Cross Scores Twice as Sooners Draw ISU

Saturday, March 13

Lawrence, Kan.

3 PM

University of Oklahoma

0-9-2, 0-6-1

Iowa State

2-6-3, 2-6-1

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Oklahoma	1	1	0	0	2
Iowa St.	0	2	0	0	2

Cross Scores Twice as Sooners Draw ISU

March 13, 2021 | Soccer

Box Score

By: OU Athletics Communications

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Freshman forward CeCe Cross was clinical off the Oklahoma bench on Saturday, netting her first two collegiate goals to help power the Sooners to a 2-2 draw with Iowa State in a neutral-site match in Lawrence.

"We obviously would've liked to get the win today, but I'm just so proud of this team for its fight and the way we continue to improve," head coach Mark Carr said after the draw. "We've made such big strides since the fall, and so it feels good to start to see things work in our favor finally. I thought we were good offensively today, and that's just a mentality switch from the fall."

Oklahoma (0-9-2) got on the board first versus the Cyclones when Cross buried a right-footed shot over the ISU keeper in the 39th minute. The opportunity on net came off a corner played into the box that found Cameron Tharp, who headed the ball to the middle of the 18-yard box where the freshman patiently waited to power the Sooners ahead in the first half.

"CeCe has the ability to be a really special player for us," Carr said. "Her finishes today were world-class, and that's what we've come to expect from someone with her talent. She had two really quality goals, and she could've had a third too."

The Sooners would take a 1-0 lead into the break despite being outshot 3-1 by the Cyclones.

The tides would turn in the 49th minute when OU gave up its second penalty in two weeks, as Iowa State's Mira Emma was able to equalize.

As the second half wore on, both teams had multiple chances but remained even until the 61st minute when the Sooners earned a pair of corner kicks to pressure the ISU backline. The breakthrough came when Erika Yost played a ball over the Cyclone defenders to a dashing Cross, who slid and used a clinical finish to chip her shot over Iowa State's Jordan Silkowitz to notch her second goal and give OU a 2-1 lead.

"It's super rewarding to capitalize in the game and help pull through for my team and put us on the scoreboard," Cross said. "After that second goal, it almost didn't feel real. It hit me when I turned around and was able to celebrate with my team. Overall, it's just such a rewarding feeling, and I'm glad I could celebrate those moments with my teammates."

Holding a one-goal advantage with 29 minutes left, the Sooners looked to defend their lead and secure the victory. But ISU's Emma was able to find another equalizer in the 71st minute.

The two teams would battle for the remainder of regulation, and the Sooners almost netted a game-winner with 30 seconds left on the clock when Cross once again found herself in front of the net with a chance. The Granada Hills, Calif., product pushed her shot to the left post, but Silkowitz tallied her second save of the night to push the match into a golden-goal overtime period.

In the first extra frame, the Sooners outshot Iowa State 2-0 but couldn't find the difference, so the teams lined up for a final 10-minute period to try and find a winner.

Oklahoma poured its attackers into the attacking third in the final 10 minutes, sending three shots the Cyclones way but couldn't score the game-winning goal, giving both teams a point after a 2-2 draw.

Carr's team outshot the Cyclones 11-10, including 5-0 in overtime. Leah Radow had four saves in her second start in net for the Sooners.

Oklahoma continues its road trip on March 20 when it travels to Ft. Worth for a showdown with No. 4 TCU at 7 p.m. When the two teams squared off in the fall, the Horned Frogs won a 1-0 result.