Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Baylor
Cowgirls Top Baylor, 1-0
October 21, 2011 | Cowgirl Soccer
Oct. 21, 2011
WACO, Texas – Oklahoma State got an early goal from Kristen Kelley and held on for a 1-0 win over Baylor Friday night at Betty Lou Mays Field.
The win extended the No. 2 Cowgirls' unbeaten streak to 17 games as they improved to 16-0-1 on the season and took over sole possession of first place in the Big 12 Conference standings at 5-0-1 heading into Sunday's showdown at Texas A&M. With a win in College Station, OSU would clinch the conference's regular season title.
“It was a hard-fought game; Baylor's style of play is very in-your-face, up-and-at-them, and I thought we handled it really well,” OSU head coach Colin Carmichael said. “I was a little bit disappointed we didn't get the ball down and play a little bit more but having said that, (Baylor) made it difficult to do that.
“I felt we deserved to win. We hit the crossbar three other times besides the goal so you'd like to think one of those might go in. But Baylor played a tough game. They're strong and athletic and good on set plays. Our kids did a great job defending the set plays, and we stepped up and got the goal we needed. I'm just happy to win on the road.”
OSU took the early lead when Kelley delivered her second goal of the season just 4:02 into the match. Kelley intercepted a BU defender attempting to clear the ball and blasted a shot from 20-yards out that glanced off the crossbar and into the back of the net.
With 23 minutes remaining in the opening half, the Cowgirl defense came up big when Carson Michalowski intercepted a cross just in front of the goal. The pass could have resulted in a prime scoring attempt had the junior not booted it away before it reached the oncoming BU attacker.
OSU nearly added a second goal in the 24th minute, but Miriam Rhinehart's blast from 25-yards out drilled the crossbar. Megan Marchesano collected the rebound, but her header was saved by BU goalie Courtney Seelhorst.
In a match of few opportunities, OSU had another with just over 13 minutes remaining. But the Cowgirls' string of near misses continued as Taylor Mathews delivered yet another shot that caromed off the crossbar and bounced away.
Mathews had another chance in the 84th minute, this time on a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box. But Seelhorst made a leaping save to knock the ball over the crossbar and deny OSU's elusive second goal.
The late chances continued for the Cowgirls, but this time Sarah Brown's eight-yard shot with 5:17 left sailed high.
OSU held a slim 9-7 lead in shots in the contest, and Cowgirl junior goalie AD Franch recorded four saves to notch her sixth shutout of the season. The Cowgirls have now recorded 12 shutouts on the year, a total tied for the second most in school history and two shy of the record.
The win sets up a huge showdown between the top two teams in the Big 12 standings Sunday at 3 p.m. The match between OSU and TAMU will air live on ESPNU.
“A great atmosphere, two great teams, and we have a chance, if go down there and win – something we've never done – to clinch the conference championship so we're highly motivated and the girls are fired up to do it,” Carmichael said. “A&M has a chance to win it, too. It's not all or nothing because we each have another game left, but certainly the stakes are high and we're excited for the game.”
