Arkansas falls in double overtime
Norman, Okla. – After a scramble in front of the Arkansas goal, Oklahoma’s Sage Coralli found the back of the net at the 102:08 mark to end a double-overtime exhibition with the Razorbacks, 1-0, at John Crain Field at the OU Soccer Complex. The two regional foes battled to a scoreless tie through regulation before the game-winning goal in the 103rd minute.After a scoreless first half, Camille Flores looked to untie the contest at the 46:42 mark with a rocket from the top of the box that missed just high above the outstretched hand of the Sooners’ goalkeeper, Kelsey Devonshire. The Razorbacks totaled nine shots, compared to 16 for Oklahoma, but Arkansas tallied six corner kicks, doubling its opponent outcome.Brittany Hudson, the second-half starter in goal, made a pair of saves early within a minute of each other. Coralli and Kelsey Kraft tested the redshirt freshman but both were turned away and the score remained knotted at zero.
The stalemate continued when Devonshire grabbed a Sophie Wentz shot out of the air at the 75:55 mark. The play started with a long pass from Lauren Hallauer that was run down by Laurel Pastor and flicked to Wentz. After the senior midfielder cleared a defender, she fired a shot from 15 yards out but the Sooner keeper was there to make the save.
Arkansas threatened late in the second half with a Kathleen Paulsen header off a corner kick that was deflected and knocked wide. On the ensuing corner, Paulsen was again the target but couldn’t make solid contact.
Head coach Erin Aubry was able to see most of her players in action as 22 of the 27-player roster made an appearance in the match. Three-quarters of the Arkansas backline-Hallauer and converted defenders Kailey Anders and Kim Schleif-played the entire contest.Oklahoma controlled possession early in the first half, but neither team was able to mount an offensive attack with just one combined shot through the first 20 minutes. Sophomore goalkeeper Kendal Winston, who started in goal for the Razorbacks, made her first of two saves of the first half on a soft liner off the foot of Coralli.Off the Razorbacks’ second corner kick of the half, Kat Moffett nearly connected on a cross with Erin Moskos but Devonshire came off her line to take the ball out of the air. She later made a save on a shot from Moffett in the middle of traffic.With just under 13 minutes to play in the opening half, Whitney Palmer gave the home crowd a moment of excitement with a shot that slid past Winston but missed just wide. Palmer and Winston would square off again with two minutes remaining until half time. Palmer was on the receiving end of a give-and-go touch but Winston came out to pressure the ball and save a would-be goal.The Razorbacks will return to Fayetteville for their final week of preseason workouts in preparation of the season opener Aug. 21 at Michigan. The match will be played at the U-M Soccer Complex in Ann Arbor, Mich., with a scheduled start time of 6 p.m. (CT). Live stats of the 2009 opener will be available at mgoblue.com or, the online home of Razorback athletics, ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
Download: 08.14 vs Oklahoma (exhib).pdf
