NORMAN, Okla. — Caren Nelson recorded a hat trick in the first half to help lead Oklahoma past visiting UTSA, 8-1, on Sunday afternoon at the OU Soccer Complex.
Isabella Sanchez made a season-high five saves off the bench for the Roadrunners (0-5), who avoided the shutout on Savannah Struck’s unassisted goal in the 82nd minute.
Meanwhile, the Sooners (3-2) blitzed the UTSA defense for seven goals in the first 17 minutes, led by Nelson’s hat trick, en route to their third straight victory.
After its Friday night match was suspended and eventually cancelled due to a power failure, Oklahoma made up for lost time with goals by Lizzie Luallin, Paige Welch and Emily Parker in the first 10 minutes. Nelson then recorded back-to-back winners before Parker added another for a 6-0 cushion. The advantage grew to seven on Nelson’s last of the match for her first hat trick.
UTSA kept the Sooners off the scoreboard for the remainder of the first half, but the home squad extended the lead to 8-0 on Victoria Bowman’s goal in the 59th minute.
The Roadrunners avoided the shutout when Struck found the back of the net in the 82nd minute. The strike was the team-leading second of the season for the senior.
UTSA will be back in action at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, in Waco when it will face Louisiana-Lafayette (4-2) in the first match of the Baylor Tournament.