Oklahoma State University Athletics
Soccer Set For Big Weekend
October 15, 2002 | Cowgirl Soccer
Oct. 15, 2002
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Looking Ahead
Oklahoma State returns to the friendly confines of the Cowgirl Soccer Complex to face stiff competition this weekend, playing host to a pair of Top 10 teams; No. 6 Texas A&M and fourth-ranked Texas. The Aggies will stroll in for a 7 p.m. tilt on Friday and the Longhorns will conclude the weekend at 1 p.m. on Sunday. A&M holds a commanding 6-0-0 lead of the series with Oklahoma State. The Aggies won 5-1 last year and have posted shutouts in four of the six contests. Texas leads the series with OSU 5-0-1 including a a 4-0 shutout in Austin last year. While the Cowgirls have yet to defeat the Longhorns, in 1998 Oklahoma State took Texas to overtime and emerged with a 2-2 tie to close out the regular season.
Scouting Texas A&M
Texas A&M ventures to Stillwater at 10-3-1 overall and 4-0-1 in the Big 12. Last Friday, the Aggies visited Waco and scored a goal with under six minutes remaining to force overtime with the Bears. After two extra stanzas, the score was still knotted at 1-1. A&M returned home to host Texas Tech and soundly defeated the Red Raiders, 6-2, thanks to five second period goals. Lindsay Woodard leads the Aggies with 11 goals and one assist. Also chipping in on the offensive side are Christina Echavarry with six goals and Heather Ragsdale with five. Twelve different Aggies have registered at least one goal this year. A&M holds a lopsided shot advantage over its opponents, outshooting its foes 308-108. Kati Jo Spisak has started all 14 contests in goal, amassing a 1.11 goals-against average with two shutouts.
Scouting Texas
The Longhorns enter the weekend touting a perfect 5-0-0 record in Big 12 play and a 10-2-1 record overall. Texas picked up a pair of wins last weekend and extended its winning streak to eight, defeating Baylor, 3-1, and Texas Tech, 5-1. Texas jumped on top of the Red Raiders early, scoring their first goal with six minutes elapsed and upping its lead to five before surrendering a goal in the closing minutes of the contest. In the Baylor game, Texas trailed 1-0 at half, but scored three goals in the second stanza for the come-from-behind win. Kelly McDonald leads the Longhorns and is second in the Big 12 with 24 points on eight goals and eight assists. Kati McBain is close behind with six goals and 10 assists. Splitting time in net for the Longhorns are Darci Carruthers and Alex Gagarin. Carruthers has a 0.19 goals-against average and has not allowed a goal in three Big 12 games. Gagarin is also impressive, boasting a 0.97 goals-against average, while giving up one goal in conference action.
Kansas In Review
Oklahoma State's soccer team gave up its highest goal total of the season last Friday, falling to Kansas, 6-0. Kansas jumped out to an early lead en route to a record-breaking day on the field, as the Jayhawks set a school record for goals, points and largest margin of victory. In the 15th minutes of the game, Rachel Gilfillan scored the game winner and Jessica Smith then added a pair to give KU a three-goal cushion heading into the locker room. The Jayhawk defense was extremely stingy, not allowing OSU to take a shot in the first 45 minutes of play. Kansas continued the assault in the second stanza and Caroline Smith scored her 11th goal of the season to break the single-season goal record. Brianna Valento then bumped the lead to six, netting a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes. OSU's only offensive production came in the second period, as Jeni Jackson and Courtney Robb each registered a shot apiece.
Missouri In Review
Despite outshooting Missouri, 15-11, the Cowgirls dropped their second consecutive game, 5-1, on Sunday. The early minutes of the contest were detrimental for Oklahoma State as Missouri scored its first goal just over a minute into the game. Nine minutes later, Missouri upped the lead to 2-0 and although the Cowgirls had chances to cut into the deficit before halftime they were unable to outsmart the Tiger defenders. The second stanza was eerily similar to the first, as Missouri added a goal to gain some breathing room just 20 seconds into the period. Trailing 3-0, Oklahoma State was awarded a direct kick inside the penalty box with 34 minutes remaining, but Missouri's goalkeeper made a diving save to avoid the score. Oklahoma State was given another chance to avoid the shutout and this time the opportunity was not wasted. Jeni Jackson took a free kick from 40 yards out and Nikki Wojtowicz outraced the Tiger defense for a one-on-one goal from five yards out. With just over 10 minutes remaining, the Tigers regained a four-goal lead when Jennifer Nobis headed a pass in from Melissa McLellan.
Head Coach Karen Hancock
Karen Hancock is in her seventh year at Oklahoma State, having started the program in 1996. She picked up her 50th win at OSU against Northeastern State and her 75th career win against East Central. In six years at OSU, Hancock holds a 54-65-8 record. Hancock led the 2002 squad to a 10-0 start, the best ever by a Cowgirl team and OSU upped its win total to 11 against East Central to set a school record for season wins.
Schweitzer Snags Honor
Sophomore forward Jolene Schweitzer was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 9. Schweitzer scored five points in OSU's two wins against Louisiana-Lafayette and Stephen F. Austin, snagging the game winner in both contests. When honored, Schweitzer led the Cowgirls with five goals and 12 points, after pacing the squad with eight goals during the 2001 season.
Doud Does It All
Senior goalkeeper Kat Doud was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 23. Doud earned the honor after opening Big 12 play with a pair of shutouts in wins over Texas Tech and Baylor. At the time, Doud had given up just three goals in 843 minutes to lead the Big 12 with a 0.32 goals-against average.
Nov? Brings In Two
Sophomore defender Marcela Nov? was named to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week and the Soccer America Team of the Week for her play during the opening weekend of Big 12 action. Nov? plays a critical role in the Cowgirl backfield that gave up just six shots on goal while shutting out Baylor and Texas Tech, 2-0. The sophomore also scored her first goal of the season against Tech, netting the game winner midway through the second period.
Wojtowicz Nears The Top
Sophomore midfielder Nikki Wojtowicz leads the Cowgirls and the Big 12 with 11 assists in 14 games. She holds a 0.79 assists-per-game average, good for sixth in the country and is just six touches shy of taking over the top spot in career assists in her second season at OSU.
Boykin Gets It Done
Junior Jere Boykin leads the Cowgirls with seven goals, including four in the last six games. The forward came off the bench to score both goals in the Baylor contest to lift Oklahoma State to victory. She also added a goal against Iowa State and East Central.
Cowgirls Shatter The Records
Oklahoma State's 2002 squad continues to break into the record books, most recently with its 38 shots against East Central. The previous high was 37 against Oklahoma Christian in 1996. The contest with the Tigers also marked another milestone, it was the seventh shutout for the Cowgirls this year, eclipsing the previous high of six set in 1997.
OSU Claims Bragging Rights
Oklahoma State captured the title at the 2002 Mazzio's Oklahoma Shootout, defeating Oral Roberts and Tulsa, 3-1. The win over Tulsa, Head Coach Karen Hancock's alma mater, was the first in program history. Oklahoma also went 2-0, but the Cowgirls edged the Sooners by a one point goal differential for the championship. Four Cowgirls; Leah Carr, Krista Dedmon, Kat Doud and Kim Graves were named to the all-tournament squad.
Cowgirls In Spain
Prior to the 2002 season, Oklahoma State spent 10 days training in Spain. The Cowgirls played three games against international competition, posting two shutouts and finishing the tour undefeated. The Cowgirls also met the Sunderland A.F.C Under 23 Regional Team and members of the Swedish and Irish National Teams.
Smooth Sailing At Home
Oklahoma State is 7-0 at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex and has outscored opponents 22-1 on its home turf. The Cowgirls have an eight-game streak dating back to the Arkansas Little Rock contest last November. OSU has posted six shutouts in Stillwater and has not surrendered a goal since the Western Kentucky game on Sept. 2.
Promotions At The Texas A&M Game
The first 1000 fans at Friday's game will receive an OSU frisbee. The contest is also tabbed as Student Appreciation Day and 50-cent hot dogs will be sold. At half time Cowboy Basketball player Terrance Crawford, Cowgirl hoopster Chantoya Hawkins and National Champion Wrestler Johnny Thompson will participate in the Celebrity Soccer Shootout.
Promotions At The Texas Game
Sunday's game is FCA and Pistol Pete's Partners Day at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex and the first 600 youth at the game will receive an OSU Yo-Yo. During half time, fans will be entertained by a Mascot Soccer Game.
