Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Earn Crucial Road Win
October 16, 2009 | Cowgirl Soccer
Oct. 16, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Junior Annika Niemeier scored twice, and the Oklahoma State midfielder's penalty-kick goal in the 79th minute lifted the Cowgirls to a 2-1 win over Texas Tech Friday night in front of a record 1,728 fans at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
The win was OSU's first on the road in Big 12 Conference play this season as the Cowgirls improved to 3-5 in the league and 9-7 overall.
"It was a huge win for us," said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael. "We came here on Senior Night in front of their record-breaking crowd, and for our girls to come into a very hostile and intense environment and find a way to get the win is just phenomenal.
"Annika Niemeier stepping up with the game on the line and burying a penalty kick, I couldn't be happier. Our kids showed a lot of character to fight and stay in it and to keep their focus. To dig in and find a way to win on the road is massive for us."
OSU got on the scoreboard just under 11 minutes into the match when Colleen Dougherty sent a cross from the far side to Niemeier, who delivered her team-leading sixth goal of the season to the upper post from 10-yards out to give the Cowgirls a 1-0 advantage. Dougherty notched her third assist of the season on the play.
The Cowgirls took the 1-0 lead into intermission after outshooting TTU by an 8-3 margin in the opening half.
TTU (8-7-1, 3-3-1) nearly got on the board early in the second half. On a free kick from 35-yards out, Conner Williams blasted a shot that a leaping OSU goalkeeper Adrianna Franch knocked over the crossbar to keep the Red Raiders from tying the score.
With 18:22 remaining, OSU's Katie Richardson was issued her second yellow card of the match, which seemed to energize Texas Tech. Less than a minute later, the Red Raiders recorded the equalizer when Dawn Ward scored off a corner kick.
But the tie would only hold until the 79-minute mark when Niemeier was fouled from behind in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. And Niemeier would convert the opportunity, sending a low shot to the post to put the Cowgirls back up, 2-1, with exactly 11 minutes left in the match.
"I was pretty nervous on the penalty kick because I'd missed the last one (vs. Missouri)," said Niemeier, who moved into the top 10 on OSU's all-time goals list with the 13th and 14th of her career. "I'm glad I made this one. This was a big win, especially after they tied it and we had to fight back for the win."
OSU finished with a 13-12 edge in shots during the match, but the Red Raiders outshot the visitors 9-5 in the second half. The Cowgirl defense also turned in an outstanding effort over the final several minutes to keep TTU off the board, including thwarting scoring chances on a pair of corner kicks in the final three minutes.
OSU returns to action Friday when the Cowgirls host Bedlam-rival Oklahoma at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex at 7 p.m.
