Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
North Texas
Cowgirls Win In Dramatic Fashion
September 22, 2013 | Cowgirl Soccer
Sept. 22, 2013
DENTON, Texas – Krissi Killion's golden goal in the first overtime period lifted Oklahoma State to a 2-1 win over North Texas Sunday night at Mean Green Soccer Stadium.
Down to 10 players for the final 15 minutes of the match in a game marred by 52 fouls, nine yellow cards and three red cards, the Cowgirls persevered to improve to 4-2-3 on the season.
“I'm really proud of the girls because we told them they needed to show a lot more fight, a lot more passion, a lot more desire and competitiveness, and we certainly did that tonight – and we had to because North Texas is a very good and physical team,” said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael. “I was really proud of them, and hopefully we turned a corner and keep moving forward… It was a really good win for us.”
After 90 minutes, regulation ended with the two teams tied 1-1. But it wouldn't take long for the Cowgirls to change that and head home happy.
Just 3:01 into the first overtime, Allie Stephenson delivered a pass to Killion, who blasted a shot from 22-yards out to the upper far post to set off an OSU celebration. The goal was Killion's second of the season and the first game-winner of the freshman's career.
“We really came together as a team tonight and showed a lot of character and heart to come out with a win,” Killion said. “It's exciting to win a game like that, and it was awesome to be a part of it. Allie made a great pass on my goal, and I was glad I was able to finish.”
Stephenson also contributed OSU's first score as the Cowgirls took the game's initial lead in the 41st minute when Courtney Dike and Stephenson hooked up for a goal. Dike sent a short pass to Stephenson, who made a move around her defender and drilled left-footed shot from 16-yards out into the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season.
Stephenson's goal snapped a UNT streak of over 422 minutes without allowing a goal, a stretch that spanned more than four games dating back to Sept. 1 against Virginia Tech.
OSU held the 1-0 lead until the 66th minute when UNT's leading scorer, Rachel Holden, provided the equalizer with her 10th goal of the season.
UNT (6-3-0) nearly took the lead just 60 seconds later, but Michela Ongaro made a great save on a header from inside the six-yard box by Amber Haggerty.
Next it was the Cowgirls with a near miss as Dike lined a shot just wide of the far post.
Neither team could convert its other opportunities during the remainder of regulation as the game went into overtime, with OSU owning a 15-10 advantage in shots.
In a game in which OSU started four freshmen, Killion wasn't the only rookie who came up big. In her first-ever start in goal, Ongaro picked up the win as the Cowgirls' freshman goalie recorded five saves on 10 UNT shots.
“(Ongaro) stepped into her first collegiate game and did great,” Carmichael said. “She was a commanding presence, she dealt with their high balls pretty easily and made one great save for us.”
OSU returns to action Friday night when it opens Big 12 Conference play against West Virginia at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.
