Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Soccer Returns To Action
October 17, 2007 | Cowgirl Soccer
#18 Oklahoma State (9-3-2, 3-2-1)
vs. Oral Roberts (7-5-2)
Friday, Oct. 19 • 5 p.m.
Cowgirl Soccer Complex (1,450)
• • •
at Texas Tech (5-6-1, 3-3-0)
Sunday, Oct. 21 • 1 p.m.
R.P. Fuller Stadium (2,000)
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State is 9-3-2 on the season, which includes a 3-2-1 mark in Big 12 Conference play. The Cowgirls are fourth in the Big 12 standings and are coming off a weekend in which they tied Kansas, 2-2, and defeated No. 5 Missouri, 2-1, in overtime. The win over Mizzou made history as the Tigers are the highest-ranked team OSU has ever defeated.
OSU is 13-1-3 on its home field over the last two seasons, including a 5-1-1 mark in 2007. The Cowgirls are 4-1-1 in road matches this season.
Oral Roberts
The Golden Eagles are 7-5-2 on the season.
OSU is 7-2-0 all-time against Oral Roberts, including a 1-0 win in Tulsa last season.
Players To Watch: D Shakira Duncan, GK Stef Gurley, MF Emily Gagnon
Texas Tech
Texas Tech entered the weekend's action with a 5-6-1 overall record and a 3-3-0 mark in Big 12 Conference play.
The Cowgirls are 6-4-1 all-time against Texas Tech, including a 2-2 tie in Lubbock in 2006.
Players To Watch: MF Zhaleh Rezaie, D Brittney Harrison, GK Tina Rincon
In The Polls
OSU's highest ranking is No.18 by Soccer America. The Cowgirls are also ranked 22nd by SoccerTimes.com, 23rd in the NSCAA/adidas poll and 29th by Soccer Buzz.
Neither Oral Roberts nor Texas Tech is ranked.
On The Air & The Web
OSU's home match against Oral Roberts on Friday will be carried live by Stillwater Radio on KGFY 105.5 FM with Bill Van Ness calling the action. The radio broadcast can also be accessed via the internet at www.okstate.com (link is available under Audio Webcast). Fans will also be able to follow the game via live stats by logging on to www.okstate.com. For Sunday's game at Texas Tech, fans wishing to follow the game via live stats can log on to www.texastech.com.
Great Expectations
OSU is coming off the best season in the program's 12-year history, and optimism is high for an even better showing in 2007.
In 2006, the Cowgirls finished 17-3-3, setting a school record for wins. With an 8-1-1 mark, they finished second in the Big 12 Conference standings, also a program best. And after advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in its history, OSU won its first-ever NCAA tourney game with a 2-0 win over UNC-Greensboro before barely missing advancing to the Sweet 16 when they lost on penalty kicks to Clemson.
The Cowgirls returned eight starters from last season's squad, including six of their top seven scorers and the core of a defense that was among the Big 12's best in '06.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
The Cowgirls ended the season in the national rankings for the first time in school history in 2006, and the pollsters have not forgotten about OSU in 2007.
For the first time in program history, the Cowgirls were ranked among the nation's top teams in each of the four national preseason polls, and with their 9-3-2 start — which includes two wins over teams ranked in the Top 10 — they have maintained a spot in the rankings.
OSU was also picked by the Big 12 Conference's head coaches to finish fourth in the league race in '07, and junior Yolanda Odenyo was chosen to the preseason All-Big 12 team, a pair of preseason All-America teams and to the Hermann Trophy watch list.
Landmark Win
On Sept. 16, Oklahoma State did something that has not been done in four years — defeat Notre Dame on its home field.
With its 2-1 overtime win against the No. 9 Fighting Irish at Alumni Field, OSU ended Notre Dame's 43-game home unbeaten streak, the third-longest streak in women's Division I soccer history.
Sasa Jackson scored the game-winning goal just 79 seconds into overtime to give the Cowgirls what head coach Colin Carmichael called the biggest win in the 12-year history of the OSU program.
Erin Stigler had eight saves in the win, and Siera Strawser also notched a goal.
Doing It With Defense
One of the biggest reasons for OSU's success in 2006 was a defense that was arguably the best in the Big 12 Conference.
The Cowgirls tied a school record with 12 shutouts in '06, and that total also tied OSU for the most blankings by a Big 12 team last season. Opponents attempted just 255 shots against the Cowgirls and only 16 of those found the back of the net. OSU ranked first in the league in goals allowed, and the Cowgirls' 0.66 goals against average was also tops in the conference.
Returning in '07 to anchor the defense are senior Niccole Grimaldi and sophomore Bridget Miller, along with record-setting goalkeeper Erin Stigler.
Led by those veterans, the Cowgirls are continuing to frustrate opponents. OSU has recorded six shutouts this season, which is tied for the third most in the Big 12, and the Cowgirls rank among the conference's best in goals-against average (0.82) and save percentage (80.6).
That's Offensive
While the defense has been strong, it certainly does not overshadow OSU's offensive attack.
OSU has scored 29 goals this season and averages 18.9 shots per game. The Cowgirls' 1.93 assists per match rank third in the Big 12.
Seven Cowgirls have at least seven points this season, with Kasey Langdon's 14 leading the way. Sasa Jackson leads the Cowgirls with five goals, while Langdon's six assists pace the team.
In 2006, the Cowgirls' 39 assists was the third-highest total in school history, while their 46 goals tied for fourth. OSU also racked up 131 points, which tied for the third-best output in program history.
Led by All-America midfielder Yolanda Odenyo, the Cowgirls ranked third in the Big 12 in scoring in 2006 at just under 5.7 points per game, as well as third in goals (46) and assists (38).
