Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Head West To NCAA Soccer Championship
November 14, 2007 | Cowgirl Soccer
#19 Oklahoma State (13-5-3)
at the
NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
Nov. 16 & 18 • Los Angeles
Drake Stadium (11,700)
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State earned a berth in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship for the second-consecutive season and the third time in the program's 12-year history. OSU is 13-5-3 overall and finished sixth in the regular-season Big 12 Conference standings with a 5-4-1 mark.
OSU is 1-1-1 in its three NCAA Tournament matches. In 2003, the Cowgirls lost by a 1-0 count to Auburn in Tallahassee, Fla. In the 2006 tourney, OSU got its first-ever NCAA win with a 2-0 triumph over UNC-Greensboro. In the second round, they battled host Clemson to a 0-0 draw, but the Tigers advanced to the Sweet 16 on penalty kicks, 4-2.
The Tournament Field
The Cowgirls open NCAA tourney play Friday against San Diego at 10 p.m. (CST). The Toreros are 15-2-3 on the season and have won their last four matches.
If OSU wins its opening round match, it would advance to play the UCLA-Cal State-Fullerton winner on Sunday at 3 p.m. (CST). The Bruins are the top-ranked team in the nation and bring a 16-1-2 record into the postseason, their lone loss coming in the season opener to Texas. Cal State-Fullerton is 12-7-2 on the season.
OSU is 3-2-1 against teams in the 2007 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship field.
In The Polls
OSU's highest ranking is No. 19 by Soccer America. The Cowgirls are also ranked 21st by Soccer Buzz, 22nd in the NSCAA/adidas poll and 24th by SoccerTimes.com.
UCLA is ranked No. 1 in each of the four major national polls. San Diego is ranked as high as No. 9 by Soccer Buzz and is also ranked 12th by Soccer America and Soccer Buzz and 19th in the NSCAA/adidas poll.
On The Web
Fans will be able to follow very match of the 2007 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship via live stats available by logging on to CSTV.com. The direct link to CSTV GameTracker is www.cstv.com/media/livegame.html. Scores and information can also be found by logging on to the official web site for NCAA Sports at www.ncaasports.com/soccer/womens.
Great Expectations
OSU is coming off the best season in the program's 12-year history, and the Cowgirls have built on that success with another strong 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, OSU ranked among the nation's top teams in each of the four national preseason polls, and with their 13-5-3 performance thus far — which includes three 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, junior Jessica Jarrell and sophomore Bridget Miller, along with record-setting goalkeeper Erin Stigler.
Led by those veterans, plus the addition of freshman Allyson Leggett, OSU has continued to frustrate opponents. The Cowgirls have recorded 10 shutouts this season, which is tied for most in the Big 12, and their 15 goals allowed is the fewest in the league.
OSU also leads the conference in goals-against average (0.69) and ranks second in save percentage (84.8).
That's Offensive
While the defense has been strong, it certainly does not overshadow OSU's offensive attack.
OSU has scored 39 goals this season and averages 18.7 shots per game. The Cowgirls' 1.62 assists per match ranks fourth in the Big 12.
Seven Cowgirls have at least 10 points this season, with Kasey Langdon's 17 leading the way. Yolanda Odenyo and Siera Strawser pace OSU with seven goals apiece, while Langdon's nine assists leads the team and is tied for tops in the Big 12. OSU has five players with at least four goals in '07.
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).
