Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Win Big 12 Soccer Championship
November 08, 2009 | Cowgirl Soccer
Nov. 8, 2009
SAN ANTONIO, Texas--Oklahoma State claimed its second Big 12 Conference soccer postseason championship in school history with a 1-0 win over second-seeded Texas A&M Sunday in the final of the Big 12 Soccer Championship at Blossom Soccer Stadium.
The win was the eighth in a row for the Cowgirls, the tourney's No. 5-seed, as coach Colin Carmichael's squad improved to 15-7 on the season and clinched a berth in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. OSU will be making its fourth-straight NCAA appearance.
OSU's victory also marked its first ever against Texas A&M (14-6-2). The Cowgirls entered the contest 0-14-2 all time against the Aggies.
"It's so exciting to win and beat A&M because I've obviously never beaten them," said OSU senior captain Bridget Miller. "It's just an awesome feeling. We were motivated even more because we knew the only chance we had to get into the NCAA Tournament was to win (the Big 12 tournament). We all had that on our minds all week, and I think that helped us."
Freshman Carson Michalowski scored the game's lone goal in the 53rd minute to lift the Cowgirls to the win. Off a corner kick from Colleen Dougherty, Michalowski raced in and delivered a header into the back of the net to put OSU up 1-0. The goal was the third of the season for Michalowski, while Dougherty notched her fifth assist.
"It's always going to be a great game with Texas A&M; they're a great program and a great team," Carmichael said. "We knew it was going to be very difficult, and I thought over 90 minutes we just edged it. (TAMU) certainly had their chances late.
"It was a great game that could have gone either way, and I'm just really proud of our kids for battling and pulling out the win."
OSU was the aggressive, attacking team in the opening half, but the first half ended scoreless, with the Cowgirls outshooting TAMU by a 6-3 margin
Kyndall Treadwell had a pair of strong shots early for the Cowgirls, but her first was saved by TAMU goalie Kristin Arnold and her second carried just wide of the near post.
OSU continued its scoring chances 12 minutes into the match, but a shot from just outside the box by Annika Niemeier sailed over the crossbar.
Minutes later, it was TAMU looking at a prime scoring opportunity. But Michalowski came up big as she was able to knock the ball away from Whitney Hooper as Hooper tried to make a move from just outside the 18-yard box.
OSU continued its attacking ways, and again created another chance for Treadwell, this on off a cross by Niemeier with just over 21 minutes remaining in the half. But Treadwell's header was wide, and the Cowgirls remained scoreless.
The Aggies came out the aggressor early in the second half and created their best scoring opportunity just over six minutes in as Nora Skelton broke free and blasted a shot from just outside the six-yard box. But AD Franch made a diving save to keep the shutout intact.
But the shutout did not last long, with Dougherty and Michalowski connecting for the game-winning goal.
In the 68th minute, TAMU had several furious rallies in front of the goal, but the Cowgirl defense was able to keep the Aggies off the scoreboard to preserve their lead.
That stellar defensive play continued with TAMU pressing to score late. The Aggies had nine shots in the second half, with Franch recording six saves after intermission. Franch finished with seven saves, one shy of her career high.
"It starts with AD (Franch), and you have (Melinda) Mercado and Michalowski right in front of her. Those girls have been phenomenal," Carmichael said. "And the wide backs with Whitney (Wernimont), Allyson (Leggett) and Colleen (Dougherty) did a great job. It's a team effort when you defend against a good team, and we're thrilled that AD, Mercado and Michalowski are in the heart of that defense because they're really tough to beat."
OSU had six players named to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team: Franch, Niemeier, Mercado, Kasey Langdon and Siera Strawser. Mercado was named the tourney's defensive MVP.
The Cowgirls now await where they will be seeded in next week's NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. The 64-team bracket will be announced at 7 p.m. on ESPNews.
