Norman — Heading into the Crosstown Clash both coaching staffs felt they had a top-10 caliber team.
However, Tuesday, Norman High was the only one to show it as the Tigers topped Norman North 2-0 at Harve Collins Field.
“I thought we played incredibly well tonight,” NHS coach Bob Byers said. “I thought at the beginning of the game we were a little bit jittery and nervous and anxious. But once we settled down, I thought we really, really played well.”
While Byers was happy with his team’s play, North coach T.C. Flanders wasn’t.
“I didn’t feel like we came out with the intensity that we should have,” Flanders said. “I think we are a better team than what we showed. We are still working on some things. (We) didn’t show that they wanted the game. We just got beat.”
North (1-2) was on the attack in the first half as it tried to maintain ball control on the Tigers side of the field. Rachel Klubeck spearheaded the offensive effort, yet scoring opportunities were hard to come by.
It was the Tigers who struck first with 10 minutes before the half. Freshman Lauren Goodman swooped in from the right side and smashed a ball over the head of North keeper Skylar Mason. Brandi Shuffield picked up the assist.
Shuffield then put Norman up 2-0 when she dribbled up half the field and past her defender and skirted a shot by Mason, who came out of the goal hoping to stop the junior forward in the 46th minute.
That was all the cushion the Tigers needed. Led by Shiloh Farris, Chandler Murphy and Katie Koonce, NHS prevented the T-Wolves from getting a clean shot from inside 20 yards. As soon as a North player began to get close, the Tiger defenders prevented the chance.
“Our defenders were very, very solid, Byers said. “We have been working a lot on defense. Spent a majority of our time there and those girls really stepped up and played well.”
Trailing 2-0, North wasn’t able to get anything going toward the NHS goal. The aggressiveness they began the game with appeared to wane.
Flanders and the T-Wolves were visibly upset after the game, knowing they failed to bring their best game.
“It’s something that they all look forward to,” Flanders said. “As a coach I felt like they were extremely prepared. I don’t know if it’s nerves.
“(We) are a lot better team. We are a top-10, top-five team. We are not playing like it. We are not acting like we want to win. We are not acting like we are one of the best.”
The Tigers moved to 4-1.
“I feel like the girls are really, truly a team,” Byers said. “They have bonded well together. They have a ton of potential this year to go far.”
Michael Kinney 366-3537 mkinney@normantranscript.com
