Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Fall to MacIver and the Sooners, 3-2
November 04, 2005 | Cowgirl Soccer
The Sooners prevailed in a highly intense match that saw a lot of action on both ends of the field. OU out shot the Cowgirls 20-16 and prevailed on the scoreboard where it mattered most.
OSU's season came to a screeching halt with the loss and will be home during the Big 12 Tournament for the first time in four years. The Cowgirls finished the year with a 10-6-3 record overall and 3-5-1 in Big 12 play. OU's season will continue as it improved to 13-5-1 overall and 5-4-1 in conference action.
“It is a tight contest every time we play these guys,” head coach Karen Hancock said. “ we had another one goal game and we were just on the short end of it this year. It was a disappointing end to our season, but we have been on the other end of it before.”
The Cowgirls started the game attacking from the opening whistle. Senior Cassie Lewis had two cracks at the goal in the first three minutes. The first attempt came off of a volley that was blocked in front of the goal by an OU defender. The second attempt came on a cross from the far side of the field that Lewis sailed over the cross bar.
The Cowgirls dented the scoreboard a few minutes later. OSU received a corner kick in the 11th minute that Niccole Grimaldi sent into the box. Jessica Jarrell put a head on the ball and Angelika Feldbacher finished it to put OSU up 1-0.
Just as quickly as OSU took the lead, Oklahoma took it away. The Sooners Kady Kelly collected a ball in the midfield and raced through the OSU defense zig-zagging through defenders before beating OSU keeper Jeanne Rankin to tie the game at one in the 28th minute.
Less than four minutes later, MacIver collected a ball that she dribbled to the wing. She sent a shot from 30 yards out that caught Rankin out of position to give OU the lead heading into halftime. It was the first time all season OSU allowed more than one goal at home.
The Cowgirls came out aggressive to start the second half as well and it paid off in the 53rd minute. Kalyn Brady played a ball forward to Yolanda Odenyo. Odenyo found space at the top of the box and beat Oklahoma keeper Jennifer Nichols to tie the game at two.
The game remained knotted at two as both teams had opportunities to score. Odenyo sent a couple of shots wide off of a free kick. The Sooners had a high floating shot bounce off of the cross bar and a second attempt that went just over the bar.
Then in the 77th minute, OSU appeared to have taken the lead when Lewis headed a ball in the box that Odenyo collected and scored. The goal was disallowed, however, for offside and the game remained tied at two.
Just as it appeared that another classic Bedlam game was headed to overtime, Allyson Kucera played a ball to MacIver in the middle of the field. MacIver sent a shot towards the goal from 40 yards out that found the corner of the goal to give OU the lead with 2:28 remaining.
“Give Lauren MacIver credit,” Hancock said. “I have been watching her for four years now and that is a kid I would have loved to have had out of Jenks. She is a good player and she was the difference tonight.”
The Cowgirls valiantly tried to get the goal back and force overtime, but the Sooners held on for only their second Bedlam victory in 10 tries.
“The group we had playing for us that is returning, I am looking forward to having them back next season,” Hancock added. “We are going to miss our three seniors in Lewis, Lauren Colwell and Brady, but we are looking forward to having that group come back next season.”
