Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Battle No. 19 Aggies to a Draw
October 16, 2005 | Cowgirl Soccer
Oklahoma State moved to 10-3-3 on the season and 3-3-1 in the Big 12, while Texas A&M now stands at 10-3-2 overall and 4-2-1 in conference action.
The Cowgirls came out firing to start the game with six quick shots, but it was not a Cowgirl that finally found the net. In the 19th minute, Jesyca Rosholt sent a cross on the ground that A&M goalkeeper Kati Jo Spisak could not corral. Aggie defender Annie Burnett tried to clear the ball but she deflected it into her own net to give the Cowgirls the early lead.
The two teams remained even through the first half as each team attempted eight shots. Neither team could dent the scoreboard again and the Cowgirls led 1-0 at intermission.
OSU faced another barrage to start the second half, but this time they could not withstand its opponent's attack. Texas A&M tied the game when Emily Peterson took a wide open shot from the top of the penalty box and the shot got past OSU keeper Jeanne Rankin.
“Texas A&M certainly had more chances,” head coach Karen Hancock said. “I though we had a good game plan for what we needed to do against that team.”
The Aggies continued to put pressure on the Cowgirls in the second half. A&M had 11 second half shots to OSU's two. Again the Aggies could not find the net, despite controlling much of the second half.
With 3:10 remaining in the game, A&M forward Ashlee Pistorius found the corner of the net, but the goal was disallowed because she was offside and the game went into overtime.
The Aggies took three shots to OSU's one, in the first overtime period. Neither team mounted any serious scoring threats until the second overtime period.
Four minutes into the second overtime period, Laura Probst took a shot at the OSU goal but had it blocked. Melissa Garey had an open shot on the rebound, but Rankin temporarily saved the game for the Cowgirls with a tremendous save.
The Aggies had another crack at it when Probst fired another shot that hit the crossbar and came down in the hands of Rankin. Pistorius took her turn and fired a shot that would have scored had it not been for Cowgirl defender Lauren Colwell hustling back and heading the ball over the goal.
The Cowgirls were able to weather the Aggie barrage and escaped with a 1-1 tie. Rankin had a career high eight saves to help preserve the game for the Cowgirls.
“We are disappointed in the result because we wanted to win,” Hancock added. “Anytime you can get a point in the Big 12 standings, it adds up. We are happy with the point.”
Oklahoma State will be traveling next weekend when they head to Ames, Iowa to play Iowa State before heading to Lincoln, Neb., on Sunday to take on 25th-ranked Nebraska.
