The 2014 Big 12 Soccer Championship begins on Wednesday with four quarterfinal matches at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri.
Game 1: No. 1 West Virginia vs. No. 8 TCU - 11:30 a.m. CT
In the midst of a 15-game unbeaten streak, reigning champions West Virginia (pictured above) are ranked No. 9 in the nation and get a rematch with TCU -- the only team they failed to beat (0-0 on Sept. 26) en route to a first place finish (7-0-1) during the regular season -- as the Big 12's two newest members meet. Two players from last year's Mountaineers squad now play for FC Kansas City in the NWSL: Sara Keane and Frances Silva.
Game 2: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Texas - 2 p.m. CT
After a perfect start to 2014 through their first nine games, Texas Tech suffered their first loss of the year at Texas on Sept. 26. The No. 16 ranked Red Raiders -- who sent Hayley Haagsma to the NWSL after last year's tournament -- are powered by juniors Janine Beckie and Alli Murphy, who led the Big 12 in goals (13) and assists (12) respectively.
Game 3: No. 2 Oklahoma State vs. No. 7 Baylor - 5:30 p.m. CT
After losing their first six games of 2014, OSU -- runners-up in the 2013 Big 12 Championship -- has gone 10-2-1 since, picking up their first road victory of the year on Friday to claim the second seed. The Cowgirls are anchored by senior goalkeeper Rosa Medina, whose 86 saves were most in the Big 12, and junior Allie Stephenson, a Lee's Summit North alum who earned All Big 12 First Team honors after leading the team with six goals and three assists.
Game 4: No. 3 Kansas vs. No. 6 Oklahoma - 8 p.m. CT
Five days after meeting in the regular season finale -- a 1-0 home win for OU -- the schools meet again in Kansas City. After finishing at the bottom of table in 2013, both doubled their win totals (KU from 7 to 15 and OU from 4 to 9). Ranked 18th in the nation, Kansas is boosted by seniors Kaitlyn Stroud (Big 12 best 0.61 goals against average) and Ali Kimura (Shawnee Mission South product has three goals and seven assists).
Wednesday's winners will advance to the semifinals on Friday, played as part of a doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. (winners of games 1 and 2) and 8 p.m. CT (winners of games 3 and 4). The Championship match will then be held at 3:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, live on FOX Sports 1, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship at stake.
Tickets for the 2014 Big 12 Soccer Championship are now available at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL. Day passes are on sale for $9 with three-day tournament passes available for $14. A 15-ticket group package is also available for $90.
In conjunction with the tournament, the 2014 National Women’s Soccer League champion FC Kansas City will also host a free youth clinic on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. CT at Swope Soccer Village. A new educational session will be held during the clinic where parents will have the opportunity to learn the importance of concussion awareness as well as how to create a positive environment for young athletes. To register for the clinic, visit sportkc.org.
