OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City launches the women's soccer postseason this week with at least one home match and an outside possibility of two.
 
The third-seeded Stars host the sixth-seeded Aggies of Oklahoma Panhandle State at 7 p.m., Wednesday and play a second-round game Saturday against the winner of the USAO-Nelson game. If the Stars and Nelson both win, OCU would host the second round.
 
OCU Notebook
 
Postseason Here We Come: OCU's win at Central Christian on Friday gave OCU the third seed in the Sooner Athletic Conference. A victory pits OCU against either second-seeded USAO or Nelson. Other first-round games have top-seeded John Brown hosting Wayland Baptist and fourth-seeded Mid-America Christian hosting Southwestern Christian.
 
Recapping the OPSU Match: The overpowering offensive attack and relentlessly hounding defense of Oklahoma City University women's soccer proved to be too much for the Aggies of Oklahoma Panhandle State University in September. Coach Billy Martin's team took advantage of opportunities created by OPSU losing two players due to multiple card infractions. Junior Kayleigh Haygood netted three goals to record her first collegiate hat-trick, ultimately propelling the Stars' offense to success.  
 
Player of the Week: The Sooner Athletic Conference on Monday named Oklahoma City's Candela Blanco its Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week. Blanco, a junior from Avila, Spain, Blanco helped the Stars to a 1-1-0 record last week by having nine total saves in the two matches for a save percentage of .900. In a 1-0 loss to John Brown, Blanco had eight saves while adding another save in a 3-0 win over Central Christian to help the Stars secure the No. 3 seed in the upcoming tournament. It is the second award of the season for Blanco. She also won the award on Sept. 2. OCU has three SAC Defensive Player of the Week awards this season. Piper Nichols took the honor on Sept. 22. Additionally, OCU has one Offensive Player of the Week – Amelia Horsford on Sept. 15.
 
Shutouts: Through 17 games, OCU has 11 shutouts, allowing just 0.46 goals per game. Candela Blanco has 10 solo shutouts and shares the 11^th with Gemma Harvey. Blanco leads the league with 10 shutouts, a 0.42 goals allowed average and 87.7 save percentage.
 
OCU at Home: The Stars are 7-1-1 at home this season and outscoring opponents 46-3. That's an average score of 5.11 to 0.33. Amelia Horsford has scored 10 goals on Brian Harvey Field this season.
 
Stars on the Road: The Stars are 6-1-1 on the road and outscoring the hosts 24-4. Kayleigh Haygood leads the team with four road goals this season.
 
Half and Half: In outscoring opponents 70-7 this season, OCU has allowed four first-half and three second-half goals. The offense has been more prevalent in the second half. OCU has 46 first-half goals, compared to 24 in the first. The Stars averaged 2.7 goals in the second half, which is more than the goal totals this season for seven SAC teams.
 
Last Game: Piper Nichols had a brace in OCU's 3-0 win at Central Christian on Friday. Chloi Thurman had the game-winner. Kayleigh Haygood and Abby Russell had assists.
 
Three-Game Trend: The Stars are 2-1 over the last three games and outscoring the opponents 6-1. The six goals have come from five different goal-scorers.
 
The Goals: Fifteen Stars have contributed to the 70-goal total this season. Kayleigh Haygood and Amelia Horsford lead the way with 12 goals each with Yami Ponce adding 10.  Haygood and Horsford are tied for second in the league with Ponce tied for eighth.
 
Hat Tricks: The Stars have produced three hat tricks this season, with Kayleigh Haygood getting the latest one with her three goals against Oklahoma Panhandle State. Tatum Tallal got one on with three goals against Hesston. Amelia Horsford had a three-goal day in the win over Sterling.
 
Brace for Impact: Seven Stars have recorded a brace this season, including Amelia Horsford (4) and Yami Ponce (3), who have done so a total of seven times. Kayleigh Haygood, Tatum Tallal, Piper Nichols, Chloi Thurman and Saizlee Carlton have one each.
 
On the Assist: Fifteen Stars have combined for 46 assists this season. Kayleigh Haygood leads the team with nine. Haygood leads the league with those nine and Saizlee Carlton is tied for sixth with six.
 
History with OPSU: OCU has won its last seven matches in the series, including the 5-0 win at home in September.
 
Scouting the Aggies: Panhandle is 6-6-2 overall and 3-4-2 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Emma Daskalov and Toriana Holt lead the Aggies with six goals each.
 
Coach Billy Martin: Coach Martin is 56-35-9 since taking the helm at OCU in 2020. This season's 13 wins are the high-water mark for Coach Martin at OCU.