Weber's Equalizer Gives OU Draw With UNT

Sunday, September 5

Norman

5 PM

University of Oklahoma

3-2-1, 0-0-0

North Texas

3-1-2, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
North Texas	1	1	0	0	2
Oklahoma	1	1	0	0	2

09/05/2021 Oklahoma vs North Texas soccer. Photo Ty Russell

Photo by: Ty Russell

Weber's Equalizer Gives OU Draw With UNT

September 05, 2021 | Soccer

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery

By: OU Athletics Communications

NORMAN – Powered by an early goal from Jazzy Richards and a late equalizer from Leonie Weber, the Oklahoma women's soccer team earned a hard-fought draw versus North Texas at John Crain Field Sunday night.

The draw extends Oklahoma's (3-2-1) unbeaten streak to three after double-overtime wins over Nebraska and Kansas City last week, marking the longest such streak since 2018.

"Tonight is the perfect example of the evolution of this team," second-year head coach Mark Carr said. "When I stand in that huddle after a 2-2 draw and my team is disappointed because we feel like we should've won that game, that is a testament to this group."

The chances came early and often for the Sooners as Erika Yost and Makala Thomas nearly put the Sooners on the board inside the first 10 minutes of the match. Despite the Sooners' early opportunities, the Mean Green (3-1-2) broke the scoreless tie when Elle Marie DeFrain snuck a deflected shot past Nikki Panas to give UNT a 1-0 lead.

Searching for a bolt of energy, Carr looked to his bench and captain Jazzy Richards to provide a spark. Richards, who scored the golden goal to knock off Kansas City on Friday, immediately made her mark on Sunday's match by equalizing in the 36th minute. Sydney Sharts played a lofted ball into the box, and freshman Bailey Wesco flicked a header near the net as Richards sent the ball flying past UNT's Sarah Fuller.

"Jazzy is really driving the energy of this team right now," Carr added. "She came up with another big goal tonight for us off the bench. We're down a goal, she comes in and just constantly finds ways to help us."

The following 46 minutes would reveal multiple chances for both sides, with each goalkeeper notching save after save to keep things even at one apiece.

A breakthrough came in the 82nd minute for North Texas when Olivia Klein got in front of Une Georgsen, who subbed in for Panas, and beat the freshman keeper to give the Mean Green a late 2-1 lead.

Determined to extend its unbeaten streak, the Sooners pressed forward in the final minutes in search of another equalizer. A long throw from Sharts found Megan Reilly, whose shot deflected off a UNT defender and landed at the feet of Weber, who bent a shot left post and around Fuller to tie the game. Weber's second goal of the season was enough to send Oklahoma into its third-straight overtime game.

"This team is so resilient and bounce back no matter what's thrown at them," Carr said after the overtime battle. "They don't let anything phase them and they play the game that's in front of them. I truly have every belief in this group because I know that when things go against them and they face adversity that they'll bounce back."

In the extra frames, the Sooners outshot North Texas 6-3 and narrowly missed a third consecutive game-winning goal multiple times. Nikki Panas, who returned to the net in the 82nd minute, collected a save to extend the match in the 104th minute. A final chance came in the 110th minute when Sharts sent in another long throw, but the Sooners' front line couldn't finish, giving Oklahoma its first draw of the season.

The Sooners outshot UNT 18-17 Sunday, and Panas finished the night with five saves. Richards' goal was her second of the week and third of the season as she now leads Oklahoma in goals scored on the season.

Carr and his team must now shift its attention to a road trip to Charlottesville, Va., for a neutral-match showdown Thursday with N.C. State, and a Sunday afternoon contest with No. 3 Virginia. The Sooners then return to Norman on Sept. 16 to host Utah Valley at John Crain Field.