Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Set To Host First Home Matches Of 2008 Season
September 03, 2008 | Cowgirl Soccer
#17 Oklahoma State (2-0-0)
vs. Rice (2-0-0)
Friday, Sept. 5 • 7 p.m.
Cowgirl Soccer Complex (1,450)
• • •
vs. Northwestern State (1-2-0)
Sunday, Sept. 7 • 1 p.m.
Cowgirl Soccer Complex (1,450)
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State is 2-0-0 on the season, with both wins coming on the road, and the Cowgirls have outscored their opponents by an 8-1 margin.
OSU opens its 2008 home schedule Friday at 7 p.m. when it hosts Rice at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex. The Cowgirls will also face Northwestern State at home this weekend, taking on the Lady Demons at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The Cowgirls are 16-2-3 on their home field over the last two seasons. OSU is 4-0-0 all-time against Northwestern State, while Friday marks the Cowgirls' first-ever meeting with Rice.
Rice
Rice is 2-0-0 on the season with wins over Sam Houston State and Texas-San Antonio.
The Owls are coming off a 12-7-2 season in 2007. Friday's contest against OSU marks their first road game of the '08 season.
Players To Watch: F Anne Candee, MF Shelley Wong, GK Meghan Erkel
Northwestern State
Northwestern State is 1-2-0 on the season, opening with a win over Tulsa before dropping matches to Southern Miss and Mississippi State.
The Lady Demons finished 11-7-2 last season and return eight starters from that squad.
Players To Watch: F Kayla King, MF Sarah Sadler, MF Rachel O'Steen
In The Polls
OSU is ranked 17th by Soccer Buzz and Top Drawer Soccer, 18th in the NSCAA/adidas poll, 19th by Soccer America and 23rd by SoccerTimes.com.
Rice and Northwestern State are both unranked.
On The Air & The Web
Both of OSU's games this weekend will be carried live by Stillwater Radio, with Friday's game airing on KGFY 105.5 FM and Sunday's match on KSPI 780 AM. Bill Van Ness will call the action. The radio broadcasts 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 the OSU Athletics website: www.okstate.com (link is available by clicking on the icon on schedule/results page).
Higher And Higher
OSU is coming off the two best seasons in the program's 13-year history, and optimism abounds for an even better showing in 2008.
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.
OSU followed the record-setting '06 season with a 14-6-3 mark in 2007 that saw the Cowgirls once again advance to the second round of the NCAA tourney. Along the way, they knocked off four teams ranked in the Top 10 nationally.
The Cowgirls return nine starters from last season's squad, including their top three scorers and the core of a defense that has been among the Big 12's best each of the last two seasons.
Becoming A Trend
For the second-straight season, Oklahoma State was nationally ranked in the preseason polls, earning a spot as high as No. 19 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll. They have since climbed to as high as 17th in a pair of national polls.
In 2007, the Cowgirls began and finished the season in the national rankings, the first time that has happened in OSU soccer history. The Cowgirls ended the season ranked as high as 17th.
The '07 season came on the heels of a 2006 campaign that saw OSU achieve its highest national ranking ever — No. 7 — and earn a spot in the final national polls for the first time in the program's history.
Along with being nationally ranked, OSU was picked by the Big 12 Conference's head coaches to finish fourth in the league race in '08, and senior Yolanda Odenyo was selected to the preseason All-Big 12 team.
Doing It With Defense
One of the biggest reasons for OSU's success the last few seasons are defenses that have been among 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. 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.
In '07, the Cowgirls continued to frustrate opponents with veteran defenders Jessica Jarrell and Bridget Miller and goalie Erin Stigler leading the way.
OSU recorded 10 shutouts on the 2007 season, which once again tied for the most in the Big 12, and the Cowgirls ranked among the conference's best in goals allowed (20), goals-against average (0.84) and save percentage (82.1).
That's Offensive
While OSU has established its defense as a strength, it certainly does not overshadow the Cowgirls' offensive attack.
OSU scored 41 goals a year ago and averaged almost 18 shots per game. The Cowgirls ranked fourth in the Big 12 in shots (405), points (118), goals (41) and assists (36).
Seven Cowgirls collected at least 10 points during the 2007 season, with Kasey Langdon's 19 leading the way. Siera Strawser led the Cowgirls with eight goals, while Langdon's nine assists paced the team and ranked second in the conference.
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.
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).
vs. Rice (2-0-0)
Friday, Sept. 5 • 7 p.m.
Cowgirl Soccer Complex (1,450)
• • •
vs. Northwestern State (1-2-0)
Sunday, Sept. 7 • 1 p.m.
Cowgirl Soccer Complex (1,450)
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State is 2-0-0 on the season, with both wins coming on the road, and the Cowgirls have outscored their opponents by an 8-1 margin.
OSU opens its 2008 home schedule Friday at 7 p.m. when it hosts Rice at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex. The Cowgirls will also face Northwestern State at home this weekend, taking on the Lady Demons at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The Cowgirls are 16-2-3 on their home field over the last two seasons. OSU is 4-0-0 all-time against Northwestern State, while Friday marks the Cowgirls' first-ever meeting with Rice.
Rice
Rice is 2-0-0 on the season with wins over Sam Houston State and Texas-San Antonio.
The Owls are coming off a 12-7-2 season in 2007. Friday's contest against OSU marks their first road game of the '08 season.
Players To Watch: F Anne Candee, MF Shelley Wong, GK Meghan Erkel
Northwestern State
Northwestern State is 1-2-0 on the season, opening with a win over Tulsa before dropping matches to Southern Miss and Mississippi State.
The Lady Demons finished 11-7-2 last season and return eight starters from that squad.
Players To Watch: F Kayla King, MF Sarah Sadler, MF Rachel O'Steen
In The Polls
OSU is ranked 17th by Soccer Buzz and Top Drawer Soccer, 18th in the NSCAA/adidas poll, 19th by Soccer America and 23rd by SoccerTimes.com.
Rice and Northwestern State are both unranked.
On The Air & The Web
Both of OSU's games this weekend will be carried live by Stillwater Radio, with Friday's game airing on KGFY 105.5 FM and Sunday's match on KSPI 780 AM. Bill Van Ness will call the action. The radio broadcasts 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 the OSU Athletics website: www.okstate.com (link is available by clicking on the icon on schedule/results page).
Higher And Higher
OSU is coming off the two best seasons in the program's 13-year history, and optimism abounds for an even better showing in 2008.
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.
OSU followed the record-setting '06 season with a 14-6-3 mark in 2007 that saw the Cowgirls once again advance to the second round of the NCAA tourney. Along the way, they knocked off four teams ranked in the Top 10 nationally.
The Cowgirls return nine starters from last season's squad, including their top three scorers and the core of a defense that has been among the Big 12's best each of the last two seasons.
Becoming A Trend
For the second-straight season, Oklahoma State was nationally ranked in the preseason polls, earning a spot as high as No. 19 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll. They have since climbed to as high as 17th in a pair of national polls.
In 2007, the Cowgirls began and finished the season in the national rankings, the first time that has happened in OSU soccer history. The Cowgirls ended the season ranked as high as 17th.
The '07 season came on the heels of a 2006 campaign that saw OSU achieve its highest national ranking ever — No. 7 — and earn a spot in the final national polls for the first time in the program's history.
Along with being nationally ranked, OSU was picked by the Big 12 Conference's head coaches to finish fourth in the league race in '08, and senior Yolanda Odenyo was selected to the preseason All-Big 12 team.
Doing It With Defense
One of the biggest reasons for OSU's success the last few seasons are defenses that have been among 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. 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.
In '07, the Cowgirls continued to frustrate opponents with veteran defenders Jessica Jarrell and Bridget Miller and goalie Erin Stigler leading the way.
OSU recorded 10 shutouts on the 2007 season, which once again tied for the most in the Big 12, and the Cowgirls ranked among the conference's best in goals allowed (20), goals-against average (0.84) and save percentage (82.1).
That's Offensive
While OSU has established its defense as a strength, it certainly does not overshadow the Cowgirls' offensive attack.
OSU scored 41 goals a year ago and averaged almost 18 shots per game. The Cowgirls ranked fourth in the Big 12 in shots (405), points (118), goals (41) and assists (36).
Seven Cowgirls collected at least 10 points during the 2007 season, with Kasey Langdon's 19 leading the way. Siera Strawser led the Cowgirls with eight goals, while Langdon's nine assists paced the team and ranked second in the conference.
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.
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).
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