 10-plus win seasons. Kassidie Stade played every minute in goal as a senior, while Jemma Cota, Liz Keester, Shiloh Price, Rachel Ressler and Madison Saliba contributed offensively, combining for 22 goals (62.9 percent of OU's total), 16 assists (61.5 percent) and 61 points (62.2 percent).
"Words can not do justice to the feelings I, the staff and rest of the team feel towards this group of seniors. Each senior class has contributed over the course of time, however this group has lived all the emotions and experiences (positive and negative) as we have evolved to the team and program we are today. They have impacted beyond the field, and leave as the most decorated class in program history. I am incredibly grateful for their contribution, the lessons they have taught me but most importantly I look forward to reading about and hearing from them in the future. I am a lucky coach to have been so fortunate to have them in our program." - Matt Potter
Keester led OU in goals (nine), game-winning goals (five), assists (six) and points (24). Her five game winners are tied for the second-most in a single season in OU history, and she is also tied for fourth in both goals and assists and shared fifth in points.
Saliba set career highs in both goals (five) and points (13) and added three assists, while Price enjoyed the statistically best season as a Sooner, setting career highs in goals (three), game-winning goals (two), assists (five) and points (11).
The 2016 Sooners made a lasting mark on the program and record book in so many ways, from their first NCAA win to 14 total wins and everything in between.
These Sooners have so much to be proud of for what they accomplished as #ONE.
"Every so often as a coach you are blessed to coach a special group that common in nature do uncommon things together. Truly this was a group that you didn’t want it to end but when it did I found myself reflecting on the good, how far we had come together and how much we had learned from each other. Rewarding, both in time and in accolades. Thankful to have been part of it, and looking forward to what happens from here. New journey, new goals, make new history!" - Matt Potter
Credits:
Ty Russell, Big 12 Conference, Bob Stoner