Lady Mustangs fall in overtime to Oklahoma

The SMU women’s soccer team lost 2-1 to Oklahoma inovertime Sunday afternoon at Westcott field.  Oklahomafreshman Logan Womack scored the game-winning goal in the 96thminute when she headed home Lauren MacIver’s corner kick.

Oklahoma also scored after only 10 minutes of play, when ChristyKenkel lofted a cross to sophomore Kristen Vesely.

Vesely beat an onrushing Amanda Clark to the cross and headedher shot over the SMU goalkeeper.

The Mustangs responded quickly as they scored the tying goaljust over a minute later.  Senior co-captain Lauren Mussallembrought the ball down the right side and sent it into the box.Junior midfielder Jill Heinemann collected the ball off of adeflection and beat the Sooners keeper with a low shot.

“I think the first half was some of the best soccerwe’ve played all year,” Mustang coach John Cossaboonsaid.  “I was very happy about the intensity level ofour team today.”

Although SMU held a 20-13 shot advantage, and a 7-4 edge inshots on goal, they couldn’t get the ball past OU keeperCatherine Wade.  

“I think it was more bad luck than bad finishing,”sophomore Melissa Nixon said.  “After they scored [thefirst goal], we spent most of the game in their half of the field. We just couldn’t get that second goal.”       

The Mustangs’ best opportunity came off of a corner kickwith 26 minutes remaining in the second half.  The ballrocketed off the far post after a scramble in the box, and therebound shot was put wide of the net.  

Sunday’s game was the last of five games in a nine dayperiod, including back-to-back dates with Baylor andOklahoma. 

“It was a really tough trip on the girls, both physicallyand mentally,” Cossaboon said.  “And then they hadto keep up with their classes and normal things like that. Theydeserve a short break.”

Still, the Mustangs don’t think that fatigue played alarge role in the loss.  

“Before the game, we all thought fatigue would play arole, but we pushed through it pretty well,” Nixon said. “I think the third and fourth games were actually thehardest.  For this game, we were already over thehump.”

Sophomore midfielder Kati Shelton said that the loss was veryfrustrating, including the way the Mustangs dominated play. 

“We kept trying to get [the go-ahead] goal, but it justwasn’t there today,” she said.  “We reallypicked it up after their first goal, but we just never got the goalwe needed.”

The loss leaves the Mustangs with a 4-2 record for the seasonand heading into a stretch of four straight home games.

They begin WAC conference play Sept. 28 when San Jose Statecomes to town.

“I think this match marked the end to the first part ofour season,” Cossaboon said.  “It’sencouraging to end it on such a strong note, even with the loss. We’re really looking forward to the Mi Cocina Cup nextweekend.”

The Mustangs return to the field at 7:30 p.m. Friday when theyhost Colorado College.

This game is the opening match of the Mi Cocina Cup. Tickets arefree with an SMU ID.