Box Score NORMAN, Okla. – The Little Rock soccer team put forth a strong defensive effort, but the Oklahoma offense proved too much for the Trojans in a 4-0 Sooners victory on Sunday afternoon.
Little Rock kept the Sooners off the board for close to half an hour, but a long distance shot broke the scoreless tie and an early second-half goal sealed the result for the home team.
Little Rock (2-2) was unable to get much pressuring going forward, taking just two shots on Oklahoma (2-2) all afternoon. The Sooners outshot the Trojans 28-2 and had seven corner kicks to the Trojans' zero.
Sara Small (2-2) started the contest in goal for the Trojans, making three saves. About an hour into the game,
Sara Cavanagh replaced her and saw her first action of the season. Cavanagh finished with four saves of her own.
The Sooners took the lead in the 28th minute thanks to the fresh legs of Rasha Roberts. Coming off the bench just a minute earlier, Roberts got the ball at her feet in midfield and dribbled toward the arc above the 18-yard box. She took a low, sinking shot on goal, and Small was unable to make the catch. The ball went through Small's arms and then her legs, trickling into the back of the net.
Surrounding that goal, though, was solid defense throughout from the Trojans. The Sooners' chances offensively were limited, and while they did take eight shots only four of those were on goal. Small ended the half with three saves, including a diving one in the first five minutes.
Just minutes into the second half, though, Oklahoma got its insurance goal. With pressure on the defense and a ball coming toward the penalty area, Small came out of her net and made a diving play at the ball. While initially making a stop, she kicked it backward into open space. Sooner defender Rachel Ressler was the first one to reach the ball, and she had a vacant net in front of her for the simple finish.
Little Rock had its first shots of the afternoon after that goal as a
Fali Garuba header was saved by the Sooners and another header by
Quin Wilkes got blocked.
In the 75th minute, the Sooners put the finishing touches on the victory when Cavanagh dove at a bouncing ball. It went over her head, and Liz Keester ran forward to tap it in. An 82nd-minute penalty kick goal by Laura Rayfield capped the scoring.
Besides Cavanagh, Sunday's game saw the first action of the season for
Naomi James and Oklahoma native
Madi Motil.
Little Rock returns home next for a midweek matchup against Central Arkansas. The Trojans and Bears will face off Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex.
