September 22, 2012
HOLDING OFF THE BEARS
Sooners tie Baylor 1-1

NORMAN, Okla. – A goal by senior Dana Larsen in the 12th minute was the only score for Baylor while Oklahoma responded in the 53rd minute on a goal by Renae Cuellar as the teams played to a 1-1 draw Friday at John Crain Field.

The Bears move to 8-1-2, (0-0-1) , while Oklahoma moves to 4-4-3, (0-0-1).

“Sometimes you do a lot of things right and don't get the win,” Baylor head coach Marci Jobson said. “We need to continue to sharpen up on some our finishing opportunities, but all in all I am proud of my team’s effort and will take a point on the road.”

In the league opener for both teams, Baylor racked up 23 shots, while limiting Oklahoma to just four.

Larsen’s goal came from 20-yards outside the box, after receiving a pass from fellow senior Hanna Gilmore. The shot was blasted into the lower right corner of the goal past Oklahoma goalkeeper Kelsey Devonshire.

For Larsen, it was the seventh goal of the season and the 25th of her career. The senior is currently in fourth-place on the Baylor career scoring chart, 10 goals behind third place. It was Gilmore’s first assist of the season.

Despite outshooting the Sooners 5-1 in the first half, Baylor (8-1-2) was unable to add to Larsen’s early goal and took a lead to half for the sixth time this season.

In the second half, the Sooners were quick to respond as their offensive standout Renae Cuellar took a pass from Samantha Howell and knotted the contest. It was Cuellar’s seventh goal of the season.

Baylor posted four shots in the first overtime period with Larsen forcing Devonshire to make a save in the 94th minute. The shot barrage continued in the second overtime period with four more attempts for BU, but none of the offerings were on frame. The BU defense held Oklahoma without a shot throughout the 20 minutes of extra time.

Michelle Kloss played the full game in goal for the Bears, posting two saves. Oklahoma senior goalkeeper Kelsey Devonshire broke the school’s career saves record with her third of six saves in the game, giving the North Richland Hills, Texas native 349 for her career, a total that also moved her into the sixth spot on the Big 12 career saves list.

Baylor’s series record against Oklahoma now stands at 5-7-4. It was BU’s fourth overtime game of the season with the Bears holding a 1-1-2 mark in those contests. During Jobson tenure in Waco, Baylor has recorded 15 draws, while in the previous 12 years of Baylor soccer there were only 17 draws.

Baylor will be home on Sunday for the final nonconference match of the year against Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. Before the match, Jobson will be honored for becoming the winningest coach in Baylor soccer history last Sunday.