Freshman Kasey Langdon scored her first career goal in the 11th minute and Erin Stigler was exceptional in goal as No. 17 Oklahoma State (9-2-1, 4-1 Big 12) shut out No. 11 Texas (8-3-0, 2-1 Big 12) in front 1,929 fans at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.
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OSU has won four of the last five meetings against Texas, who was previously unbeaten at home. Oklahoma State has now won two Big 12 road games this season after not winning a single Big 12 road game in 2005.
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Stigler recorded her second shut out in just four starts, and the sophomore from Round Rock, Texas boasts victories over previously 11th-ranked Colorado and current No. 11 Texas.
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“Scoring that goal early really helped us out,” co-head coach Karen Hancock said. “It makes it a different game. Texas pressed a great deal and threw a lot of numbers at us. We just defended very well in numbers.”
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The Cowgirls had the first true scoring opportunity. Texas cleared an OSU corner kick right to Angelika Feldbacher. Feldbacher sent it back into the box and Yolanda Odenyo had a step on the Texas defense but sent the shot over the goal.
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OSU went right back down with another opportunity. Texas was whistled for a foul near midfield. Jessica Jarrell sent the free kick into the box. Texas did a poor job of clearing the ball and Kasey Langdon chased it down and sent a shot into the far corner of the net to give the Cowgirls the early lead. It was the first career goal for Langdon, a native of Wylie, Texas.
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“I think the goal let us settle down a bit,” Langdon said. “I think it helped having a lead early in the game, instead of trying to come back and score late.”
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Texas nearly answered less than a minute later when a shot off the foot of Ashley Foster went off the post and the OSU defense cleared it out before the Longhorns could get the rebound.
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Oklahoma State took the 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Longhorns created more chances getting off seven shots, but the stingy OSU defense limited the scoring opportunities.
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Texas appeared to score the equalizer in the 77th minute, but the Longhorns were called offside and the Cowgirls held to the one goal advantage.
The Cowgirls took advantage of the break and successfully killed off the final 13 minutes of the game, something they struggled at in a tie against Michigan and an overtime loss at Loyola Marymount.
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Texas out shot OSU 13-2 for the game, but really only had a few good scoring opportunities. Kelsey Carpenter blasted a shot late in the game, but Stigler made a nice save on the ball. Texas sent a couple of shots high over the cross bar, and Foster had the early one go off the post just minutes after OSU scored.
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“I think as a team all season I think we have been limiting other team's chances big time,” co-head coach Colin Carmichael said. “We just do a better job of not letting them in dangerous areas as opposed to years past. We knew Texas would get some chances against us, but we wanted to be sure we were limiting its dangerous chances.”
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Oklahoma State returns home on Friday, Oct. 6 to face Big 12 foe Iowa State at 7 p.m. The Cowgirls then host Missouri on Sunday at 1 p.m.
