Cowgirl Soccer Victorious In First Round Of NCAA Championship

Friday, November 15

Stillwater, OK

7:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

16-2-3

South Dakota State

15-5-2

South Dakota State

Oklahoma State

Cowgirl Soccer Victorious In First Round Of NCAA Championship

November 15, 2019 | Cowgirl Soccer

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)
Photo Gallery
Postgame interviews

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State opened play in the 2019 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship with a 1-0 win over South Dakota State at Neal Patterson Stadium.

The 13^th-ranked Cowgirls, who are a No. 3 national seed in the NCAA tourney, improved to 16-2-3 with the win and advance to face the California-Santa Clara in next week's second round.

Claire Gantzer netted the match's lone goal in the 69^th minute, while Dani Greenlee posted her sixth shutout as OSU improved to 10-0-1 at home this season.

South Dakota State, the Summit League champion who came into the game having allowed just eight goals while posting 15 shutouts on the season, finished the year 15-5-2.

The Jackrabbits limited OSU's offensive chances throughout the night despite the Cowgirls owning a 16-10 advantage in shots, with six of those attempts on goal.

OSU nearly took an early lead when Jaci Jones fired a shot inches over the crossbar in the 10^th minute before Gabriella Coleman delivered a chance that deflected off the crossbar less than two minutes later.

The Cowgirls would finish the first half with a slight 9-8 advantage in shots, but neither team was able to find the back of the net.

That changed in the 69^th minute when Olyvia Dowell sent a cross through the box that a charging Gantzer was able to blast to the far post from 12-yards out. Dowell recorded her eighth assist of the season on the play, while Gantzer's goal was her second of the year.

Battling for the equalizer, the Jackrabbits nearly got it in the 80^th minute on a shot by Rachel Preston, but Camy Huddleston came up with a clutch defensive play as she saved the ball off the line to preserve the 1-0 lead.