The OU soccer team collected its first draw of the season during Sunday's match against Colorado College, finishing in double-overtime with a deadlocked score 1-1 at John Crain Field. With the tie, the Sooners moved to 2-1-1 for the season.

"We created a lot having a man down through almost 90 minutes," coach Nicole Nelson said. "Defensively, all week we've been working on pressing higher on the field, our forwards pressing higher on the field. We were playing well before playing with a man down, and we played well afterward."

Sunday's match featured aggressive performances for both teams on both sides of the ball with a total of five cards issued in the first half. Both goals scored in the game were off penalty kicks.

The Sooners were forced to play one man down for 72 minutes of the game after senior defender Lauren Alkek received a red card in the first half. Nelson was proud of the ability of the team to last through the remainder of the game short-handed and hold off a physical opponent in overtime.

"I learned a lot about this team today," Nelson said. "The fight and guts that they showed playing nearly 90 minutes a man down was tremendous. It tells me a lot about how much they can accomplish this year."

The Sooners led early in the contest after senior forward Whitney Palmer took advantage of a penalty kick at the four-minute mark. The score — Palmer’s third career penalty kick goal — brought her career goal total to 30, four shy of tying OU's career recorder holder, Logan Womack (2000-03).

More than getting closer to top spot, Palmer was relieved to get out of what she felt like was a scoring "slump" for the Sooners.

"It felt really good," Palmer said about the draw and the goal. "I felt like I was in a slump. Being a man down, we played our way through it. I think our team did really well today."

Colorado College responded in the 32nd minute to even up the score with a goal by forward Tiffany Brown. Brown's goal off a penalty kick was her second of the season.

Both defenses played tough the first 90 minutes. The Tigers’ goalkeeper Caitlin Hulyo made nine saves in regulation. Sooner goalkeeper Kelsey Devonshire had eight saves before overtime.

The Sooners had a chance to score in the second overtime period after Caitlyn Mooney broke a quick pass from midfield. Mooney moved the ball in open space left to right, just overshooting Palmer in the box.

The Sooners kept the pressure on offense, collecting three more shots on goal in the overtime periods, forcing Hulyo to make two more saves before the game ended in the draw.

The Sooners hit the road next weekend to face Missouri State at 7 p.m. Friday in Springfield, Mo. OU returns home to face Rice at 1 p.m. Sunday at John Crain Field.