MacIver Leads Soccer to Bedlam Victory

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Despite falling behind 1-0 in the first 10 minutes of the game, the OU soccer team (13-5-1 overall, 5-4-1 Big 12) rallied with two first-half goals (four minutes apart from each other) and a late goal from Lauren MacIver to defeat Oklahoma State (10-6-3, 3-6-1), 3-2, at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex on Friday.

A berth in the Big 12 Championship was on the line for the Cowgirls as they needed a win to advance to the postseason, but OU had already earned a berth with Missouri's 3-2 loss at Kansas earlier in the day. Despite already knowing their postseason destiny, the Sooners avenged the loss OSU handed them a year ago, which ended OU's season, and ended the Cowgirls 2005 season on Friday night.

Senior captain Lauren MacIver netted the game-winner with 2:48 remaining in the contest and was assisted by sophomore Colleen Keester. It was MacIver's team-leading eighth goal of the year and second of the contest scored on a blast from 20 yards out.

Box Score: OU 3, OSU 2 | Updated 2005 Stats

“Last Friday we were in a position to win a Big 12 Championship at Nebraska and came up short and then suffered a disappointing loss at Iowa State,” said OU head coach Randy Evans. “I am extremely proud of the way we bounced back today and I am thrilled for the team, especially the seniors.”

After struggling on the road near the end of the season, the Sooners concluded the 2005 regular season with their first conference win away from Norman. The loss was the first for OSU at home this season and the most goals its defense has allowed at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex in 2005.

Junior Kady Kelly and MacIver provided OU with two unassisted goals in the first half. It was Kelly's first of the season and MacIver's first goal in the last six games. MacIver, who leads OU in points (24) and assists (8), recorded the second two-goal performance of her career (2002 vs. Texas Tech) with Friday's performance.

See how the Sooners stack up against OSU in the Bedlam Series presented by the Bank of Oklahoma and Your Oklahoma Ford Dealers!

The Sooners entered halftime with a 9-8 advantage in shots and trailed 3-2 in corner kicks. OU could have held a larger advantage at the half, as it had two solid shots off the foot of Scott, who provided a spark off the bench, that both deflected off the cross bar and out of bounds.

The Cowgirls put together a rally of their own in the opening minutes of the second half. Yolando Odenyo evened things up in the 53rd minute and was assisted by Kalyn Brady.

With the score tied at 2-2, both teams had scoring chances, one of which was an offsides call on an apparent OSU goal, and two battled it out for the remainder of the second half. It was not until the 87:32 mark that OU put the game away on MacIver's second goal of the game.

At the end of regulation, the Sooners led the shot count, 20-16, and OSU held a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks. OSU leads the Bedlam Series 7-2-1. OU last defeated the Cowgirls during the 2001 season, a 2-1 victory in Norman. The two battled to a 0-0 tie the last time they met in Stillwater. Friday night's close contest was another example of how close the competitive rivalry can be. With OU's 3-2 win, eight of the 10 games in the series have been decided by one goal.

OU ends the regular season with the most wins in school history and will enter the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 2 in San Antonio, Texas, for the fourth time in the program's ten-year history. The Sooners will carry either a No. 7 seed, if Colorado defeats Texas Tech, and face the No. 2 seed or the Sooners could be as high as a No. 6 seed, should Colorado fall to the Red Raiders, and face the No. 3 seed.

“We feel as though we can play with anyone right now,” added Evans. “All season long we showed we can play with some of the best in the country at home and the only thing left to prove was our play on the road. And we displayed our talent tonight and showed how tough we can be.”

MacIver Leads Soccer to Bedlam Victory

Next Event

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics

MacIver Leads Soccer to Bedlam Victory

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos

Sponsors