Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Head to Florida for NCAA Tournament
November 13, 2003 | Cowgirl Soccer
NCAA Tournament Ticket Info
Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for students and anyone 50 or older. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Seminole Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-FSU-NOLE. For more information on the 2003 NCAA Soccer Tournament, including live stats for all OSU games, log onto the official web site of Oklahoma State Athletics, www.okstate.com. Additional information and live coverage for non-OSU games can be found on the Florida State web site, .
Cowgirls At The NCAA Tournament
Oklahoma State is entering unfamiliar territory, making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament this weekend. The Cowgirls will be joining a trio of postseason veterans in Florida. FSU is making its fourth straight appearance, Dartmouth its sixth overall and Auburn its third consecutive. The Cowgirls went on a late season run and have won four straight, each by a one-goal margin. The Big 12 regular season was not predictable and wins were not easy to come by in conference action as eight league games ended in a tie. Only three Big 12 teams finished the season without a draw.
Big 12 Conference Earns Respect
If the number of bids extended to Big 12 schools by the NCAA Selection Committee is any indication, the Big 12 Conference can be considered one of the top leagues in the country. Eight Big 12 teams were selected to participate in postseason play, the most ever for the conference. Prior to this year, four were picked in 1999 and 2001. Three teams, Colorado, Oklahoma and OSU, are making their first NCAA Tournament appearances.CK FACTS
Head Coach Karen Hancock
Karen Hancock and her staff built Oklahoma State's soccer program from scratch in 1996 and the hard work has started to pay off. In 2002 the Cowgirls jumped out to a perfect 10-0 start and finished the season at 13-7-0. OSU earned its first trip to the Big 12 Tournament and Hancock was named the Co-Big 12 Coach of the Year. This year started in similar fashion, as Oklahoma State once again began the season at 10-0, but the latter part has been much sweeter in 2003. The Cowgirls finished seventh in the regular season race and surprised everyone at the conference tournament last week, winning the program's first Big 12 Tournament Title. OSU becomes the third team to win the Big 12 Championship, Nebraska or Texas A&M had won each of the previous seven.
Coaches Pick Big 12 Field
The coaches may not have been successful in predicting in the order in which the teams would finish in the Big 12 regular season race, but they were successful in correctly picking the tournament field. The biggest surprise came when Colorado won the regular season title after being picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll. Four of the coaches top five preseason picks were correct. Another sleeper was third-seeded Kansas who was picked to finish seventh while Missouri was picked to finish fourth and earned the eight seed. Oklahoma took the predicted six seed and Oklahoma State finished seventh in the regular season race, one up from its predicted finish.
International Flavor
The Cowgirls have seven players on their roster that hail from outside the United States. Four of those, Carla Dolomont, Marcela Nova, Jolene Schweitzer and Nikki Wojtowicz, came in as freshman and have started a combined 216 of 231 games as their junior year draws to a close. The group has played an integral role in turning the program around and leading the Cowgirls to their second Big 12 Tournament in as many years, capped by a championship in 2003.
Stellar Recruiting Class
Oklahoma State's 2003 recruiting class of Ashlyn Brantley, Katie Lacey, Kathrin Lehmann and Adriane Radtke earned national recognition. Soccer Buzz ranked the class seventh regionally and 38th nationally.
Lehmann On The International Scene
In addition to Kathrin Lehmann's success on the soccer field, the Zurich, Switzerland, native is hoping to lead her country to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Ice Hockey. The junior competed in three World Championships as a member of the Swiss National Team before coming to Oklahoma State.
Cowgirls Claim Bragging Rights
For the second consecutive year, Oklahoma State won the Oklahoma Shootout. Both OU and OSU were 2-0 in the event, but the Cowgirls edged the Sooners based on goal differential. Four Cowgirls, Marcela Nova, Kathrin Lehmann, Nikki Wojtowicz and Kim Graves were named to the all-tournament team. Graves was also tabbed the Offensive MVP.
Wojtowicz Takes Over
Nikki Wojtowicz has rewritten the Cowgirl assist record book, since coming to Oklahoma State in 2001. The junior has 38 to her credit, easily surpassing the former leader, Andi Lute with 25. Wojtowicz had nine dishes her freshman year, set a school record with 12 in 2002 and rewrote the records once again this year with 17 thus far.
Backline Endurance
Oklahoma State's four starting defenders, Lauren Colwell, Lisa Fulton, Katie Lacey and Marcela Nova, have proven their endurance throughout the season. Each has played at least 1870 minutes, averaging 85 minutes per game as a group.
Dominating the Opposition
In addition to posting an impressive 15-4-3 record, OSU has dominated its opponents on the field. The Cowgirls have outscored their opponents 62-16, including seven contests won by four or more. The Cowgirls have outshot the opposition 420-250 and hold a 209-102 shots on goal advantage. OSU has another lopsided advantage in corner kicks, taking 173 to its opponents 76.
Cowgirls Shatter The Records
Oklahoma State's 2003 squad continues to break into the record books. The Cowgirls had an amazing 51 shots against McNeese State earlier this season, surpassing the old record of 38 set last year against East Central. Oklahoma State has taken 20 or more shots in nine contests this season and registered double-digits in all but four outings. The Cowgirls have been strong defensively as well, posting 12 shutouts to set a school record for the second straight season. The defense has held opponents to 10 shots or less 11 times this season.
Turning It Up A Notch
After a slow year offensively in 2002, senior Kim Graves and junior Jolene Schweitzer have taken their play to the next level. The duo combined for 20 points last year, Graves with eight and Schweitzer with 12. They have come alive this season, each scoring more than their combined total in 2002. Schweitzer is second on the squad with 30 points, sharing the lead in goals with 12 and adding six assists. Graves is third with 24 points coming off eight goals and eight assists. This surge of offensive output had made its mark in the record books as Graves and Schweitzer hold the top two spots in career shots, goals and points.
Radtke Starts Quick
Adriane Radtke has made her presence felt on the field in her first year at Oklahoma State. The freshman leads the Cowgirls with 32 points on 12 goals and eight assists. She scored a goal in the first six contests of the season, including a hat trick against Vermont. Since that time, the Munich, Germany, native has slowed down, netting just two goals in Big 12 play. Radtke is three points shy of tying the season record of 35 held by Robin Rampey since 1996.
Home Sweet Home
Oklahoma State did not lose a contest at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex this year. The Cowgirls are 7-0-2 with the draws coming against then-No. 3 Texas A&M and Oklahoma. Dating back to last season the Cowgirls are a combined 15-2-2 at home. Last year's losses came to a pair of Top 25 opponents, Texas and Texas A&M.
Rolling Out For The Cowgirls
Oklahoma State soccer fans set a new attendance record this year at the Bedlam contest held on October 27. An overflow crowd of 2,307 showed up to watch OSU and OU battle to a scoreless tie after 110 minutes of play. It was the first tie in the history of the series and only the second time the Cowgirls have not beaten the Sooners.
Cowgirls Tabbed All-Conference
Three members of Oklahoma State's soccer team, Lauren Colwell, Kathrin Lehmann and Adriane Radtke, were named to the All-Big 12 squads. Colwell, a sophomore defender became the first Cowgirl in program history to earn first team honors. Two Cowgirls, Kathrin Lehmann and Adriane Radtke, were named to the All-Big 12 second-team and All-Newcomer team.ASON
Academic Accolades Roll In
Oklahoma State's soccer team landed seven players on the Academic All-Big 12 teams released by the conference office last week. Throughout the Big 12, 65 student-athletes were honored. First-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, while the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA. Five Cowgirls; seniors Joanne Edwards and Kim Graves, junior Marcela Nova and sophomores Lauren Colwell and Alison Vaughn, earned first-team accolades. Edwards and Graves earned Academic All-Big 12 honors for the third time while Nova is a second year selection. Junior Jolene Schweitzer and sophomore Cassie Lewis round out the Cowgirl honorees, earning second-team accolades.
Cowgirls Put On A Show In San Antonio
Seventh-seeded Oklahoma State entered the Big 12 Tournament with the motto "seven is heaven" and it turned out to be true. The Cowgirls won their first-ever conference championship and swept the awards following the title game. Sophomore Cassie Lewis was tabbed the Offensive MVP following an outstanding tournament, including the game-winning goals in both the Texas and Kansas games. Junior goalkeeper Kathrin Lehmann earned Defensive MVP honors after posting shutouts in the first two contests. Junior Jere Boykin was also named to the all-tournament team. Boykin scored OSU's first two goals against Missouri, leading the Cowgirls comeback bid and sending the game into overtime.
Radtke Earns Second Big 12 Newcomer of the Week Honor
Oklahoma State midfielder Adriane Radtke earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors for the second consecutive week, it was announced Tuesday by the conference office. Radtke continued her high offensive output as the Cowgirls dominated their opponents over the weekend, defeating Vermont, 4-0, and McNeese State, 8-0. The Munich, Germany, native leads the Cowgirls with 10 goals and 26 points, the most scored by a freshman since 1996. Radtke has scored in every contest this year, good for a six-game streak and tying the longest scoring streak in program history. Radtke had a hat trick vs. Vermont and added a goal and an assist against McNeese State for nine points on the week.
Schweitzer, Lehmann Earn Big 12 Accolades
Two members of Oklahoma State's soccer team were honored as Big 12 Players of the Week, it was announced Tuesday by the conference office. Forward Jolene Schweitzer is the Offensive Player of the Week and goalkeeper Kathrin Lehmann is the Defensive Player of the Week. In Sunday's contest Schweitzer notched her second hat trick of the season to lead the Cowgirls to a 3-1 win against Texas. Schweitzer's three goals came on her only three shot attempts vs. the Longhorns. The Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, native scored the first two goals less than four minutes apart in the opening 10 minutes of the contest. A native of Zurich, Switzerland, Lehmann led the Cowgirls to a 0-0 tie against then-No. 3 Texas A&M and a 3-1 win against Texas. She has a 0.22 goals against-average and three shutouts on the season.
Lehmann Earns National Honors
Oklahoma State goalkeeper Kathrin Lehmann was named to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week and the Soccer America Team of the Week for her play against Texas A&M and Texas. The Zurich, Switzerland, native had 14 saves last weekend after only having 11 through the first 10 contests. Texas' goal on Sunday was just the second Lehmann has surrendered all season and the first since Sept. 19 against Tulsa. She leads the nation with a 0.22 goals-against average.
