Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Chosen As NCAA Soccer Championship Host
November 08, 2010 | Cowgirl Soccer
Nov. 8, 2010
2010 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship Bracket in PDF Format
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State was awarded a No. 3 national seed for the 2010 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship, and Stillwater's Cowgirl Soccer Complex will serve as one 16 tournament host sites for the first time in school history.
The Cowgirls, who are making their fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and sixth overall, will open tourney play Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Michigan. The other two teams in OSU's bracket are Memphis and Oregon State, who will play Friday at 5 p.m. Friday's winners will play a second-round game Sunday at 1 p.m.
"I'm pretty surprised; I wasn't sure that we were gonna get to do that," said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael of OSU being selected as a host. "We're excited. It's a tough bracket... Having said that, we've clamored to be at home for four years so we're not gonna complain too much.
"We definitely expected to be seeded this year. That's three of the last five years we've been seeded so I think it says a lot about where the program is. To be honest, I thought we'd be a No. 2 seed, but we don't make those decisions. Hosting is great, and I think the people and the fans are gonna see some great soccer."
OSU is 17-3-2 on the season and earned an automatic NCAA tourney berth by winning the Big 12 Soccer Championship last week. The Cowgirls are ranked in the top 10 nationally and enter the tournament on a four-match unbeaten streak.
The Cowgirls are 9-0-0 on their home field this season and have won 13-straight matches at home dating back to last season.
"We were nervous, but we knew we had a chance of hosting because we've done so well," said OSU senior midfielder Whitney Wernimont. "When we found out it was Stillwater, we were really excited because fans and family can all come.
"We know we'll have a lot of fans come out, and we're undefeated at home this year so it'll definitely work in our favor. We know our field and getting to sleep in our own beds is great."
OSU is one of 16 national seeds for the third time in school history, joining the 2006 and 2008 Cowgirl squads in earning that distinction. The other seeded teams in the Cowgirls' regional bracket are No. 1 North Carolina, No. 2 Florida and No. 4 Notre Dame.
The Cowgirls have advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship each of the last four seasons, and OSU is 3-2-4 all-time in the NCAA tourney.
OSU led the Big 12 with four first-team all-conference selections this season as junior forwards Krista Lopez and Kyndall Treadwell, junior defender Melinda Mercado and sophomore goalkeeper AD Franch each earned All-Big 12 First Team honors. Mercado was also named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and she teams with Franch and All-Big 12 Second Team defender Carson Michalowski to anchor one of the best defenses in the country.
Defensive play has been key to OSU's success this season. The Cowgirls lead the Big 12 with nine shutouts and a 0.75 goals against average, and they have allowed just 17 goals in 22 games.
Offensively, the Cowgirls rank second in the Big 12 with 46 goals. Ten different Cowgirls have found the back of the net, led by Lopez' 13-goal season. OSU also has 15 different players who have recorded points in 2010.
Oklahoma State Quotes
Head coach Colin Carmichael
On home-field advantage
"We hope it's big. We know it doesn't guarantee anything. We still have to go out and play the game. But playing at home, we feel very comfortable and of course we have all our great fans out there cheering us on."
Sophomore goalkeeper AD Franch
On being chosen to host
"We understand the process and that we might have to leave again, and that's exactly why we were so excited, because it was unexpected to host."
On home-field advantage
"Home-field advantage and your own turf is big. You could be sent out to a really rough field, but here we have a nice stadium that works well for us. And home-field advantage brings confidence to any team."
Senior midfielder Whitney Wernimont
On the program's stature
"We're getting more respect this year. We've proven ourselves each year in consistently making the NCAA Tournament so people are recognizing that we can compete with people around the nation and make a name for our program."
