Cowgirls Win Thriller In Memphis

Oklahoma State scored the game-winning goal with just over five minutes remaining against No. 24 Memphis as the No. 3 Cowgirls emerged with a 3-2 victory on Sunday night at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.

The match was delayed for 2 ½ hours because of heavy rain and lightning in the area but those who stuck around to watch where in for an exciting one. All five goals scored came in the second half.

With the dramatic victory, OSU moved to 6-0 and is the only remaining unbeaten team in the Big 12.

The Big 12's leading goal scorer Megan Marchesano built on that total with the game-winning strike in the 85th minute.

"It was an amazing feeling to be able to go out and win that game, and it felt like as a team we really grew tonight," said Marchesano, who leads OSU with four goals. "It would have been easy to crumble, especially with such a young team, but I'm so proud of our girls for stepping up and finding a way to win. We just continue to keep improving moving forward."

After a scoreless opening 45 minutes, both squads found the back of the net early in the second half.

And it would be Memphis taking the first lead in the match just 1:58 into the final half as Taylor Isenhower blasted an 18-yard shot past a diving AD Franch and OSU defender Miriam Rhinehart on the line.

That lead didn't last long as the Cowgirls executed a corner kick three minutes later. Taylor Mathews sent the corner into the box where Makenzie Kahan headed it into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.

Memphis (1-2-0) nearly went back on top at the 50:23 mark, but Franch made another diving save on a shot by Kylie Davis.

The Cowgirls took the lead in the 67th minute when freshman Madison Mercado gained possession following a scramble with the goal keeper and delivered a strike to take a 2-1 lead.

However, Memphis came back to tie on a penalty kick with 10:35 remaining.

But once again, OSU answered. This time it was Mercado setting up Marchesano with a perfect pass that the set up the deciding goal.

"There wasn't a whole lot of action in the first half and maybe the delays were a factor there, but boy in the second half both teams got going and it could have been four (goals) each," Carmichael said. "(Memphis) is a great team. Their possession and build-up play is tremendous. We tried to disrupt them, and in the second half we did that. Their front three are dynamic, as good as anybody in the Big 12, and that was a big test for our back line.

"I'm pleased with such a young team to come into this environment with some adversity and to respond as well as they did was great."

OSU returns on Friday when the Cowgirls travel to Norman for a non-conference showdown against Bedlam-rival Oklahoma.