NORMAN — Whitney Palmer knew it would be a tough game. Colorado College always brings its best when it faces Oklahoma.
However, even Palmer didn’t expect Sunday’s outcome. In a game that featured an ejection, four yellow cards and 32 total fouls, the Sooners (2-1-1) and Tigers (2-1-1) played to a double overtime 1-1 tie at the OU Soccer Complex.
“I didn’t think it would be this physical,” Palmer said. “I think this has been the most physical game yet, and we played our way through it.”
In the first 10-minute overtime, Palmer twice came close to putting the game in the win column. But the senior wasn’t able to come up with a clean shot. The second overtime had less action, as both teams began to wear down.
Despite the tie, Oklahoma coach Nicole Nelson was impressed with her team’s performance. Playing for what amounted to a full game with only 10 players, the Sooners battled a strong Tigers squad.
“I learned a tremendous amount about this team today,” Nelson said. “The fight and guts that they showed playing 90 minutes — a man down — was tremendous. It tells me a lot about how much they can accomplish this year.”
The Sooners record is now 0-3-4 in overtime games under Nelson.
OU got off to a good start when Palmer scored her first goal of the season. After a foul was called on the Tigers, Palmer took the penalty kick. She lined up Colorado College goalie Caitlin Hulyo and easily smashed a shot past her head with 41:09 left in the first half.
“It felt really good,” Palmer said. “I felt like I was in a slump.”
Palmer finished the day with six shot attempts.
Tiffany Brown answered back for the Tigers when she netted a penalty kick of her own at the 31 minute mark. The game was tied 1-1.
With 6:30 left in the first half, tempers began to flare. While tossing in an inbounds pass, the Sooners’ Lauren Alkek hit the Tigers’ Brittney Lyman in the back of the head with the ball. Lyman had to be restrained from going after Alkek.
Even though Alkek seemed to protest that it was an accident, she was given a red card and thrown out of the game. Oklahoma had to play a man down the rest of the afternoon.
Nelson was given a yellow card five minutes later after exchanging words with the official who handed out the red card. Freshman Annalisa Hall then earned a yellow card with three seconds remaining in the half on a tripping call.
Nelson attempted to speak to the official at halftime, but he told her to stay away.
“It got intense because of a number of cards,” Nelson said. “I would say it got physical, and it wasn’t under control. The physical play was allowed, so when the physical play is allowed, it continues.”
Despite playing with only 10 players, the Sooners defense held Colorado College at bay the rest of the second half. Kathryn Watson, Brianna Turang and Carrie Whigham protected the backline, while goalie Kelsey Devonshire racked up seven saves.
“It wasn’t just the defensive side,” Nelson said. “We outshot them, had more corners. We created a lot being a man down for 90 minutes. The first half before losing the man, we were playing very well, and I think we played very well after being a man down.”
Michael Kinney 366-3537 mkinney@normantranscript.com
