SOCCER PLAYS TO 0-0 TIE AT NO. 18 OKLAHOMA

Sunday, October 12

Norman, Okla.

12:00 p.m.

Colorado

11-1-1, 4-0-1Big 12

Oklahoma

7-4-3, 2-2-2Big 12

OT 3

OT 4

Colorado

Oklahoma

October 12, 2003 | Soccer

Box Score

By: CUBuffs.com

NORMAN, Okla.- The Buffs came away with their first result in Norman since 1997 when 12th ranked Colorado and 18th ranked Oklahoma played to a 110 minute scoreless overtime tie at John Crain Field on the OU campus here Sunday.

The result was just the second scoreless tie in program history, first since a CU-Texas Tech draw during the 1998 season and extends CU's unbeaten streak to 12 games and improves its record to 11-1-1/4-0-1 in Big 12 action.

'When it gets down to it, we had one clear chance the first half and didn't' get it. You can be a little upset, but I'm happy to get a point on the road,' said head coach Bill Hempen.

It was as an evenly match game to start the contest, but Colorado took control of the pitch 10 minutes in and never let up on the Oklahoma defense and keeper Catherine Wade, taking 11 shots, six on goal, to OU's one by Kristin Vesely in the 30th minute, forcing CU keeper Jessica Keller to make her lone save of the half.

The Buffs nearly took the halftime lead when Fran Munnelly's corner with 48 seconds to play fell to Ellen Falender off the left post whose shot grazed the goal line before being cleared by OU defender Erin Young, sending CU into the halftime intermission with a scoreless tie, it's second of the season, first since the season opener against then-No. 2 ranked Portland.

Colorado had three second half shots before Oklahoma had a pair of chances for the game's first score. Sooner forward Becky Nelson was on a side by side one on one with CU defender Darci Smerchek was called for a caution in the 62nd minute, setting up a Sooner free kick that was picked off by Keller just of the right post before OU's Savannah Scott was able to get to the ball. Two minutes later a combination play between Scott and Nelson resulted in Keller's third save of the game.

With the pressure turned up by the Oklahoma offense, the Sooners nearly converted their first corner of the game in the 72nd minute when Jessica Talton's corner kick was headed by Christy Kenkel and blocked before Keller got to the ball.

Colorado responded, but Orly Ripmaster's shot from 10 yards out was tipped over the crossbar, and followed by the Buffs' second corner of the closing half that resulted in an offsides call while CU's fifth corner of the game with 12:50 remaining was broken up.

With the clock ticking down and the pressure up, neither team could convert three opportunities in the last 12 minutes, forcing a golden goal situation, CU's second of the season, first since the season opening weekend against Georgia and Oklahoma's seventh, fourth straight.

At the end of regulation, the Sooners had made it a game with six second half shots to CU's 7 and both keepers making four saves.

'We worked so hard for a score in the first half that it was only natural that there be a letdown in the second,' said Hempen on CU's first half dominance, and OU's second.

Colorado had four overtime shots to Oklahoma's two, including a 3-0 margin in the last 10 minutes, but the game would go in the box deadlocked.

Asked if the second-straight game absence of co-captain Jen Thais was a factor, due to a concussion, Hempen responded, 'It was a big factor. On Friday we played on the emotion of not having her and couldn't sustain that emotion. We took Kathryn from the forward line and put her at midfield which altered our dynamic.'

Colorado continues the most challenging part of its schedule as three of the next five contests are against ranked opponents with two more away from Boulder. Colorado will host Kansas Friday at 4 p.m. before taking on an unbeaten Oklahoma State team Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games will be decided at the Pleasant View Soccer Complex in north Boulder.