Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls' Streak Comes To An End
September 18, 2009 | Cowgirl Soccer
Sept. 18, 2009
STILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma State suffered the first non-conference loss on its home field in nine years Friday night as the 21st-ranked Cowgirls dropped a 1-0 decision to USC at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.
The loss snapped OSU's 39-game home unbeaten streak against non-Big 12 Conference foes and was the first loss to a non-league opponent in Stillwater since Creighton topped the Cowgirls, 1-0, on Oct. 6, 2000. Coach Colin Carmichael's squad had also won nine consecutive non-conference matches at home since tying Colorado College during the 2007 season.
USC (4-3) outshot the Cowgirls 14-8 in the match, and Samantha Johnson's second goal of the season proved to be the difference as OSU fell to 5-3 on the season.
"USC is a very good, very dynamic, athletic team, and we hadn't seen that yet this year," Carmichael said. "They didn't allow us to play the way we wanted to. From our group, the passion was there, the commitment was there, the effort was there, we just lacked a little bit of quality when we needed it. We'll address that."
OSU appeared to take a 1-0 lead just over 10 minutes into the match, but the Cowgirls were whistled for the first of two costly offsides penalties.
After a shot by Siera Strawser was deflected by USC goalie Kristen Olsen, OSU's Kasey Langdon raced in and drilled a shot into the back of the net. However, the goal was nullified when Langdon was called for offsides.
With just under 30 minutes gone, OSU turned in a defensive gem to keep the game scoreless as Cowgirl defender Carson Michalowski thwarted a USC breakaway by kicking the ball away from the attacking player.
However, the Lady Trojans were able to get on the scoreboard just before intermission. Off a free kick near midfield that carried into traffic, Johnson was able to get a foot on the ball and kick it to the far post from 18-yards out for the game's lone goal.
Early in the second half, OSU had a strong opportunity at the equalizer with a three-on-one attacking situation, but Kyndall Treadwell was called for offsides to end the threat.
Olsen, the Lady Trojans' All-American, was able to keep the Cowgirls off the scoreboard with a pair of saves, while OSU keeper AD Franch also notched two saves.
USC outshot the Cowgirls 9-3 in the second half as OSU's attack just could not create chances against the Lady Trojans' defense.
"They have very fast, athletic kids who didn't give us time and space to play like we wanted to," Carmichael said. "The moments that we were able to get time and space, we did quite well. It just wasn't enough. We played well in patches. We had five and 10 minutes here and there, it just wasn't enough."
OSU returns to action Sunday when they host Arkansas State at 1 p.m.
