Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
TCU
Cowgirls Open Season With 1-0 Win
August 19, 2011 | Cowgirl Soccer
Aug. 19, 2011
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State opened the 2011 season with a 1-0 win over TCU in front of a near capacity crowd Friday night at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.
Kristen Kelley recorded the lone goal of the match, and AD Franch tied a school record with her 21st career shutout as the No. 7 Cowgirls sent most of the crowd of 1,407 fans home happy.
“There was a lot of good,” said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael, who earned his 95th career win. “TCU is a good team, and we knew they wouldn't come in here and lie down. They've got good players, and they're well coached so we knew it wouldn't be easy. We felt like we created enough chances to put the game away, especially in the first half. But in the second half they came out and played harder, and they made it a game in the second half.
“There's a lot of positives, and early in the season we just look to get better every week and hopefully keep winning.”
OSU kept the Horned Frog defense on their heels in the opening half, outshooting TCU by an 11-3 margin. The Cowgirls had a pair of solid scoring chances early, but Alicen Wright made a diving save on a header by Carson Michalowski in the fifth minute before snagging a blast by Kyndall Treadwell just over 12 minutes in.
But the Cowgirls would convert their next attempt. Megan Marchesano made a great run and sent the ball through the box, where Kelley took the pass and sent a shot to the far post for a goal.
“We talked about getting down the line and serving the right ball in, and we finally did it,” Carmichael said. “Kristen made a great run in the box and buried it.”
TCU's best scoring chance in the opening half came with just over two minutes remaining before intermission when Tori Hale delivered a shot that sailed just inches over the crossbar.
The Horned Frogs came out much more aggressive offensively in the second half, and nearly scored just over five minutes in. But Franch made a leaping save of a shot by Brittany Slyman, tipping the ball over the crossbar to keep the shutout intact.
Franch, a junior All-American, finished the match with five saves and tied former Cowgirl star Erin Stigler on OSU's career shutouts list.
“Cool, I didn't know that,” Franch said. “It's always exciting to continue to break new records. We all try to do that as a team so that's good; it's another one under our belt.”
OSU missed numerous prime opportunities to put the game away down the stretch, sending several shots just wide of the goal and having Wright record several more saves to finish with 10 on the night.
The Cowgirls return to action Sunday at 1 p.m. against UAB, who opened the season with a 5-0 loss at Oklahoma.
