Sooners Suffer Double Overtime Loss To Missouri

NORMAN, Okla. The University of Oklahoma soccer team suffered its second loss of the season in double overtime on Friday to Missouri, 2-1, in the Big 12 opener for both teams held at John Crain Field.

An even bigger loss may have come in the first half when junior captain Lauren MacIver was carried off the field after a stoppage of play was signaled early in the game. MacIver suffered a severe injury to her left knee and was taken to the hospital after the game for further examination.

“The loss is certainly disappointing, especially when you have a chance to put the game away,” said Oklahoma head coach Randy Evans. “It is even more disappointing that we had to play most of the game without one of our best players (MacIver) and the fact that the rest of the season does not look promising for her.”

Box score

The Sooners got on the board first on a flick from sophomore Savannah Scott in the 59th minute from 35-40 yards out. Scott's third goal of the season was unassisted and came when the Norman native found herself one-versus-one with Missouri goalkeeper Laura Buehrig. Buehrig had pushed up outside of the penalty box and Scott was able to take advantage and clear the goalie's reach to find the back of the net.

With 8:40 left in the game, another one-versus-one situation presented itself for OU and junior Becky Nelson gave it her best shot and beat Buerhig, but unfortunately the ball went wide left of the goal.

“So far that is how are season has went,” added Evans. “We have had chances to put teams away and have not been able to come up with that one goal. In every one of our losses and every one of our ties this season, we have had the opportunity at our feet to end games and it has not fallen our way yet.”

It was less than a minute later that a Sooner defensive miscue set up the Missouri corner kick that produced the game-tying goal. The Tigers' Shea Swoboda headed in the equalizer off a double assist from Elyse Nikonchuk and Erica Pusch in the 84th minute.

The Big 12 opener was well worth the wait of the season, as both teams played an extremely physical first 90 minutes of soccer and for the sixth time in nine games this season, OU found itself in an overtime contest. The physical play continued and Missouri controlled the first and second overtimes statistically with three corner kicks and five shots. It was at the 105:44 mark that Missouri's Erica Pusch gave the Tigers' their second win of the season in overtime. The goal came on an unassisted blast from 35 yards out that snuck just under the crossbar and past senior captain Catherine Wade.

Wade (3-1-1) finished the game with six saves to her counterpart's one. Nelson led the Sooners in shots with three of the Sooners' six in the game. Missouri finished the contest with 22 shots.

OU falls to 4-2-3 (0-1-0, Big 12) on the season while Missouri jumps to 4-4-1 (1-0-0, Big 12). The Sooners are off on Sunday and will have a week to prepare for two road contests next weekend with Texas (Oct. 1) and Texas A&M (Oct. 3).

A season-high of 711 fans were in attendance for the Big 12 opener on Friday. The Sooners next home game will occur on Oct. 15 when they host Iowa State at 7 p.m.

Sooners Suffer Double Overtime Loss To Missouri

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Sooners Suffer Double Overtime Loss To Missouri

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