TUCSON, Ariz. – Oklahoma took the lead in the 81st minute and didn't look back as they defeated the Arizona Wildcats by a score of 2-1. Kennedy Kieneker scored Arizona's lone goal in the 30th minute off an assist by Jaden DeGracie-Bailey. The Sooners got goals from Rachel Ressler and Liz Keester.
"These were two evenly matched teams and the intensity was there from both teams," head coach Tony Amato said. "It was going to come down to execution in the key moments of the game and they unfortunately capitalized in two key moments of the second half. We made a mistake on their first goal and then she had a great finish. There were key moments throughout the game and they executed while we came up short."
Key Plays
30' – Kieneker scored her first goal of the season off a DeGracie-Bailey flip throw that found her head. She made good contact and put it in the side net to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
55' – Oklahoma equalized on a goal from Rachel Ressler. The ball found her feet after a clearance and put it over the head of Lainey Burdett.
81' – Oklahoma took the lead on a goal by Liz Keester. Madison Saliba took a shot and Keester redirected it into the goal.
Play-by-play
5' - Crouch dropped one off to Lexe Selman-Richards who ripped shot from about 30 yards away, but the Sooners were there to block it.
16' - Crouch had flip throw in a dangerous area for Arizona and she found the head of Hannah Stevens. Nothing came of it though.
18' - A shot by Oklahoma's Keester went over the crossbar. She received a pass in the middle of the goal box and had a good look at the goal.
19' – After a foul, Gabi Stoian went for goal on a set piece, but Kassidie Stade was there to make the save for Oklahoma. Cali Crisler was there for the rebound, but her shot was also saved.
23' –Selman-Richards found some space and took a shot from about 25 yards out, but Stade was there to make the save.
27' - A flip throw by DeGracie-Bailey found the head of Kelcey Cavarra, who had just entered the game, but her header landed on top of the cage.
30' –Kieneker scored her first goal of the season off a DeGracie-Bailey flip throw that found her head. She made good contact and put it in the side net to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
43' - A couple of headers by Arizona couldn't find the net. Crisler's header was saved and then Stevens saw hers go over the crossbar on a corner kick taken by Stoian.
49' – Oklahoma had the first chance of the second half after earning a corner kick. They managed to get a shot out of it, but it went wide.
55' – Oklahoma equalized on a goal from Rachel Ressler. The ball found her feet after a clearance and put it over the head of Lainey Burdett.
64' - A yellow card was issued to Laura Pimienta and Oklahoma had a free kick from 40 yards out. An ambitious attempt at goal from went over the crossbar.
67' - Lizzie Luallin made a run down the right sideline and she took a shot, but Lainey Burdett was there to make her first save of the night.
69' - A long flip throw by Crouch led to a Crisler shot, but it was blocked at the top of the box by the Sooners.
81' – Oklahoma took the lead on a goal by Keester. Madison Saliba took a shot from the 18 and Keester redirected it into the goal.
89' – A yellow card was issued to Oklahoma's Kristina O'Donnell.
The Wildcats are back in action next Friday, Sept. 23 as they head to the City of Angels to face USC at 3 p.m. MST. The match will be aired live on the Pac-12 Networks.
Game Notes
Oklahoma's goal in the 55th minute was the first goal Arizona had given up since the 89th minute of the Texas Tech match back on Aug. 26.
Jaden DeGracie-Bailey now has 22 career assists, which is the most in school history.
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