Practice at the Oklahoma soccer complex ran later than usual Tuesday, not surprising when you consider the team’s upcoming weekend games against Texas and West Virginia.
However, according to coach Matt Potter, the team simply began practice an hour late.
“Our practices at this time of year are usually shorter and more efficient,” he said. “We know who we are.”
With just three games left on the regular season schedule, Potter’s squad is gearing up to face arguably its toughest stretch of the season. Texas will pay a visit to John Crain Field Friday night before the Sooners travel to West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers.
The team’s reward should they make it through the weekend unscathed? A tussle with No. 14 Kansas on Halloween.
Potter said that this late in the season, the name of the game in practice is efficiency.
“There’s no need to be out here longer than we need to,” he said. “If it goes well, we get out of here. If it doesn’t go well, then we need to stay a little longer.”
Having not won a game since Oct. 5, Oklahoma will square-off against Texas on Friday, hungry for a win.
“I know everyone is pumped for the game,” freshman midfielder Lizzie Luallin said. “We’re pumped for every game though. Home games make things a lot more exciting, though.”
According to her coach, however, it’s business as usual around the complex this week.
“With the whole Red River rivalry, I’m sure people make something out of that,” Potter said. “We’ve been playing in these big games all year and that’s what you have to do when you’re in [the Big 12].
“I don’t think there’s anything more than the pressure that you want to perform for your own fans.”
Texas (8-6-2) touts a potent offense that took a season-high 29 shots last weekend against Arkansas-Little Rock. Freshman forward Olivia Brook leads the team with six goals on the year.
Oklahoma goalkeeper Kaitlyn Farhner said it is important that the defense practice well after giving up four goals last weekend.
“Every single day references how you play,” she said. “You can’t practice bad and expect to have a good game on Friday.”
After their battle with the Longhorns, Oklahoma will turn around and travel to Morgantown, West Virginia, roughly a 1,100 mile trip.
Potter said that while the logistics of the trip are out of the team’s control, the coaches have the responsibility to make it as worry-free as possible for the athletes.
“We have the staff to do that, whether it be comfort on the trip or re-energizing our group,” he said.
Farhner said she is grateful for a non-conference schedule that prepared the team for long trips like this.
“We traveled to Nebraska and also went to [Texas] Tech and then Iowa State,” she said. “It shows that we can be prepared.”
For student-athletes, long trips like this can be difficult when it comes to keeping up with classes. However, Luallin said she is not worried about that.
“It’s going to be tough, but we have all of the resources we need to take care of missing class,” she said. “We’ll be fine.”
Oklahoma and Texas face-off on Kick for a Cure night, at 7 p.m. Friday. The Sooners will return to action at noon on Sunday at West Virginia.
