Box Score WICHITA, Kan. (Oct. 25, 2014) – Oklahoma Christian's losing streak is over, thanks to a defender who scored her first career goal and a pair of goalkeepers who kept Newman (Kan.) mostly at bay.
Amanda Cooper's goal in the 50th minute, combined with 15 saves by OC's
Lindsey Williams and
Carly Caplinger, proved enough to allow the Lady Eagles to forge a 1-1 tie on Saturday at Wilkins Field.
OC (1-12-2, 0-4-1 Heartland Conference) had lost to Newman (5-7-1, 1-4-1) in a nonconference game in Oklahoma City during a 10-game skid, but the Lady Eagles showed in the rematch that they haven't lost their fighting spirit despite that tough stretch.
"That was certainly a better performance for our team," OC coach
Randall Robison said. "After a dodgy first half, the girls battled and competed throughout the second half and both overtimes. Other than just a couple of opportunities that we gave them, we were sound defensively. We created a good number of chances throughout the last half of the game."
Newman outshot OC 21-6, holding the Lady Eagles without a shot during the first half. The Jets took the lead in the 17th minute, when Harriet Jakeman scored off a rebound after Mei-Mei Senthavy's initial shot hit the post.
Cooper, a sophomore from Keller, Texas, evened the match on the Lady Eagles' first shot of the match, also knocking in a rebound.
"
Amanda Cooper did a great job creating her opportunity and then following up for the goal," Robison said. "That was the spark that we needed to start the second half."
After Newman's early goal, Williams and Caplinger stopped the Jets' offense. Williams, who leads the Heartland in saves, had 12 on Saturday – her fifth double-digit outing of the season – before giving way to Caplinger late in the first 10-minute overtime period. Caplinger recorded three saves in her 11-minute stint.
Newman goalkeeper Haley Borchers was credited with two saves.
OC will return to action Monday afternoon, when it visits Rogers State.
"We're proud of the girls and how they battled tonight," Robison said. "Hopefully we can keep this competitiveness and momentum going through Monday."
