VIDEO: Women's soccer wins fifth straight: 1-0 over Oklahoma
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2021 12:56 amFrom SMUMustangs.com:
No. 24 SMU Defeats Oklahoma, 1-0, For Fifth Straight Win
DALLAS (SMU) – No. 24 SMU defeated Oklahoma, 1-0, for its fourth straight victory by the score, and the Mustangs stretched their overall win streak to five matches, the longest since a 5-0 stretch during the 2017 season.
Wayny Balata scored the goal, her second of the season, in the 59th minute of the match. Courtney Sebazco served a ball into the box that was punched out by the Oklahoma goalkeeper, Nikki Panas. Balata sprinted onto the ball and chipped it over Panas, who was still out for the punch.
"She (Balata) is dynamic. She's got good physical qualities; she's strong, she wins the ball in the air. She's got a lot of things that make a big difference in college soccer," head coach Chris Petrucelli stated.
It was one of just two shots by the Mustangs, while Oklahoma took 14 shots, forcing Tatum Sutherland to make four saves. Sutherland, making her third start of the season, now has four shutouts, including a combined shutout.
"I wish that we were creating more chances and getting the ball forward more. Clearly, the more times you shoot, the better chance you have to score," Petrucelli explained. "As I said to the team earlier this week, I said, "Look, if we go ahead, it's lights out, like we're locking it down."
The Mustangs concluded the non-conference schedule with a 6-1 record, while Oklahoma dropped to 4-5-1. SMU starts American Athletic Conference action Thursday at ECU in Greenville, N.C., at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.