Oklahoma State University Athletics
Women's Soccer Opens 1999 Campaign on the Road
August 23, 1999 | Cowgirl Soccer
Aug. 23, 1999
The Week Ahead: Oklahoma State opens its 1999 women's soccer campaign against Texas A&M and Texas. OSU will open its regular season and Big 12 slate against the Aggies on Friday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. in College Station. The Cowgirls will then travel to Austin for a match against the Longhorns on Sunday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.
OSU in 1998: Oklahoma State is coming off a 7-8-3 season in which the Cowgirls opened up with a school best 7-1-1 mark before injuries and close overtime losses caused the team to finish 7-8-3 and 1-6-3 in the Big 12. It was the first losing season in the three year history of the program as OSU finished the season winless in its last 10 games. The Cowgirls played in seven overtime contests last year and lost four players for extended periods of time during the season.
About Texas A&M: Texas A&M is coming off a 14-8 season and advanced into the NCAA second round last season. The Aggies are coached by G. Guerrieri who is in his sixth season at A&M and owns a 99-26-3 ledger. Leading scorer Nikki Thrasher returns for her junior season after scoring 13 goals with seven assists as a sophomore. The Aggies own a 3-0 series lead over the Cowgirls, including a 5-2 decision in last year in Stillwater.
About Texas: Texas finished 6-9-3 overall last season and fourth in the Big 12 with a 4-3-3 mark. Chris Petrucelli begins his first season as the coach of the Longhorns after posting a stellar 175-22-10 mark in nine seasons at Notre Dame. Sophomore forward Melissa Rubey is the top returning offensive threat for Texas after scoring four goals with an assist as a freshman. Texas owns a 2-0-1 advantage over Oklahoma State, but the Cowgirls managed a 2-2 tie last year in Stillwater to end the regular season.
Cowgirl Notes: Junior Kellie White and sophomore Carrie Jones will return to action after missing all of last season due to leg injuries ... OSU is carrying a nine game winless streak in Big 12 play ... the Cowgirls play six teams that made the NCAA tourney in 1998, including semifinalist Portland ... Friday's game against Texas A&M marks the first time OSU will open its regular season against a Big 12 opponent ... The Cowgirls return four of their five leading scorers from last year ... OSU plays 8 of its first 10 games on the road.
New Additions: Head coach Karen Hancock has brought in 12 newcomers to help offset the losses of four starters from the 1998 squad. Freshmen goalkeepers Laurel Catlett-King and Katharine Doud will share time in net to open the season while fellow freshmen Zita Tiamuh, Sree Kolloru and Kellie Williams are also expected to see plenty of playing time this year.
Cowgirls Tune-Up: Junior forward Andrea Larsen netted two goals to lead Oklahoma State to a 3-1 victory over Arkansas in exhibition action last Wednesday at the OSU Intramural Field. Senior forward Missy Moss added a goal at the 80:12 mark from a cross assist from Mercy Morrical to insure the Cowgirl victory. The contest was OSU's only exhibition contest of the season.
