Oklahoma Rallies Back to Defeat W&M, 2-1

09/07/07 9:50PM

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Oklahoma scored a pair of goals in the second half to rally back and defeat the William and Mary women’s soccer team, 2-1, on Friday evening in the first day of the Tribe Invitational at Albert-Daly Field. It marks the College’s first home loss since Sept. 4, 2005, when it fell to Dartmouth, 2-1, in overtime. VCU earned a 2-0 victory against Maine in the event’s other match earlier in the day.

OU’s Whitney Palmer scored the game-winner in the 85th minute when she fielded a pass from Shana All and raced down the center of the pitch. W&M’s goalkeeper Meghan Walker attempted to prevent the shot, but Palmer managed to work her away past her and tapped in the score.

Earlier in the half, the Sooners notched the equalizer when Tenesha Duncan took a pass from Allyson Kucera and punched in a score from just in front of the goal.

The Tribe got on the scoreboard first in the 16th minute when junior Danielle Collins fielded a long free kick from classmate Abby Lauer and put in a header from inside the box on the left side.

In addition to Collins’ goal, the College registered a number of other scoring opportunities in the initial period. Junior Claire Zimmeck had an attempt saved in the 24th minute, while Collins blasted a shot from the 25 yards out at the top of the box that sailed high in the 31st minute. Senior Emily Kittleson also had an attempt on goal saved.

The Green and Gold nearly went ahead 2-0 early in the second half when a Zimmeck header sailed just a little high of the crossbar.

Shortly after OU’s goal in the 58th minute, the Tribe attempted to reclaim the lead when senior Mary MacKenzie Grier blasted a shot, but the strike was saved.

While the Sooners would later punch in the game-winning score, Walker made an amazing leaping save in the 74th minute when Palmer took a shot from 15 yards out on the right side.

W&M had one final opportunity as the buzzer sounded, but senior Brittany Bode’s shot from 30 yards out sailed high.

The Green and Gold will be in action again when it hosts Maine on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the final match of the Tribe Invitational.

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