Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Texas Tech
Cowgirls Open Tourney With Win
November 03, 2010 | Cowgirl Soccer
Nov. 3, 2010
SAN ANTONIO - Oklahoma State advanced to the semifinals of the Big 12 Soccer Championship for the fifth consecutive year as the 10th-ranked Cowgirls knocked off Texas Tech, 3-1, in opening round action Wednesday night at Blossom Soccer Stadium.
With the win, the second-seeded Cowgirls improved to 16-3-1 and advance to Friday's semifinal round, where they will battle No. 3-seed Nebraska at 8 p.m.
"The first half was pretty competitive, and both teams had some moments," said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael. "In the second half, we got the ball down for about 20 minutes and stretched the game like we wanted to and created some good chances. In the second half, we played our game, and our ability to put chances away in the final third was the difference."
OSU got on the scoreboard early when Elizabeth DeLozier delivered her first goal of the season in the eighth minute. DeLozier blasted a left-footed shot from 35-yards out that got past TTU goalie Colleen Pitts.
With the score, DeLozier became the 10th different Cowgirl to record a goal this season, and the 15th different OSU player to collect a point. It was also just the second goal of DeLozier's career and her first since her freshman season in 2008.
"I just had some space and looked up and cracked one, and it went in," said DeLozier. "I think to get that early goal really boosted our morale, and we maintained that and got the win.
"I was just talking about it the other day that I hadn't scored since the Baylor game my freshman year so the timing was pretty cool."
OSU controlled both sides of the field in the opening half, outshooting the Red Raiders by a 7-2 margin, but TTU's Jessica Fuston created a scoring chance early in the second half.
However, Cowgirl goalie AD Franch rose to the occasion as she raced out and made a diving save on Fuston's shot from 12-yards out to secure OSU's lead.
"That was huge," Carmichael said. "They created a really good opportunity, but that's what you expect AD to do. We have confidence that if a team creates chances she's going to make the save, and that's what she did at a very important time."
OSU would add to its lead in the 64th minute when Catherine Parish and Kristen Kelley connected for a score. Parish sent a long cross towards the box, and Kelley made a move around her defender and headed a shot from eight-yards out to the far post to give the Cowgirls a 2-0 advantage.
Kelley's goal was the freshman's third of the season, while Parish notched her first-career assist on the play.
The Cowgirls weren't done as just under 10 minutes later they added their third score of the night.
This time it was Megan Marchesano on the receiving end of a pass from Krista Lopez, with Marchesano sending the ball into the back of the net for her seventh goal of the year.
TTU (11-8-1) tallied its lone goal with 4 ½ minutes remaining in the match when Jessica Fuston headed in a corner kick from Sarah Ellison.
