May 10, 2013

Fresh off the most successful season in Oakland women's soccer history, the Golden Grizzlies finished a strong spring season and are geared up to try and make their third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance in 2013.

"The players worked really hard in the spring season," said OU coach Nick O'Shea. "We get a lot done during the season and move players around to see what they can do in game situations. Payj (O'Shea) did a great job for us in our spring games. Katrina Stencel did a phenomenal job for us as well."

O'Shea posted a 1-1-1 record last fall and made seven saves in four matches. She has three shutouts in her career, playing in 23 matches and a 6-6-2 record. Stencel was part of the backline in the fall that tallied a Summit League-best 11 shutouts, including not allowing a goal in the league tournament. She made eight starts as a sophomore.

The Golden Grizzlies played five matches in the spring. OU took on Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Saginaw Valley State, along with the Canadian club team London Gryphons. Coach O'Shea was pretty happy with the way the offense performed, despite missing some top personnel.

"We scored quite a few goals in some of the games, and in other games, one or two," said O'Shea. " Meghan Reynolds continues to work hard and cause problems for teams. She is working harder than she ever has."

Reynolds finished third on the team last season with 11 points, four goals and three assists. Also shining in the spring for OU was underclassmen Jordan Sargent, Stephanie Pilarski, Jenna Taylor and Erin Ring, who all saw limited minutes in the fall.

"All of these young ladies saw significant more time in the spring and did very well," said O'Shea. "We were trying to be more aggressive on the back line and got caught a couple of times during the spring, but something we can fix in the fall."

Now Oakland will be moving into the Horizon League. The Golden Grizzlies competed for 14 years inside The Summit League, winning eight regular-season and eight tournament championships. OU made seven trips to the NCAA tournament, including consecutive trips in 2011 and '12, and defeated No. 4 Ohio State, 3-1 in penalty kicks, in Columbus last year.

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