Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams for the Oklahoma City Stars are having a great start to the season, showcasing perseverance, talent, and skill. The women’s team has played some challenging opponents but hasn’t let up with their offensive power, while the men’s squad is still undefeated.
With an 8-0-1 record, the OCU men’s soccer team is playing brilliantly. Their prolific offense, which scores close to six goals a night, has been a major contributing element. Early in the season, the Stars made a statement by defeating Bethany College and Our Lady of the Lake 8-0. They then stunned Randall 14-0, demonstrating their nearly unstoppable offensive onslaught.
When asked about the importance of team chemistry, David Imbert commented, “Of course, chemistry has contributed a lot. I can even say that our chemistry is one key to our strong start.” The team gets along very well, on and off the pitch, and this is a critical factor in why they are doing well so far this season. “We’re fighting for each other and must keep going that way. We are family now!”
Even during their tightest game, a 1-1 draw with fifth-ranked Bellevue University, OCU displayed their resilience against elite opposition.
Team captain Thomas Brulay has paced the team with eight assists, which places him near the top of the NAIA leaderboards. The senior midfielder has proven to be an elite playmaker. All the while, Imbert has been a prominent player, commanding the midfield and excelling in his role.
Stars’ Women’s Soccer
Furthermore, the OCU women’s team has started its campaign with a 6-3-1 record, winning games comfortably while showcasing solid offensive attacks. The lady Stars demonstrated their ability to dominate on offense with their 7-0 victory over Bethany College and followed up with an 11-1 rout against Sterling College. Their ability to hit nearly 56% of the shots on target supports their attacking efficiency.
Junior Abby Russell has had a significant impact throughout the first part of the season, tallying three goals and five assists. Her scoring ability and inventiveness have been essential to the team’s offensive success. Junior Piper Nichols has maintained her position as the defensive line’s rock, building on her stellar sophomore campaign in which she was named to the All-Sooner Athletic Conference second team.
Piper attributes the team’s excellent start to its balanced talent and versatility.
“This year, we have a lot of talent on the team. We have just been learning how to play with each other and the new additions on the field”. The team has seen success from their “buildup and will to continue to work on our progression in the final third,” Piper said.
Head Coach of the men’s soccer team, Billy Martin, also applauded the women’s teams, mentioning, “The Ladies have been improving daily. It takes time for new players to adjust to our way of doing things, returning players taking on different roles, especially in leadership and the chemistry of our team that is getting better every week.” Martin elaborated on the men’s squad, “Motivation is never an issue for the boys. They love going to training, and they always work hard. They would never take a day off if it were up to them.”
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