Soccer Ties Baylor, 1-1, In Eighth Overtime Game This Season

NORMAN, Okla. After taking care of Texas Tech (4-1) on Friday, the Oklahoma soccer team tied a Baylor squad that had a week's rest heading into today's contest. The game ended after double overtime, tied at one a piece on Senior Day at John Crain Field for OU's four seniors: Ashley Lacey, Heidi Martinson, Jessica Talton and Logan Womack.

“Today I was not even thinking about those four concluding their careers here,” said Oklahoma head coach Randy Evans. “We still have a lot of soccer left to play this season and still have a job to do. This was the first class I recruited and they hold a special place in my heart and they have been instrumental throughout their time at OU and the success of the program.”

Sophomore midfielder Becky Nelson scored OU's lone goal off an assist from senior forward Logan Womack. The teammates put together a couple of nice passes setting up Nelson for the score in the 12th minute. It was Nelson's fifth goal of the season and Womack's fourth assist of 2003.

Despite Baylor's flurry of shots throughout the contest, the OU defense held up nicely, anchored by the play of goalkeeper Catherine Wade. However, in the 89th minute, Kristin Ruef of Baylor snuck through the Sooner back field to net her first goal of the season. The game-tying goal sent the game into overtime where both teams had their opportunities to put the game away.

Wade faced 37 shots in the game (six in OT), and made 15 saves (season high at home), coming up with some key saves in the overtime sessions. OU managed five shots of their own, but were unable to find the back of the net, collecting their fourth tie of 2003 in their eighth game played past regulation.

Before the 2003 season, the OU soccer team had played in 16 overtime games in school history and it now has half of that mark, with games still remaining in the season. The Sooners are 3-1-4 in overtime games this season and five of those games were played in double overtime.

OU also banged out a high total in shots with 20 in the game. Nelson led that charge with eight of her own. The 20 shots is the second highest total of the season for the Sooners, only behind the 22 fired against Tulsa earlier in the season at home on Sept. 21.

Evans added, “The big frustration of the weekend was knowing all along we would be playing a fresh Baylor squad and we would be coming off the game with Texas Tech on Friday. Obviously if we had that much rest, we could have matched the energy they came out with against us. It was not till they finally fatigued that we able to control the game and I think that showed in overtime. It was just an exhausting game and now we have to prepare for Kansas and Oklahoma State next week.”

The Sooners and Wade now stand at 8-4-4 overall and 3-2-3 in Big 12 play while Baylor is 6-8-1 (1-5-1). OU will wrap up the 2003 regular season next Friday at Kansas (4 p.m.) and the following Monday, Oct. 27, at Oklahoma State (7 p.m.).