Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
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Kansas
Cowgirls Shut Out Kansas, 2-0
October 08, 2010 | Cowgirl Soccer
Oct. 8, 2010
LAWRENCE, Kan. – A pair of second-half goals lifted No. 7 Oklahoma State to its fifth-straight win with a 2-0 triumph over Kansas Friday afternoon at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
Kristen Kelley and Megan Marchesano each recorded goals as OSU improved to 12-1-1 overall and 5-0-0 in Big 12 Conference play. The Cowgirls ran their unbeaten streak to 11 matches, two shy of the school record, and are off to the program's best-ever start in the league.
OSU continued its stout play on the defensive end as the Cowgirls recorded their third shutout in five conference games. Sophomore goalie AD Franch notched her seventh shutout of the year, tying her for the third-highest single-season total in school history.
“You come on the road and it's always tough, and everybody wants a piece of the ranked team,” said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael. “Our kids handled it well. It was more of a workmanlike performance than flashy, but that's what is needed when you travel.
“Our team is pretty experienced and did what they had to do to win the game.”
After playing nearly 66 minutes without a goal, OSU finally broke the scoreless tie. A Kansas defender blocked a shot by Kyndall Treadwell, and the deflection was corralled by Kelley, who blasted a shot off the hand of a diving Kat Liebetrau and into the back of the net to give the Cowgirls a 1-0 advantage.
“(Kelley) stepped up when we needed her,” Carmichael said. “She played awesome, and athletically she was really a dominant force in the midfield. To get the goal was a great reward for her because she's been playing great and stepping up all season.”
The goal was the second of the season for Kelley, while Treadwell was credited with her second assist of the year on the play.
“We really needed a goal to be able to take a deep breath and relax a little because you have a lead and now you can just play safe,” Kelley said. “We know that going on the road and being where we are in the rankings, we're going to get everybody's best shot so we have to battle and work even harder to get wins.”
OSU sealed the victory on Marchesano's goal with just 4:06 remaining in the match. The Cowgirl sophomore beat her defender and then got past Liebetrau, who unsuccessfully came out of the box to try and make a play on the ball. With the open net, Marchesano delivered her fourth goal of the season.
Neither team managed many scoring opportunities in the first half, with OSU outshooting the Jayhawks by a 6-3 margin. Franch recorded saves on two of KU's three shots.
The Cowgirls' best chance in the opening half came with just under seven minutes remaining when Krista Lopez fired a shot from the far side that was saved off the crossbar by Liebetrau.
OSU returns to action Thursday at 7 p.m. when the Cowgirls host Colorado in a game that will be nationally televised by Fox Soccer Channel.
