Cyclones, Sooners Add Another Overtime Thriller

AMES, Iowa - The soccer rivalry between Iowa State and Oklahoma has been highly competitive in recent years, and Friday's contest was no different. The game featured many momentum swings as both teams enjoyed the lead at some point. Ultimately, the Cyclones (3-4-3, 0-2-1 Big 12) battled the 24th-ranked Sooners to a 2-2 double-overtime tie. Iowa State played it's first-ever night game at the ISU Soccer Complex, with a season-high 377 fans in attendance.

"It was a fantastic night and a great environment for soccer," Iowa State head coach Rebecca Hornbacher said.

The squads combined for 18 shots in a scoreless first half. Oklahoma's Lauren MacIver took three shots in the opening 12 minutes, with one going off the crossbar. The Sooners took five corner kicks in a three-minute span later in the half. ISU put together some strong attacks of its own, collecting six shots between the 29th and 36th minutes.

Oklahoma got on the board ten minutes into the second half when Jessica Talton's free kick from the left side of the box found the upper right corner of the goal. The Cyclones were able to answer quickly when freshman Erin McDowell headed in a corner kick from Christine Beatty. Both players collected their first collegiate points on the play. McDowell finished the night with four shots.

"Erin McDowell is a feisty warrior," Hornbacher said. "I know if the ball is going her way, she will scrap for it. She leaves it all on the field."

Iowa State took its first lead at the 67:02 mark when redshirt freshman Kate Kirwan collected a loose ball on the right side of the box and fired it into the back of the net for her team-leading fourth goal of the season. It was Kirwan's fourth goal in the last five games, and she has scored points in five of the last six contests.

ISU's lead was short-lived as Oklahoma's Heidi Martinson put away Logan Womack's defelected shot at the 77:40 mark, the final goal of the evening. All four goals were scored in a 22-minute span in the second half. The Cyclones held a 6-1 edge in corner kicks and a 12-6 edge in shots in the second half.

In the first overtime period, McDowell, Kirwan and Deb Benakis all got shots off, but Oklahoma's Catherine Wade saved all three. Wade, the Big 12 leader in saves this season, made 12 saves on the night. Iowa State senior goalkeeper Beth Chapman collected a season-high eight saves and surpassed 200 saves for her career.

Iowa State outshot Oklahoma 27-17 and had its largest shot total in a Big 12 game since taking 29 shots against Oklahoma State in 2000. Kirstina Baumann led Iowa State with five shots. Kirwan, McDowell and Arlene Samuel each added four.

"I was pleased with the performance of our players tonight," Hornbacher said. "They competed for 110 minutes. We played very organized and created some opportunities. We played physical all over the field. We raised the bar again tonight and played at a higher level."

The Iowa State-Oklahoma game went to ovetime for the fifth consecutive year, and the last four have all gone to double overtime, with the Cyclones winning twice and tying twice. Iowa State extends its overtime unbeaten streak to seven games, dating back to the beginning of the 2002 season.

Iowa State will travel to Des Moines to battle Drake on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. The game will be played at the Cownie Soccer Complex.

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Players Mentioned

Christine Beatty

Deb Benakis

Deb Benakis

Beth Chapman

Beth Chapman

Kate Kirwan

Erin McDowell

Arlene Samuel

Arlene Samuel

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Iowa State University Athletics