Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma
Cowgirls Win Big 12 Championship
November 07, 2010 | Cowgirl Soccer
Nov. 7, 2010
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SAN ANTONIO - Oklahoma State claimed its third consecutive Big 12 Conference championship by defeating rival Oklahoma in a penalty kick shootout Sunday in the 2010 Big 12 Soccer Championship final at Blossom Soccer Stadium.
After regulation and two overtimes ended with the score tied at 1-1, 10th-ranked OSU claimed the title by winning the penalty kick shootout, 5-4. Cowgirl goalie AD Franch made a save on Jordan White's attempt, and Krista Lopez converted OSU's fifth and final kick to give the Cowgirls the tourney title.
OSU has now won back-to-back Big 12 Soccer Championship titles after winning the conference's regular season crown in 2008.
"We've won a league championship three years in a row, and hopefully that establishes us as one of the elite teams in the country," said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael. "I think a few years ago, we were just clawing our way up to the top, and now that we're there, we want to stay there. Winning three Big 12's and getting to the NCAA Tournament five years in a row has to hopefully convince people that we're for real, and we're here to stay.
"You figured today was going to be a really tight game having playing each other twice already and the kids and coaches being familiar with each other. I'm just really happy we found a way to win it in the shootout."
OSU (17-3-2) emerged the victor in the shootout thanks to Franch's efforts and those of the five Cowgirls who converted their penalty kicks - Whitney Wernimont, Carson Michalowski, Elizabeth DeLozier, Allyson Leggett and Lopez.
Both teams opened the shootout by nailing their first two kicks, but OU's third attempt, Franch dove to her right and knocked White's shot away.
OU (12-7-3) converted its next two tries as did the Cowgirls, leaving Lopez needing to make her attempt to bring the trophy back to Stillwater - and that's exactly what the junior did.
"When I was walking up, I was just thinking it's another game-winning goal; a lot of my goals were game winners so I was thinking it was just another one of those," Lopez said. "I knew `I can win this game.' It's really no pressure because we've practiced them, and I just imagined me and my teammates practicing our PKs with no one around.
"It's an amazing feeling. We've won the Big 12 the last two years but to do it over and over again, it just keeps getting better."
Franch tied a career high with eight saves in the match and was one of four Cowgirls named to the All-Tournament Team, joining Lopez, Melinda Mercado and Kristen Kelly on that list. Mercado, a junior defender was also named the tourney's defensive MVP for the second-straight year.
"That's what you expect your All-American goalkeeper to do," Carmichael said of Franch. "We probably take her for granted a lot during the year because we have a really good back line, and she doesn't have to do as much sometimes. But a game like that is where she earns her keep.
"I'm really proud of her and very, very happy we've got her for two more years. She's a great player."
OU took an early lead just 1:38 into the match. Caitlin Mooney tracked down a long pass at the endline and sent a cross through the box where Annalisa Hall was there to deliver her third goal of the season.
The Sooners nearly doubled their lead in the 23rd minute, but Franch made a diving save of a left-footed blast by Mooney to keep the score at 1-0.
OSU's best opportunity for the equalizer came on a pair of shots off a corner kick in the 29th minute. After Mercado's header was saved, Katie Richardson had a chance for a putback but was also denied as an OU defender saved the ball off the line.
The Cowgirls also missed out on scores late in the half when shots by Taylor Mathews and Elizabeth DeLozier sailed over the crossbar.
OSU converted what appeared to be its first goal with 4:32 remaining until intermission, but the Cowgirls were whistled for offside to erase DeLozier's score off a corner kick.
The Sooners would take the 1-0 lead into halftime, despite OSU outshooting its rival by a 10-4 margin and owning a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.
OSU's opportunities finally resulted in the equalizer with just over 20 minutes remaining in the match.
After OU defender Kathryn Watson failed to clear the ball, goalie Kelsey Devonshire was left out of position. Kyndall Treadwell was there for the Cowgirls and converted the open net opportunity from 15-yards out for her fourth goal of the season and second of the tourney.
Franch would come up big once again for the Cowgirls in the 79th minute to keep OU from regaining the lead as she made a diving save on a shot by Dria Hampton.
A shot from six-yards out by Treadwell that sailed wide in the 87th minute provided OSU's final best chance at a second goal in regulation.
With five minutes remaining in the first overtime, it looked as if OSU would notch the game winner. Lopez sent a cross on the ground just in front of the goal line with a pair of Cowgirls in the area, but neither Mathews nor Katie Richardson was able to get a foot on the ball.
OU had the best scoring chance in the second overtime, with Franch making yet another diving save on a shot by Mooney to keep the Sooners off the board.
"AD is basically our savior," Lopez said. "Everybody doesn't realize how big of a role goalkeepers play in winning games. She really made some great saves, and those pump us up and give us confidence. She was really big in helping us get this win."
The Cowgirls will learn their NCAA Soccer Championship status Monday when the 64-team tourney field is announced between 3:30-4 p.m. on ESPNU.
