Cowgirls Conclude Non-Conference Play This Week
October 06, 2015 | Cowgirl Soccer
Oklahoma State (5-6-2)
vs. Drake (5-7-0)
Wed., Oct. 7 • 7 p.m. • Stillwater, Okla.
Cowgirl Soccer Complex (1,450)
vs. Oral Roberts (5-5-2)
Fri., Oct. 9 • 7 p.m. • Stillwater, Okla.
Cowgirl Soccer Complex (1,450)
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State is 5-6-2 on the season and oncludes a four-match homestand this week with its final non-conference matches of the regular season at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex. The Cowgirls face Drake in a rare midweek contest Wednesday at 7 p.m. before a Friday night battle against in-state foe Oral Roberts, also scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
OSU is coming off a 2014 season in which it earned a spot in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship for the second-straight season. The Cowgirls compiled a 10-10-1 overall record, which included a 5-2-1 mark and second-place finish in the Big 12 standings.
The Cowgirls return 10 starters and 17 letterwinners from 2014, including four All-Big 12 performers in forwards Courtney Dike and Madison Mercado, midfielder Allie Stephenson and defender Natalie Calhoun.
The 2015 season marks the 20th in the history of the OSU women's soccer program. Over their first 19 seasons, the Cowgirls compiled a 229-132-42 (.620) record, and head coach Colin Carmichael entered his 11th season at the helm with a 146-52-29 mark. The Cowgirls have earned a berth in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship in seven of the last eight years and have claimed Big 12 titles in four of the last seven seasons.
About The Opponents
Drake is 5-7-0 on the season and has won its last two matches. Midfielders Rebecca Rogers and Alyssa Brand lead the Bulldogs with five goals apiece. Wednesday's match will mark the first-ever meeting between OSU and Drake on the pitch.
Oral Roberts 5-5-2 on the season, which includes a 1-3-1 record on the road. The Golden Eagles are led by forwards Kayla Keller (four goals, three assists) and Brittney Lawrence (five goals). OSU is 10-2-0 all time against ORU and has won the last eight meetings. The two teams last faced off in 2011 in Stillwater with the Cowgirls claiming a 1-0 victory.
On The Air & The Web
Fans wishing to follow this week's matches can do so in a variety of ways. Both matches will stream free online on YouTube, with the link available at www.okstate.com/live, and live stats will be also available at www.okstate.com (link is available under the Schedule tab on the Cowgirl soccer page). Radio calls also air online and on Stillwater Radio KGFY 105.5 FM, with Bill Van Ness calling the action.
Winning Is A Habit
The 2015 season marks the 20th in the OSU program's history. During the second decade, the Cowgirls have reached unprecedented heights.
• OSU has earned a berth in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship eight of the last nine years (beginning in 2006).
• From 2006-11, the Cowgirls earned six-straight NCAA tourney bids and advanced to at least the second round each time, including back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in 2010 and 2011.
• From 2008-11, OSU celebrated four consecutive Big 12 championships — two regular season (2008, '11) and two tournament ('09, '10).
• In 2011, OSU set a school record with 22 wins. The Cowgirls finished the '11 regular season 17-0-2, joining the 1996 Nebraska team as the only Big 12 Conference teams in history to go unbeaten during the regular season. OSU was 6-0-2 in conference play to claim its second regular-season Big 12 title and in doing so became the first Big 12 team since Texas A&M in 2002 to complete the league schedule without a loss.
Home Sweet Home
The Cowgirls are 3-1-2 on their home field in 2015. OSU is 67-10-9 (.831) at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex since 2008 and is 125-34-16 (.760) all time on its current home turf.
Milestone For Carmichael
Oklahoma State head coach Colin Carmichael recorded career win No. 150 on Sept. 18 against Arizona State. Now in his 11th season as the Cowgirls' head coach, Carmichael has been on the OSU coaching staff since the program's inception in 1996.
Road Weary & Ready To Stay A While
Oklahoma State has played only once on its home field since Aug. 30 — seven road matches, one home — but the Cowgirls will be at home for six of their final eight regular season contests.
The Going Gets Tough
In 2014, OSU's schedule ranked as the second toughest in the NCAA, which helped the Cowgirls finish 34th in the RPI, and the Big 12 ranked as the second-highest RPI conference in the nation a year ago.
Things won't be any easier in 2015 as OSU will face a dozen teams that made the NCAA Soccer Championship last season, including seven in non-conference play. Of the Cowgirls' 18 opponents, four are currently ranked in the national polls — West Virginia (3), Florida (12), Texas Tech (13) and Washington State (17) — and OSU is 1-2-1 against ranked foes on the year.