Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 13, 2014) – Injuries and a busy early season schedule caught up to Oklahoma Christian on Saturday night.

Playing their fifth game in 10 days – and their second in as many nights – the Lady Eagles wore down in the second half against Northwestern Oklahoma State and the visiting Rangers took advantage, as Alyssa Williams headed in a corner kick by Jessica Lynch in the 77th minute that gave Northwestern a 2-1 win at the Eagle Soccer Field.

OC coach Randall Robison, who began the season with 29 players on his roster, estimated that only 18 healthy field players were available for Saturday's game, which meant several players had to play out of position.

"We didn't have enough energy in the second half and didn't have the production up front that we kind of challenged the girls with at halftime," Robison said. "We have kids playing in different positions all over the field, out of necessity.

"Injuries certainly aren't anything we want to use as an excuse, but it's a reality that we have to deal with. Like we told the girls, we just have to take the day off tomorrow and go at it Monday to get ready to head to Wichita Falls on Tuesday" for a game at Midwestern State (Texas).

A defensive breakdown in the third minute allowed Northwestern (2-1-1) to take a quick lead. Lynch crossed the ball in from the right side of the field – a play the Rangers used with success all night – and Jade Nash's shot eluded OC goalkeeper Lindsey Williams.

Northwestern goalkeeper Briana Legaspi saved a shot from about 10 yards by OC senior Rachel Bates in the 25th minute and did the same on a 6-yard shot by Estefania Bermudez Delgado in the 23rd minute. But Bates tied the game in the 30th minute, tapping in a cross from Alexis Farrell. It was Farrell's second assist in as many games for OC.

OC (0-4-1) outshot the Rangers 10-9 in the first half, but Northwestern proved to be the more aggressive team after intermission, posting a 14-6 edge in shots and giving them a 23-16 advantage for the game.

On the decisive goal, Lynch sent a picture-perfect corner kick into the box and Alyssa Williams rose to head it past Lindsey Williams.

The Lady Eagles' best chance to tie came after Northwestern's Kelsey Leveling was called for obstructing OC's Madeline Roseke just outside the penalty box in the 83rd minute. Bermudez Delgado sent the ensuing free kick toward the goal, but Legaspi snagged it for one of her four saves.

The Rangers earned a penalty kick in the 86th minute, but Lynch sent it off the post and it caromed out of bounds.

"We were in a position to win tonight, and we just had a couple of opportunities that we didn't take advantage of," Robison said. "That little hiccup in the first half was just a killer. … We've got to clean those up and we've got to understand that when you make mistakes, teams will punish you for them."

Lindsey Williams finished with eight saves for OC, giving her 49 in five games this season – equaling her saves total from last season.

The game at Midwestern State will be the Lady Eagles' first road trip after opening the season with a five-game homestand.

"We don't have to win any more games than the next one," Robison said. "We just have to make sure the girls realize that we don't have to tackle the whole season right now. We just go at it one day at a time and one game at a time and hopefully we get some of these players back on the field. We have about half of a starting lineup on the side and we need some of those kids back on the field."