Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Awarded NCAA Tourney Bid
November 10, 2014 | Cowgirl Soccer
2014 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship Bracket 
INDIANAPOLIS - Oklahoma State was awarded an at-large bid to the 2014 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship and will host Arizona Friday at 2 p.m. at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex, it was announced by the NCAA today.
OSU will be making its second-straight NCAA tourney appearance and the eighth in the last 10 years. The NCAA berth marks the ninth in program history, with the first coming in 2003; OSU made six-straight trips from 2006-11.
Coach Colin Carmichael's squad is 10-9-1 on the season. After opening the year 0-6, OSU went 10-3-1 the rest of the way, along the way finishing second in the Big 12 Conference standings with a 5-2-1 league mark.
Arizona earned an NCAA at-large berth on the strength of an 10-7-2 record. Friday's game will mark the second time this season OSU and Arizona have squared off on the pitch. The two battled at the Sun Devil Desert Classic in Tempe, Ariz., on Sept. 7; the Cowgirls held a 1-0 second-half lead in that match until the Wildcats scored three goals in the final seven minutes to win, 3-1.
"After our start to the season getting into the NCAA tournament with this group is a nice achievement, and I'm really proud of it," Carmichael said. "However, last time we got in and hosted, it didn't go so well. Our big focus this year will be not to make that mistake again and not to let that opportunity slip away.
"We're playing against a very good Arizona team we've already seen once this season. We've got a few different kids back on the field that we didn't have that first time, and hopefully that will give us a little bit of a boost. It will be a tough game but playing at home is exciting for us always, and it's another great opportunity for us to make a run in the NCAA tournament."
OSU is 9-5-4 all time in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship, with the .611 winning percentage tied for 10th all time in NCAA tourney history among teams that have played at least 15 games. The Cowgirls have advanced to at least the second round six times, including back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in 2010 and 2011.
Friday's match will mark the ninth NCAA Soccer Championship contest OSU has played at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex. OSU previously hosted NCAA action in 2010, 2011 and 2013 and was 6-2-0 in those games.
Cowgirl Coach/Player Quotes on OSU's NCAA Championship selection
OSU head coach Colin Carmichael
On having a team with more NCAA tournament experience than last season
"Last year, we were very disappointed, especially losing at home. It's something that now we get a chance to rectify and do right. We were also very disappointed after our loss to Baylor (last week at the Big 12 Championship). This group is still relatively young with a lot of freshmen and sophomores playing high minutes, but most of them got a taste of (the NCAA tournament) last year and they want more. So I would expect we're going to have a very determined, focused, motivated bunch on Friday looking to do better than we did last year."
OSU junior midfielder Allie Stephenson
On being back in the NCAA tournament
"I think we got a really good draw. We're really lucky to be hosting, and hopefully this year we can have a better run at it than we did last year. We've been working really hard. We previously played Arizona, but we didn't have a lot of people and we're progressing as the season comes along so I think we'll have a really good shot at it."
On rebounding from first-round loss in Big 12 tournament
"We were really disappointed last week losing to Baylor, but I think if we get a really good week of practice that we'll bounce back."
On playing in cold weather
"It will be difficult for both teams, but we're a little more used to it than Arizona. We'll be practicing in it all week so hopefully we can get used to the weather. I really don't like the cold. My muscles get cramped up."
On having a home crowd
"Friday night games we tend to have more people and hopefully since it's NCAAs, people will still come out at 2:00."
On losing in the NCAA first round last season
"It was a big wake-up call and a good learning lesson, and I think we'll come out a lot more prepared on Friday."
OSU junior forward Madison Mercado
On the excitement of being back in the NCAA tournament
"We're very excited, ready to get focused, ready to start working and to win the game Friday."
On Arizona
"I wasn't there when we played them so I have no idea about this team - I'm just going off everything my team is saying. We were missing a couple of attacking players so I think we'll play them a lot different. We had to change our system and personnel because we had some injured players so I think it will be a completely new game."
On playing in cold weather
"My feet get pretty cold. But it's almost to our advantage because (Arizona) is not used to the cold. We have our hot days and our cold days, and we know how to play in them so I think it will work to our advantage."
