NORMAN, Okla. — The Sooners open the 2008 season under first year head coach Nicole Nelson on the road at Colorado College (Conference USA) on Friday, Aug. 22.  The game is slated for a 4 p.m. start (MT) at Stewart Field in Colorado Springs.  The contest also marks the opener for the Tigers.

ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB
Fans can follow the action live from Colorado Springs this Friday on the internet with live stats and video on CCTigers.com.  The live stats are available for free and a $7 fee is required to access the live webcast.

ABOUT THE TIGERS
Colorado College is led by head coach Geoff Bennett who after four years at the Tigers’ helm has compiled a 41-25-9 record.  CC was 10-6-3 overall in 2007 and finished fourth in Conference USA with a 5-3-1 mark. The Tigers were picked to finish third in the conference this season behind Memphis and Central Florida.  In addition, for the second consecutive season, Tigers Emily Beans and Molly Uyenishi have been named the Preseason C-USA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively.

In Colorado College’s previous 23 years in Division I soccer, it has advanced to nine NCAA Tournaments.  The Tigers have also appeared in five national semifinals and played in the National Championship game in 1986 and 1989.

THE SERIES
Despite both playing in the central region of the country, Oklahoma and Colorado College have only met on one other occasion.  The Tigers topped the Sooners, 2-1, in double overtime  on Sept. 3, 2000 in Albuquerque, N.M.

SOONERS IN SEASON OPENERS
Oklahoma is 5-1-1 in the last seven season openers. The only loss in that span came in 2006 when it dropped a 1-0 decision at Washington. The tie occurred in 2004 against Saint Louis in Norman. OU is 6-5-1 lifetime in the first game of the year, including a 4-5 mark away from home.

NEXT WEEKEND
OU returns home to host a pair of opponents from the Mid American Conference.  On Friday, Aug. 29, the Sooners will entertain Central Michigan at 7 p.m. at John Crain Field. The first 250 fans will receive OU 2008 Schedule t-shirts and soccer posters will also be available.

On Sunday, Aug. 31, OU welcomes Ball State for a 1 p.m. contest.  Sunday’s game features free admission and the first 500 fans receive OU soccer schedule magnets.  Kids also eat free on Sundays.

EXHIBITION WIN
The Sooners defeated visiting Stephen F. Austin, 1-0, in exhibition play on Friday, Aug. 15 at John Crain Field.
Sophomore Kelsey Allison delivered the game-winning goal in the 47th minute and led the Sooners with eight of the squad’s 22 shots in the game. Sophomores Whitney Palmer and Sage Coralli, a transfer from Pepperdine, tallied three shots apiece. Redshirt freshman Lisa Jett, a transfer from UCLA, helped anchor the OU defense in the shutout.  Jett made four saves in the contest.  In addition to Jett and Coralli, Nelson started two other newcomers with freshmen Kelsey Kraft and Michelle Alexander on defense and in the midfield, respectively.

YOUTHFUL SOONERS
Only five upper classmen can be found on this year’s roster as three seniors (Katie Corbitt, Traci Dickenson and Helen Ajufo) and two juniors (Ashley Farrand and Kate Marr) will look to lead a young squad.  Despite the lack of juniors and seniors, OU returns 14 sophomores, five of which saw significant playing time in 2007 and scored 22 of the team’s 30 goals.

A talented recruiting class joins the returners, including two Division I transfers Lisa Jett (UCLA) and Sage Coralli (Pepperdine).  The remaining freshman class is made up of Michelle Alexander, Danielle Digeralamo, Abbey Golliher, Kelsey Kraft, Jordan King and Jordan White.

OU will host Stephen F. Austin on Aug. 15 in the only exhibition game on the schedule.

The 19-game slate is highlighted by 10 contests at the Sooners’ home John Crain Field at the OU Soccer Complex, including the Ford Bedlam Series on Oct. 31 against Oklahoma State.

“We couldn’t be more excited about getting started,” Nelson said. “We have put all the time into all the other areas of this program first, but now we are ready to start playing some soccer. As coaches, what we enjoy most is developing these players and preparing them for competition on the field.”

Following the season opener on the road, the Sooners return to Norman to host Central Michigan on Friday, Aug. 29 at the OU Soccer Complex. OU will host another Mid American Conference opponent that weekend on Aug. 31 with Ball State in town.

In preparation for the rigorous play in the Big 12 Conference, OU will also host Rice, Louisiana State and Oregon and travel to North Texas, Memphis and Mississippi in non-conference action.

“A good non-conference schedule should prepare your team for the high level of competition in the Big 12 Conference,” Nelson said. “We believe these opponents will do just that.”

The conference slate kicks off on Friday, Sept. 26 at Colorado and the Sooners will complete the weekend on Sept. 28 in Lubbock, Texas against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. OU’s Big 12 road schedule also includes Texas A&M, Texas and Baylor.

Oklahoma opens the home portion of the Big 12 schedule against Missouri on Friday, Oct. 10 and the weekend concludes with the Kansas Jayhawks on Oct. 12.

The Sooners will also host Nebraska and Iowa State before the season finale against Oklahoma State in the Ford Bedlam Series where OU will look to snap a three-game skid against the Cowgirls.

“The Bedlam series is one of the biggest rivalries in the country,” Nelson said. “I believe it’s a series we can win each year and that starts this season in Norman.”

The Big 12 Championship (Nov. 5-9) will once again be held in San Antonio, Texas at the Blossom Soccer Stadium. The top eight teams will compete in a single-elimination tournament to determine the conference’s champion and the automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

The Sooners finished 6-10-3 overall last season and ninth in the Big 12 Conference with a 2-7-1 record. Oklahoma will look to turn things around in 2008 as it returns 17 letter winners, including nine players with starting experience in at least 10 games. Three seniors, Helen Ajufo, Katie Corbitt and Traci Dickenson will help lead a young and talented Sooner team that features three juniors, 13 sophomores and seven freshmen.

“Graeme is an incredible addition to our staff,” said Nelson. “He has been exposed to the game at the highest level as a young professional in England, which adds a unique perspective to our program. He has also been mentored by some of the top goalkeeper coaches in both the United States and Europe. Graeme is regarded as one of the top young goalkeeper coaches in the nation and we are excited that he has decided to become a Sooner.”

Abel joined Nevada as an assistant coach in August 2005 and worked primarily with the Wolf Pack’s goalkeepers. With Abel on staff, Nevada enjoyed 30 wins and three straight trips to the Western Athletic Conference tournament, including the 2006 WAC Championship and the program’s only NCAA tournament appearance in 2006. In addition, Abel’s pupils helped anchor a Nevada defense that recorded 23 shutouts in three seasons (Nevada had three in program history prior to his arrival). He also handled aspects relating to compliance and recruiting with the Nevada soccer program.

“I’d like to thank Coach Nelson and the University of Oklahoma for the chance to be a part of the Sooner soccer program,” said Abel. “The commitment to excellence at OU has been very evident since my first meeting with Coach Nelson and all the way through the hiring process. I look forward to assisting this staff in bringing conference and national recognition to OU and its soccer program. I’d also like to thank the University of Nevada and its athletic administration. My time at Nevada has helped prepare me for this exciting step in my career.”

In 2007, Abel and Nevada advanced to the program’s third straight appearance in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament and held nine opponents to one goal or less, including three shutouts, throughout the season.

Under Abel’s direction in 2006, the Wolf Pack made its first NCAA Tournament appearance after clinching the WAC Tournament Championship in penalty kicks. Abel’s starting goalkeeper, Caitlin Holmes, was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Holmes made her mark in the Nevada’s record books under Abel’s tutelage, where she is the program’s career and single-season leader in shutouts and goals-against average.

In addition, the 2006 Wolf Pack recorded a school-record 13 wins and ranked second in the conference in goals allowed and goals-against average. Abel and Nevada posted 12 shutouts, a 0.61 goals-against average and allowed 14 goals overall in 2006, all program bests.

During his first year in Reno, Abel helped lead the Wolf Pack to a then-program record 11 wins (11) and their first postseason appearance (WAC Tournament). The Wolf Pack were tabbed the nation’s most-improved NCAA Division I program and again ranked second in the Western Athletic Conference with eight shutouts.

“Kara is a tremendous addition to our staff,” said Nelson, who enters her first year at OU’s helm in 2008 and is also an Oklahoma native. “She has experience as a head coach and in the Big 12 Conference and those things are invaluable as we begin the rebuilding process. Kara was considered by some of the top programs this offseason for head coaching and assistant jobs. So I feel very fortunate to have her join the Sooner soccer staff.”

Lowery joined Kansas as an assistant coach in January 2005 and primarily trained the field players while serving as the camp coordinator while working other administrative duties. The Jayhawks enjoyed three top five Big 12 finishes during her tenure in Lawrence, including the 2005 season that saw KU tie for second place in the conference standings.

“I would like to thank Coach Nelson for the opportunity to come back to our home state and make winning championships a Sooner soccer tradition,” Lowery said. “The University of Oklahoma’s commitment to excellence, along with Coach Nelson’s vision for the program, made it very clear that this is a program that will rise to national contention right from the start and I’m very excited to be a part of it. I would also like to thank Mark Francis at the University of Kansas; my time there will always be cherished.”

In 2007, Kansas posted a 7-10-4 overall record, but finished third in the standings with a 5-2-3 mark in Big 12 play. The Jayhawks won 11 games during the 2005 and 2006 seasons, and Lowery coached two All-Americans and 10 All-Big 12 honorees in her three seasons.

Prior to her stint at KU, Lowery was named the Mid America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Coach of the Year following one season at Emporia State. In 2004, she led the Hornets to their first winning season in the program’s four-year history. Emporia State finished the 2004 season 10-8-2 overall and third in the MIAA. The Hornets were also ranked as high as fifth in the NSCAA/adidas Central Region rankings.

Lowery’s other head coaching stop came at St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, Okla., where she directed the program to four straight appearances in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament from 2000-2003. Lowery also coached St. Gregory’s to the NAIA Tournament in 2001. During her four-year tenure, the Lady Cavs compiled a 30-38-6 overall record.

In 2001, Lowery was also involved in the Oklahoma Olympic Development Program, where she served as the head coach until she left for her appointment at Emporia State in 2004. She began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant in 1998 at Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. and finished in 2000.

On the playing field at Southern Nazarene University, Lowery earned was an honorable mention All-American as a freshman and sophomore and was named a second team All-American as a junior and senior.

She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from SNU in 1997 and currently holds a USSF “A” Coaching License.