Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Soccer Ranked 11th In NSCAA Preseason Poll
August 11, 2009 | Cowgirl Soccer
Aug. 11, 2009
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Defending Big 12 Conference champion Oklahoma State is ranked No. 11 in the NSCAA/adidas 2009 Preseason Poll, which was released today.
The ranking is OSU's highest-ever preseason ranking and marks the third-straight season the Cowgirls will enter the season in the national rankings. Coach Colin Carmichael's squad was ranked 23rd in both the 2007 and 2008 NSCAA/adidas preseason polls.
OSU is one of four Big 12 teams in the NSCAA's preseason rankings, joining No. 7 Texas A&M, 15th-ranked Texas and 24th-ranked Missouri. Defending national champion North Carolina enters the season at No. 1.
“To be recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as the 11th-best team in the nation going into the season is an indication that we have established ourselves nationally as a top team,” Carmichael said. “We realize the preseason rankings do not necessarily equal success, and we will work very hard to show that we are deserving of this recognition. Our goal is to be ranked as high as possible when the final polls come out in December — this will mean that our season has been successful.
“We have a very challenging schedule with five of the teams we face ranked in the Top 25 and Colorado receiving votes. Our team is ready to take on this challenge and compete for more championship trophies.”
OSU is coming off the best season in school history, which saw it finish 18-1-4 and capture its first-ever Big 12 regular season championship. The Cowgirls climbed as high as No. 7 in the national polls and reached the second round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship for the third consecutive season. They finished 2008 ranked 13th nationally.
The 2009 Cowgirls return seven starters from a year ago, including first-team All-Big 12 forward Kasey Langdon and fellow senior and all-conference midfielder Siera Strawser. That duo combined for 24 goals and 21 assists last season for a squad that led the nation in scoring offense and set a school record with 74 goals.
Also returning are all-region performer Bridget Miller and Freshman All-American Melinda Mercado, both of whom star for the Cowgirls at defender.
Carmichael's squad will face Tulsa Saturday at 7 p.m. in an exhibition match at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex and will travel to Colorado to open the regular season Aug. 22 in Boulder.
