Women's Soccer 9/21/2023 6:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Hits The Road In Week 4

Central Oklahoma Visits Rogers State And Northeastern State This Weekend

CLAREMORE, Okla. – Central Oklahoma hits the road for its final non-conference game of the 2023 season Friday night at Rogers State.

The Bronchos, 2-2-2, are playing the third non-conference game against MIAA competition. UCO will start league play against Northeastern State on Sunday in Tahlequah. Central Oklahoma is looking to bounce back after a 2-1 loss to NSU in Edmond on Sunday.

Rogers State is 3-1-2 with wins over Sioux Falls, East Central, and Northeastern State. The Hillcats have only given up three goals in six games this year and are coming off a 1-1 draw with Newman on Sunday.

"We haven't been consistent this year and that's holding us back a little," UCO head women's coach Mike Cook said. "We know what we're capable of, but we have to make that the consistent level of play in every game."

UCO has outscored its opponents 12-4 in the first game of each weekend but has been outscored 5-3 in the second game of each weekend through three weeks of play this season. The Bronchos are being outshot by the opposition, but just by a 67-66 mark. Central Oklahoma does have one more shot on goal, 31, than the opposition through six games.

Three Bronchos have three goals this season to lead the UCO offense. Lauren Piper, Albany Adair, and Elena Conaway all have had an impact on the offense this season. Piper also has a team-high two assists while Adair and Conaway both have one assist.

Amaya Grace adds two goals to Central's tally, while Emma Nicholas, Jaci Decker, Matilda Torres, and Izzy Van Zanten have all scored once. Nicholas and Callen Snider also have assists for Central.

Defensively, UCO has gone with three goalkeepers in six games but never two in the same game. Caroline Faulkner has three starts, has allowed four goals, and has made nine saves. Olivia Vigil has two starts, has allowed two goals, and has nine saves. And Avery Bass, with one start, has allowed three goals and made five saves.

Faulkner, a junior from Tulsa, Oklahoma, has 84 saves in her career and has moved into 10th place on Central Oklahoma's all-time list. Faulkner's freshman season was canceled due to the pandemic. She made eight saves in two games as a freshman and 67 saves in 14 games last fall.

UCO and Rogers State have a very short history. While Central Oklahoma is going for its 350th program win, in 25 years of playing the Bronchos have only met RSU eight times.

UCO has a 6-1-1 lead in the series that started in 2018, but RSU won 2-1 in Claremore in the most recent meeting. The two also tied 1-1 last year in Edmond after UCO had won the first six meetings in the rivalry.

Central Oklahoma will take on Rogers State and Northeastern State this weekend. The Bronchos are scheduled to return home and will play two games next weekend during Central's Homecoming. UCO hosts Central Missouri Sept. 29 and Missouri Southern on Oct. 1.

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Players Mentioned

#16 Albany Adair: F; 5' 5"; Junior

#00 Avery Bass: GK; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#1 Caroline Faulkner: GK; 5' 10"; Junior

#3 Amaya Grace: F; 5' 2"; Senior

#17 Lauren Piper: MF; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#19 Matilda Torres: MF; 5' 7"; Junior

#0 Olivia Vigil: GK; 5' 6"; Junior

#9 Elena Conaway: D; 5' 7"; Freshman

#13 Emma Nicholas: MF; 5' 4"; Freshman

#15 Jaci Decker: F; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#16 Albany Adair
: 5' 5"; Junior
: F

#00 Avery Bass
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: GK

#1 Caroline Faulkner
: 5' 10"; Junior
: GK

#3 Amaya Grace
: 5' 2"; Senior
: F

#17 Lauren Piper
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: MF

#19 Matilda Torres
: 5' 7"; Junior
: MF

#0 Olivia Vigil
: 5' 6"; Junior
: GK

#9 Elena Conaway
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: D

#13 Emma Nicholas
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: MF

#15 Jaci Decker
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: F