Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
UAB
Cowgirls Drop UAB, 4-1
August 21, 2011 | Cowgirl Soccer
Aug. 21, 2011
Box Score
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State recorded goals from four different players Sunday and cruised to a 4-1 win over UAB at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.
The seventh-ranked Cowgirls scored twice in each half to improve to 2-0-0 on the season heading into Friday's showdown against Bedlam-rival Oklahoma in Stillwater.
As they did in Friday's season opener against TCU, the Cowgirls dominated the offensive statistics, outshooting the Blazers by a 25-5 margin, and OSU head coach Colin Carmichael was pleased with his squad's improved ability to take advantage of those shots.
"Obviously one of our focuses was putting away more chances than we did on Friday so we did well there," Carmichael said.
OSU took an early 1-0 lead at the 23:30 mark as Taylor Mathews and Melinda Mercado connected on a perfectly executed corner kick, with Mathews serving the ball into the box and Mercado heading a shot into the back of the net.
Just over four minutes later, UAB (0-2-0) nearly recorded the equalizer, but a long shot from Megan Collins was tipped off the crossbar by a leaping AD Franch to keep the Blazers off the scoreboard.
Mathews would also help set up OSU's second goal of the opening half, which came with less than two minutes remaining before intermission. The Cowgirl sophomore sent a long pass down the sideline to Sarah Brown, who sent a cross through the box. UAB goalie Katie Getzinger dove and barely deflected Brown's pass, but Kendra Boydstun was there for the deflection and the open-net goal.
The goal was the first in the career of Boydstun, a freshman from Durant, Okla.
"It was an adrenaline rush," Boydstun said. "I was just trying to cover the backside when (Brown) was taking it to the corner, and she played a really good ball and I just finished it. It felt really good."
In the second half, OSU pushed its lead to 3-0 in the 68th minute when Mathews converted a penalty kick following a UAB foul in the box.
UAB would connect on its lone goal in the 81st minute when Pascale Pinard blasted a shot from 40-yards out that glanced off the bottom of the crossbar and over the line to make the score 3-1.
The Cowgirls tallied their final score with just over four minutes remaining when a second true freshman found the back of the net. This time it was Abbey Akin weaving through the defense and delivering a shot from 20-yards out past UAB goalie C.J. Winship.
The play of Boydstun and Akin, along with fellow freshmen Hayley McKinney, Ashley Kennedy and Rosa Medina, was one of Sunday's biggest positives, said Carmichael.
"The more they play like that, the more confidence we'll have in them," Carmichael said. "It just builds our depth. If those kids continue to play at that level, it will help us."
Up next, OSU will battle the rival Sooners Friday at 7 p.m. at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.
