Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Soccer Opens Practice
August 03, 2011 | Cowgirl Soccer
Aug. 3, 2011
STILLWATER, Okla. – Three-time defending Big 12 Conference champion Oklahoma State opened preseason practice Wednesday, with 33 players reporting to head coach Colin Carmichael's squad.
OSU will practice several times daily prior to a preseason exhibition contest at SMU on Aug. 13. The Cowgirls open the regular season Aug. 19 when they host TCU.
“We're excited to be back and eager to prepare for the start of the season and to build on what we did last year,” said Carmichael, who is entering his seventh season as head coach. “We've got a strong group of returning players who know what we expect and have high goals they want to achieve. We've set the bar pretty high the last couple of years, and now the goal is to continue to climb even higher.”
OSU is coming off the best season in program history as the Cowgirls went 20-4-2 in 2010 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. They also won a third-straight conference championship by claiming the Big 12 tourney title.
Optimism is high for another successful season in 2011 as the Cowgirls return 10 starters, including six All-Big 12 Conference performers. All-Americans Melinda Mercado and AD Franch return to anchor one of the nation's top defenses, while OSU also returns five of its top six goal scorers from a year ago, led by senior Krista Lopez and her 19 career goals.
