Sooners Battle Back for Bedlam Draw

Thursday, October 6

Norman

7 PM CT

University of Oklahoma

7-3-3, 2-1-1

Oklahoma State

9-1-3, 2-0-2

Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma

October 06, 2022 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

NORMAN — In front of a program-record crowd of 3,197 on Thursday night at John Crain Field, the Oklahoma soccer team equalized late to earn a hard-fought draw vs. Oklahoma State, 1-1.

The match featured two of the top teams in the Big 12 as the Sooners (7-3-3, 2-1-1) have won or drawn nine of their 10 nine matches.

"I'm just proud of how we responded yet again," said head coach Mark Carr. "It's a team that never quits. It's a team that's never satisfied and never gives up. We could've got frustrated when their goal went in but we didn't and we responded. What a great goal from Michelle Pak. So proud of her.

"We were proactive, on the front foot. We knew OSU was a very good defensive team and they rely a lot on set pieces and they are good at them. They hung around and got a set piece goal but I thought we were the dominant team, taking the game to them, the chances we created. We have to do better around the goal. When you create those kind of chances you have to put the ball in the net, but it's the hardest thing to do."

After a scoreless battle through the first 45 minutes, the Cowgirls (9-1-3, 2-0-2) tallied the first goal of the match off a set piece in the 55th minute. Gracie Bindbeutel was able to head in a ball after a scrum in the box sent the ball back into the air following the free kick.

The Sooners responded in the 72nd minute when the ball found the right foot of freshman Michelle Pak. Fellow freshman Hadley Murrell teed up a shot near the 18-yard box that was deflected straight to Pak, who took the half-chance and fired a shot through the Cowgirls' back line and into the back of the net to tie the match at 1-1. The goal was the second of Pak's career and first in Big 12 play.

Riding the momentum of the record-breaking crowd, Oklahoma dominated the final 15 minutes of play, outshooting the Pokes 7-2 as regulation wound down. The best chances to find a winner came from Emma Hawkins, who narrowly missed the back of the net in the 75th and 76th minutes. The senior forward finished the night with a team-high seven shots, dominating the Cowgirl back line from the start. Six of the senior transfer's shots came in the second half.

Freshman goalkeeper Olivia Ramey improved to 6-1-1 on the season, powered by a career-high six saves. Ramey saved the Sooners' point in the 90th minute when Oklahoma State All-Big 12 senior Olyvia Dowell broke free and had a one-on-one opportunity vs. the freshman. Dowell fired a right-footed shot that Ramey leaped in the air to push over the end line, preserving the point for OU.

Oklahoma's crowd of 3,197 was the largest at a Big 12 game this season, ranked third for the largest this season involving a Big 12 team and 18th largest for any Division I game in 2022.

"I would challenge these fans to come back," continued Carr. "This is a special team. This is a team that's young, that's growing and full of electricity. And the crowd's energy matters and is important to us. So to see 3,000 fans here, we want them back. We have TCU and West Virginia in a couple weeks, the team feels it and deserves it. The crowd is the 12th man and they're important."

The Sooners outshot the Cowgirls 20-16 and 13-7 in the final 45 minutes.

Up next, the Sooners hit the road for a pair of matches in the Sunflower State. OU meets Kansas in Lawrence on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. CT before a matchup with Kansas State on Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. Both matches can be seen on ESPN+.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma Soccer, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_WSoccer) and like Oklahoma Soccer on Facebook.