NORMAN — Come the fall, nobody will have to wait very long for the first Bedlam contest. If willing to drive to Stillwater, Sooner fans can have their first taste of Bedlam as early as Aug. 20 … on the pitch.
That’s the biggest piece of news from Oklahoma’s soccer schedule, released Monday by OU athletic director Joe Castiglione and soccer coach Nicole Nelson.
It is both team’s season opener and will not count in the Big 12 standings. The Cowgirls come to Norman for the regular season’s final game, Oct. 29. That one will not only count in the conference standings, but it could be a game the Sooners need to finally return to the Big 12 soccer tournament.
The Sooners will get their first and only dress rehearsal Aug. 13 at John Crain Field, when they play host to Northern Colorado in an exhibition contest. The Sooners’ regular season home opener is Aug. 29, against Stephen F. Austin.
In all, OU will play 19 regular season contests, nine of them at home.
Missing, perhaps, is a signature non-conference contest in Norman. Outside the Big 12, in addition to the home opener, the Sooners will meet Colorado College, Rice and Francis Marion. Outside the conference away from home, OU will take on Tulsa, Missouri State, Southern Cal and Cal-Santa Barbara.
Conference home games include Texas Tech, Baylor, Nebraska, Colorado and Oklahoma State. Conference road games include Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas, Texas A&M and Texas.
The Sooners went 7-10-2 last season in Nelson’s first year, more than doubling their win total from the 2008 season.
OU returns 10 starters.
“This returning group has worked tirelessly since last season ended to get ready for 2010,” Nelson said, “and is focused on our goal of winning a Big 12 title and advancing to the NCAA postseason.
Oklahoma Soccer
2010 Schedule
August
13, (exhibition) Northern Colorado; 20, at Oklahoma State; 27, at Tulsa; 29, S.F. Austin.
September
5, Colorado College; 10, at Missouri State; 12, Rice; 17, at Southern Cal; 19, at UCSB; 24, Texas Tech; 26, Baylor.
October
1, at Iowa State; 3, at Missouri; 8, Francis Marion; 10, at Kansas; 14, Nebraska; 17, Colorado; 22, at Texas A&M; 24, at Texas; 29, Oklahoma State.
November
3-7, at Big 12 tournament, San Antonio
