Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Soccer Talks About Perfect Start To 2008 Season
September 22, 2008 | Cowgirl Soccer
The Oklahoma State Cowgirl soccer team is off to an 8-0-0 start in 2008, their best start in five seasons. OSU is ranked as high as 11th nationally and is one of just four NCAA Division I teams still undefeated and untied on the year. On Monday, head coach Colin Carmichael and senior All-American Yolanda Odenyo met with the media to discuss the season.
Head Coach Colin Carmichael
On being 8-0
We're obviously excited about it. The schedule gets a little tougher in Big 12 play so we understand what we have to do coming up. But we've done what we had to do so far. The team has been playing very, very well. We're scoring a lot of goals and not giving up too many. We're thrilled to be where we are right now.
On knowing how good this team is
I think we're still finding out. Without question, it's the most talented team we've had here. But once we start playing on Friday and Sunday in the Big 12, our depth and our defense will be tested a little bit more. Those are unknowns at this point, but we have the talent to hopefully go a long way.
On the squad's freshmen and depth
The non-conference part of our schedule has allowed us to play some of the freshmen kids. It's been a tryout for minutes, and we've got a handle on where they stand. The returning players will get the majority of the minutes. But some of these kids have earned the right to get chances in the Big 12 games, and if they can continue to come through for us that will only make us a better team.
On the team's goals
We go into every season wanting to compete for the Big 12 championship. Going along with that, if you're doing that in any sport (in the Big 12), you're competing on the national stage. After that, we want to get in the NCAA Tournament and go as far as we can. The last two years we've gone to the second round of the (NCAA) tournament, and we feel like we're ready to take that next step. That's probably our biggest goal, to get out of that second round.
On overcoming facilities shortcomings
Texas and Texas A&M have been the elite teams in the conference for many years, and their facilities are second-to-none. Ours are on the way, and we're very excited for what's coming up. It makes it difficult to recruit the top kids. We've worked hard to bring in the best players we can get. As our program has had more success, we've been able to bring in top recruits. Our job is to make them better when they get here. That's something we continue to do, and hopefully when a new facility comes on line, maybe we can go out and get those national team players to come in.
Senior midfielder Yolanda Odenyo
On being granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA for this season
I'm blessed to have another opportunity to go out there and play again. I'm excited about this year. Our team is really good, and I'm excited to be a part of it.
On how good this team can be
We've talked about ‘How good are we?' We haven't really played anyone who has tested us that much. Louisville was a good team, but we're still kind of wondering. All we know is that we're confident. We're scoring, we're winning, and not just winning, but winning convincingly. We're ready to hit the Big 12 and see how good we really are.
On being highly ranked
Teams come in here knowing (our ranking). Regardless of who we play, coach has been stressing that we're going to get everybody's best shot so we've got to come out ready to play. We know that we can probably beat fairly easily 80 percent of the competition that we'll play, but you don't win by going out and just being there. Knowing that we have to perform puts pressure on us to go out and take care of business.
On how the program has changed the last four years
When I got here, no one knew we had OSU soccer. Everyone assumed I played basketball — they were like, ‘You have a soccer team?' Now people know. When I came here, nobody knew who I was or that we had a soccer team. Now, I walk around campus, and people know me and our team. The program has really come forward.
Head Coach Colin Carmichael
On being 8-0
We're obviously excited about it. The schedule gets a little tougher in Big 12 play so we understand what we have to do coming up. But we've done what we had to do so far. The team has been playing very, very well. We're scoring a lot of goals and not giving up too many. We're thrilled to be where we are right now.
On knowing how good this team is
I think we're still finding out. Without question, it's the most talented team we've had here. But once we start playing on Friday and Sunday in the Big 12, our depth and our defense will be tested a little bit more. Those are unknowns at this point, but we have the talent to hopefully go a long way.
On the squad's freshmen and depth
The non-conference part of our schedule has allowed us to play some of the freshmen kids. It's been a tryout for minutes, and we've got a handle on where they stand. The returning players will get the majority of the minutes. But some of these kids have earned the right to get chances in the Big 12 games, and if they can continue to come through for us that will only make us a better team.
On the team's goals
We go into every season wanting to compete for the Big 12 championship. Going along with that, if you're doing that in any sport (in the Big 12), you're competing on the national stage. After that, we want to get in the NCAA Tournament and go as far as we can. The last two years we've gone to the second round of the (NCAA) tournament, and we feel like we're ready to take that next step. That's probably our biggest goal, to get out of that second round.
On overcoming facilities shortcomings
Texas and Texas A&M have been the elite teams in the conference for many years, and their facilities are second-to-none. Ours are on the way, and we're very excited for what's coming up. It makes it difficult to recruit the top kids. We've worked hard to bring in the best players we can get. As our program has had more success, we've been able to bring in top recruits. Our job is to make them better when they get here. That's something we continue to do, and hopefully when a new facility comes on line, maybe we can go out and get those national team players to come in.
Senior midfielder Yolanda Odenyo
On being granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA for this season
I'm blessed to have another opportunity to go out there and play again. I'm excited about this year. Our team is really good, and I'm excited to be a part of it.
On how good this team can be
We've talked about ‘How good are we?' We haven't really played anyone who has tested us that much. Louisville was a good team, but we're still kind of wondering. All we know is that we're confident. We're scoring, we're winning, and not just winning, but winning convincingly. We're ready to hit the Big 12 and see how good we really are.
On being highly ranked
Teams come in here knowing (our ranking). Regardless of who we play, coach has been stressing that we're going to get everybody's best shot so we've got to come out ready to play. We know that we can probably beat fairly easily 80 percent of the competition that we'll play, but you don't win by going out and just being there. Knowing that we have to perform puts pressure on us to go out and take care of business.
On how the program has changed the last four years
When I got here, no one knew we had OSU soccer. Everyone assumed I played basketball — they were like, ‘You have a soccer team?' Now people know. When I came here, nobody knew who I was or that we had a soccer team. Now, I walk around campus, and people know me and our team. The program has really come forward.
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