Sooner Soccer Improves To 2-0 With Overtime Victory Over New Mexico

Norman, Okla- Oklahoma's soccer team provided some excitement on Sunday, August 31 with a 2-1 overtime victory over visiting New Mexico at John Crain Field. Senior forward Logan Womack scored her second goal of the season with just 17 seconds left in the first OT session to seal the Sooner win in rainy conditions throughout most of the game.

"This was our first test of character with all the inexperience on this team with 25 freshman and sophomores," said Oklahoma head coach Randy Evans. "I am very proud of the determination especially in the first half as we showed how talented of a team we can be with all the scoring chances we created. Ultimately the game came down to hustle and Womack proved that with the rebound to win the game for us."

The Sooners dominated a majority of the game, including the first half where sophomore forward Becky Nelson put OU on top 1-0 at the 14:06 mark. Fellow sophomore Michelle Enos assisted Nelson's first goal of the season and Oklahoma outshot the Lobos 10-2 in the first session. That was also Enos' first assist of the year adding on to her points total with the goal she scored in the victory over Arkansas Friday night.

The second half was a defensive battle as the two teams were scoreless until the 79th minute when Kristine Sweat of New Mexico tied things up at 1-1. The Lobos were able to catch up in shots in the second period outshooting the Sooners 6-5, despite trailing overall 15-8 in the first 90 minutes of play.

OU, like the first half, had plenty of scoring opportunities in the second half with the best chance coming off the foot of sophomore midfielder Lauren MacIver. On a free kick from about 35 yards out, MacIver blasted one through the hands of goalkeeper Kristen Winters with under a minute to go in regulation time. Unfortunately it did not find the back of the net, instead it bounced hard off the cross bar ending regulation in a 1-1 tie.

The Sooners again were aggressive on offense attacking the Lobo defense with three shots in the OT session. With 2:11 left in the extra period, it looked as if Womack was going to add to her season goals total, but shot wide just missing the back of the net. But almost two minutes later she made up for the missed opportunity and made good on a rebound off of Winters and scored the game winning goal at the 99:43 mark. The goal was made possible after freshman forward Savannah Scott almost ended the game herself but was denied by Winters who blocked the hard shot but left the ball out in front of her for Womack to end the game.

Junior goalkeeper Catherine Wade collected five saves in the net for the Sooners as her counterpart Kristen Winters saved nine. Overall in the game OU had 18 shots to New Mexico's 10 with MacIver and Womack leading the Sooner attack with five shots each, four of MacIver's blasts were on goal.

"I was thrilled with our never give up attitude," commented coach Evans. "We played well enough throughout the game to put it away early, especially in the first half, and could have won big in regulation. However, we never quit and stayed strong for 90 plus minutes of soccer and really earned this victory."

With the win the Sooners improve to 2-0 on the season and will return to action next weekend to face some tough competition in the Notre Dame Classic in South Bend, IN. On Friday, Sept. 5, OU will open up action with Rutgers at 5 p.m. and then play the Fighting Irish on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. The Scarlet Knights are 3-0 in 2003 and the Fighting Irish were ranked 10th in the NSCAA/adidas preseason poll and stand at 2-0 on the year with a 9-1 win over Hartford and a 3-0 victory over Wake Forest.

OU will return to home action again on Friday, Sept. 19 against Oral Roberts at 7:30 p.m. and following that will be another home contest on Sunday against Tulsa at 1 p.m.