Instant Impact

By Serg Thomas, OSU Communications

Two Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week awards. The Big 12 leader in goals against average and save percentage as well as being in the top 15 nationally in those categories, respectively. Five complete game shutouts and the starter in three more.

Sounds like a seasoned veteran, right? No, that's Oklahoma State women's soccer freshman goalie Jordan Nytes.

After graduating from Grandview High School in Aurora, Colo., with Gatorade Player of the Year honors, Nytes has lived up to the hype as one of the nation's best young goalkeepers. Following a state title her senior year and 15 shutouts in 20 games, her confidence was at an all-time high heading into college life in Stillwater.

"I think the teams I played with in the past, like my club team, are obviously at a super high level," Nytes said. "I think being able to play with girls who were also committed to DI schools has been helpful, just getting used to playing against that type of physicality and pace and the speed of play."

Since making her debut against Omaha in the season opener and starting every game this season, Nytes has a 0.48 goals against average in 13 games and an .878 save percentage, leading her team to a 9-1-3 record four games into conference play. She's only allowed six goals in 1,115 minutes of action.

OSU head coach Colin Carmichael knew Nytes was going a good player, of course, but even he has been surprised by her stellar play.

"We knew that she was a very talented goalkeeper, we knew she had the ability to make special plays, we saw that in recruitment." Carmichael said. "Early on, we saw flashes of it, we saw it in training, but when she started really getting tested in some of these games then you can see what that kid can do. I think the area where she's further ahead than I would've predicted is her ability to take high balls under pressure."

If there's one thing that Nytes excels at, it's dealing with balls in the air. Nytes routinely can be seen jumping across the box and putting her body in harm's way as she does all that she can do to defend her box. To her, it's one of her best qualities.

"I think it's my ability to command the box and be able to take the balls out of there," Nytes said. "There are moments where if I'm not able to come out and catch the ball out of the air and my defenders aren't able to get there either, it could be an opportunity for the other team to score."

Nytes has taken the Big 12 by storm with her impressive performances, earning back-to-back Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week awards in September. The first of the pair came in week five following six saves in two games and earning a shutout win against nationally ranked Brown. She continued to perform well and earned her second consecutive weekly award after opening conference play with two shutouts against Kansas and Kansas State to lead OSU to a pair of wins.

The Cowgirls are in the midst of an eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2), and they currently sit third in the Big 12 standings midway through conference play.

"I think there was some adversity that we had to overcome at the beginning of the season since there were so many new people trying to get to know each other and be able to work together on the field as well," Nytes said. "I think we've worked through some things, talked through some things, and it's the way we communicate with each other now that is definitely helping to make us better on the field."

Nytes has found a mentor in Cowgirl senior forward Olyvia Dowell, who enjoys the freshman's confidence and her sarcastic sense of humor. When Dowell's not trying to score on her during training, she's thrilled with the fact she has Nytes to protect her goal.

"We knew that she was good coming in, but just to see her be successful and come in prove herself to us, and for us to have so much trust and faith in her," Dowell said. "When there are shots that get off, you can ask anybody on the team, we're all like 'Jordi's there, she's got it, it's no big deal.' I feel like we've lacked that in the past years of full trust in our goalkeepers, not that we've had any bad goalies, but it's just not been this complete trust we have. And I think that with Jordan we definitely have that."

Nytes has already made a lasting impression on Dowell and is not far away from leaving her mark at OSU already in her young career. With former Cowgirl goalkeeper AD Franch succeeding with the U.S. Women's National Team, Carmichael is convinced Nytes could be next to follow in those footsteps.

"She's very special. She's a great goalkeeper and since the level of competition has increased over the last couple weeks, she's good for two or three really good saves a game, and that gives you a chance to win," Carmichael said. "We've had good goalkeepers here, we're really lucky to have so many, but she's up there with the best."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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