Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Texas A&M
Cowgirls Fall In Tourney Final
November 06, 2011 | Cowgirl Soccer
Nov. 6, 2011
Box Score
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Oklahoma State's quest for a third-straight title at the Big 12 Soccer Championship came up short Sunday at Blossom Soccer Stadium as No. 2 Oklahoma State suffered its first loss of the season in the tourney's championship game, falling 1-0 to Texas A&M.
Megan Majewski's goal with nine seconds left in regulation was the difference as OSU had its school record 21-game unbeaten streak snapped and fell to 19-1-2 on the season.
With the seconds ticking down towards overtime, Kelley Monogue beat a pair of OSU defenders and drilled a shot that caromed off the crossbar. Majewski raced to the rebound and sent a shot from 12-yards out to the far post past a diving AD Franch for the game-winning score.
“It went down to the wire, and (Texas A&M) found a way to score,” said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael, whose team suffered its first loss at the Big 12 tourney since the 2006 semifinals. “We've been on the winning end of that quite a lot with some late-game wins. It really hurts when you're on the opposite side of it.
“It was two great teams. It was very, very close, and it was always going to be decided in a very tight manner. We feel a little bit of grief in the way it happened, but a credit to A&M's kids, they kept fighting until the end.”
TAMU held a slim 13-12 edge in shots during the match, with the Cowgirls recording four saves and the Aggies three. The goal marked just the sixth OSU has allowed in 22 games this season and snapped a string of five-straight shutouts by the Cowgirls.
The opening half came to an end with neither team managing much in the way of scoring opportunities. The Aggies held a slight 5-3 advantage in shots with both teams committing 10 fouls.
TAMU had the strongest chance with just over five minutes remaining in the first half when Annie Kunz drilled a shot from 19-yards out. But Franch made a diving save to keep the Aggies off the scoreboard.
Early in the second half, TAMU just missed once again. This time it was Merritt Mathias who found an opening and sent a 15-yard shot just wide of the near post.
The Cowgirls would record a shot on goal with just under 20 minutes remaining when Megan Marchesano got in deep and drove a low shot that Jordan Day dove to stop.
With 12 ½ minutes left, Marchesano set up a scoring opportunity, this one for Annika Niemeier, but Niemeier's shot from 12-yards out sailed wide.
Less than two minutes later, it was another near miss for OSU. Day left her line in pursuit of a loose ball, but Elizabeth DeLozier won possession on the end line. She sent a ball into the box where a mad scramble ensued, but the Cowgirls were not able to get off a shot as the TAMU defense came up big.
Niemeier would have another opportunity at the 87:06 mark when she blasted a shot from just inside the 18-yard box that was blocked by TAMU defender Meghan Streight.
Five Cowgirls were named to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team. Franch led the way as she was named the tourney's Defensive MVP. Joining her on the all-tourney team were defenders Carson Michalowski and Melinda Mercado and forwards Megan Marchesano and Krista Lopez.
OSU will now turn its eyes to Monday's NCAA Women's Soccer Championship Selection Show to find out its NCAA tourney fate. The show will air on www.ncaa.com at 3:30 p.m.
“We'll put this one behind us,” Carmichael said. “We'll hurt tonight, we'll be upset, and then we'll wake up tomorrow, get excited for the NCAA Tournament bracket and get ready to move on to the next tournament. We'll just have to get our kids focused and ready for Friday.”
