Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Second-Half Outburst Lifts Cowgirls
November 11, 2011 | Cowgirl Soccer
Nov. 11, 2011
Box Score
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State's offense erupted for seven second-half goals as the Cowgirls opened play in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship with a 9-1 rout of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Friday night at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.
Six different Cowgirls scored as OSU tied a school record with its 20th win. Coach Colin Carmichael's squad is 20-1-2 on the season and advances to the second round of the NCAA tourney for the sixth-straight year, where they will play the Notre Dame-Illinois winner Friday at 5 p.m. in Stillwater.
OSU went into halftime against the Golden Lions leading just 2-1, but the second 45 minutes was a different story as the Cowgirls scored three times in the first 6:35 after intermission and cruised to the win.
"We talked (at halftime) about that we weren't playing with the right intensity and came out with the wrong attitude," Carmichael said. "Arkansas-Pine Bluff came out very, very fired up and played really well in the first half; you have to give them a lot of credit. But we felt like we weren't playing with the right intensity, the right drive and the right focus. We addressed that at halftime, and obviously it got a little bit better in the second half.
"The second half was fantastic, it's what we hoped to do in the first. Pine-Bluff tired a little bit maybe, and it opened up a little more space for our team. We just were sharper, we were quicker and we played with more energy. We know next weekend we'll have to come out and play like we did in the second half."
OSU's nine goals tied for the fifth most in a single game in school history and were the most by a Cowgirl squad since 2006. OSU also racked up 44 shots in the match, which tied for the second-most in a game in program history.
Taylor Mathews led the scoring attack with two goals and three assists as the sophomore tied the single-game school record for assists. Elizabeth DeLozier and Annika Niemeier also had two goals apiece for the Cowgirls.
Mathews assisted on both of OSU's goals in the first half, and after a score by Melinda Mercado put the Cowgirls up 3-1 in the 51st minute, Mathews collected a pair of goals within a 42-second span to help put the game away.
The first goal came at the 51:35 mark when Mathews took a pass from Megan Marchesano and drilled a shot from 15-yards out that deflected off the post and bounced over the line. Less than a minute later, Mathews fired another shot into the back of the net to make the score 5-1.
"In the second half, Taylor ran the show - she played in the center-mid and got on the ball and made things happen for us," Carmichael said. "That's what Taylor can do when she's on her game. She's a very creative player who can score goals and set up goals."
Post-Game Quotes
Oklahoma State midfielder Elizabeth DeLozier
On the difference in the second half
"We starting getting on the end of every pass and were really consistent in the final third. In the first half, we learned our lesson and not repeating that in the second half. We came out and credit to girls stepping up and taking control of that."
Oklahoma State defender Melinda Mercado
On Carmichael's halftime talk
"It was definitely a different halftime speech than we're used to. Obviously, the scoreboard tells we did respond very well. We tried to implement all the things (Carmichael) told us we needed to do better, and it really showed on the scoreboard. We scored some goals and finished our opportunities."
Arkansas-Pine Bluff head coach Roberto Mazza
On the game
"We did well in the first half. I thought we gave them a bit of a scare, but as the game went on - they're a deep team, they're a good team - they put us in a lot of pressure and they were able to execute four goals in the first 12 minutes (of the second half). I think they blew open the lead there. They made it difficult for us. They're a very good team. I thought we had a very good season this year, and it was deservable that we were here."
On Oklahoma State's run to open the second half
"They just came out, and we were flat-footed. If you give a team like OSU chances in space, they're going to bury them. They came out and did the right things and we didn't, and they were able to capitalize. Good teams are going to do that."
Arkansas-Pine Bluff forward Silvia Fuentes
On her last game:
"I feel like there's lots of emotions because it's our last college game. I honestly feel like it shouldn't have been 9-1. It shouldn't have been that way, but it's just the game. Soccer - you win, you lose, you score. It's OK. It's our last game, but I feel we did accomplish what we wanted, so we go home satisfied."
Arkansas-Pine Bluff forward Nicole Parks-Powell
On how she feels after the game
"It sucks going out in our last game like this, but at the same time, I don't think I would have wanted to go out with any different group of girls. I think the thing for me, and a lot of us feel like we left it all out on the field, and that was one thing we wanted to accomplish: make sure you can say 'I gave everything today.'"
