Rogers State women's soccer traveled to the University of Oklahoma for a spring game and returned with a win.
The Hillcats defeated OU 1-0 on Saturday, a historic win as RSU had never beaten a Power 5 program before Saturday.
“We played without fear and with house money,” RSU coach Chris Jones said. “A win like this puts our program on the map. We knew we had nothing to lose and we gave it our all. I'm so proud of our football program. This is a great achievement that will help us improve.”
Jones, in his third season at the helm of RSU, tried out this spring but lost to Oral Roberts University in the first game of the spring. But the Hillcats changed things up, and it paid off Saturday.
“We caught Oklahoma off guard and decided we could play,” Jones said. “We exposed them and learned a lot from this game. Our group has grit and I can't wait to continue to grow.”
After a scoreless first half, RSU caught the Sooners on the counterattack, and Alix Tirado made a great shot to give the Hillcats the lead for good. RSU's defense was solid, with goaltender Tiffany Brittan making 15 saves.
“A win like this gives us confidence,” Jones said. “I have the confidence to play against anyone, regardless of name or past success. Tiffany came in clutch and did a great job of defending the goal.”
Jones is happy with the historic win, but said he knows there is a lot of work to do heading into the regular season.
“Some coaches and acquaintances sent me congratulatory messages,” he said. “We are happy with the win, but we have our eyes set on bigger goals.”
One of those goals includes qualifying the MIAA Tournament for the NCAA National Tournament, which has not happened since joining the conference in 2019.
The Hillcats are 2-2 this spring. There are four games remaining, including games against ORU and Tulsa. They will also face Missouri State University, which participated in the national tournament last year.
“We beat a team like Oklahoma, so we want to beat some other good teams and finish the spring season on a good note,” Jones said. “We are growing as a group and will continue to get better.”
