Mean Green Fall to Oklahoma

Thursday, September 3

Denton, TX

7 PM

University of North Texas

2-3-1, 0-0-0

Oklahoma

6-0-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Oklahoma	2	4	6
North Texas	2	0	2

9/3/2026 10:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

DENTON — For much of the first half of UNT's clash with SEC opponent Oklahoma on Thursday night, Mean Green head coach John Hedlund saw about everything he could've possibly wanted from his team.

Balls in the air were won, chances were converted, and the Mean Green went to the halftime break in a tie with the Sooners, but in the closing moments of the half, junior defender Ella Bushko was given a second yellow card after an Oklahoma player with the ball fell in front of her, forcing the Mean Green to play the rest of the match with 10 players in a 6-2 loss at Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium.

"It was a classic," Hedlund said about the 2-2 first half. "We battled them in the first half against the wind, outshot OU, and after their kid flopped, the official changed the game completely with a red card. So now, instead of having the wind in the second half, all the momentum, and a 2-2 tie, we have to play a man down on what I think was an incorrect call. Our girls did their part, and I'm proud of the way they played tonight."

UNT outshot the Sooners 10-7 in the first half and after falling behind on an early goal in the 4th minute got an equalizer from junior Rydlii Rives on a left-footed missile from outside the box into the upper corner of the net for her second goal of the season.

In the 34th minute, the Mean Green took a 2-1 lead on a penalty kick from Claire Niedermeier – her sixth of the season and first career penalty kick – after a Niedermeier goal was originally disallowed because of a review for offsides, but then Hedlund challenged and the Mean Green were awarded the penalty kick because of goalkeeper obstruction.

The lead didn't last long, however, as the Sooners drew even at 2-2 a minute later.

The second half was an uphill battle for UNT (2-3-1), as the Sooners (6-0-1) scored four times against the short-handed Mean Green, including on a penalty kick in the 68th minute. The Sooners ended up outshooting UNT 16-13.

Niedermeier said there is plenty of positive to take from the match heading into their next one on September 10, back at Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium, against Nelson.

"We definitely had a great first half as a team and came together and finished our chances," she said. "We just have to forget about that second half. Playing a man down is really hard, especially against an SEC team. We did a good job in the first half of winning the first and second ball and playing our hardest."

For more information on UNT Soccer tickets, contact the Mean Green Ticket Office at 940-565-2527 or at ticketoffice @unt.edu. Fans can visit the UNT Athletics Ticket Office located at Gate 2 of DATCU Stadium between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For those interested in purchasing group tickets (10 or more), visit here for more information.