Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Soccer Releases 2014 Schedule
April 28, 2014 | Cowgirl Soccer
April 28, 2014
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State head coach Colin Carmichael announced the Cowgirls' 2014 schedule today, one that includes matches against five NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago.
The Cowgirls are coming off a season in which they finished 9-7-6 and earned a berth in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship for the seventh time in the last eight years. Ten starters from that team, including All-Big 12 Conference performers Courtney Dike, Allie Stephenson and Natalie Calhoun, will return in 2014.
OSU opens the season Aug. 22 with a Bedlam battle against Oklahoma in a non-conference tilt in Norman. The Cowgirls will then travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on Arkansas, a team that ended OSU's season a year ago in the first round of the NCAA Soccer Championship.
Following its opening weekend, Carmichael's squad will be at home for a pair of showdowns against elite teams as the Cowgirls host Florida State, last season's NCAA runner-up, and Florida.
Other non-conference highlights on the Cowgirls' schedule include matches against Arizona State and Arizona in Tempe, Ariz., and home contests against Memphis, Tulsa and Dayton.
"As was the case with the 2013 schedule, our 2014 schedule will be one of the most challenging in our program's history," Carmichael said. "Non-conference games in Stillwater against Florida and Florida State will be a huge test for our team. We are also hosting a tournament where we will face Memphis and Tulsa, who are both highly rated in the soccer RPI. We have an intriguing rematch of our 2013 NCAA tournament game with Arkansas over in Fayetteville. The games with Arizona and Arizona State will allow us to match up with two teams from the Pac-12, which historically is one of the top conferences for women's soccer. And as always, our non-conference matchup with the Sooners to open the year should be exciting."
OSU will open Big 12 play at home against Iowa State on Sept. 26, and the Cowgirls will also play host to TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma in league action. Carmichael's squad will face two-time defending conference champion West Virginia, as well at Kansas, Texas Tech and Texas, on the road.
"The Big 12 should be very strong this year," Carmichael said. "I think West Virginia and (Texas) Tech will be the teams to beat. However, all of the teams will feel that they have improved from last year, including ourselves. It should be a terrific race for the Big 12 championship."
