Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Texas
Cowgirls Tie Texas
October 18, 2013 | Cowgirl Soccer
Oct. 18, 2013
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State earned yet another tie on a cold, rainy Friday night as the Cowgirls battled 25th-ranked Texas to a 1-1 draw at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.
With its second-straight tie, OSU is now 5-3-6 overall and 1-1-3 in Big 12 Conference play. The Cowgirls' six ties is a school record and is three shy of the NCAA single-season record of nine set by William & Mary in 2005.
“It's frustrating, and we don't have an answer as to why — we don't go out with the intention of playing for a tie,” said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael. “We certainly were trying to go for it late in the game and into overtime with the three forwards we had on the field.
“The good news is we're very difficult to beat. We have a very strong mentality when it comes to fighting in close games. But the next step is we have to figure out how to win these close games. It's something we'll continue to address, and hopefully it'll kick in soon.”
OSU held a lead throughout much of the second half as in the 52nd minute, freshman Courtney Dike recorded her team-leading ninth goal of the season off an assist from Krissi Killion.
The 1-0 advantage lasted until the 85:31 mark when UT's Kelsey Shimmick delivered a long cross into the box that Lindsey Meyer deposited into the back of the net to knot the score.
Texas (10-4-2, 4-1-1) owned a 16-10 shot advantage in the match, but the Cowgirls had three shots in the overtime periods. In the second overtime, Kristen Kelley and Dike barely missed connecting on a golden goal, while Allie Stephenson had a head-on shot from 15 yards out that was saved by UT goalie Abby Smith.
Smith finished with two saves in the match, while OSU keeper Michela Ongaro recorded a career-high seven.
Opportunities were scarce in the opening half, with UT outshooting the Cowgirls by a 6-3 margin. Three of the Longhorns' shots were on goal but each was saved by Ongaro; the visitors also had a shot hit the crossbar on a Sharis Lachappelle free kick from 30-yards out.
OSU's best scoring chance in the first half came on a late shot by Haley Maurice, but the attempt was easily saved by Smith.
“We didn't play very well in the first half, and our shape was a little bit off so we made an adjustment tactically in the second half with a three front,” Carmichael said. “More than anything, it was our lack of effort in the first half as opposed to our effort in the second half and overtime where I felt our effort was tremendous. We competed very well and certainly had enough chances to where we felt like we could have won the game.”
OSU returns to action Sunday with its final non-conference match of the regular season when the Cowgirls host Missouri State at 1 p.m.
