Sunday College Soccer Roundup

Cowgirls Beat Kansas In Home Finale

STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State concluded the home portion of its regular season schedule Sunday afternoon with a 2-0 win over Kansas at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.

Sophomores Allie Stephenson and Madison Mercado notched goals for the Cowgirls, while freshman Michela Ongaro recorded her third shutout. With the win, OSU improved to 7-4-6 on the season and vaulted into fourth place in the Big 12 Conference standings with a 2-2-3 league mark.

OSU took a lead just under 19 minutes into the contest when Krissi Killion delivered a cross through the box that Stephenson delivered to the near post from 12-yards out for her sixth goal of the season.

The Cowgirls took the 1-0 lead into intermission after a first half that saw OSU outshoot the Jayhawks, 9-7, and KU keeper Kaitlyn Stroud record three saves.

Sunday's match saw 31 fouls whistled and seven cards issued, and that would play a pivotal role in the second half.

In the 58th minute, KU defender Tayler Estrada drew her second card of the match, sending her off and forcing the Jayhawks to play with just 10 players over the final 32 minutes.

OSU took advantage, converting its second scoring play in the 66th minute. Courtney Dike sent a pass ahead that hit Mercado in stride, and once behind the defense, Mercado delivered a shot from eight-yards out that hit the crossbar and bounced over the line to give the Cowgirls a 2-0 lead. The goal was Mercado's fourth of the season, while Dike's fourth assist tied her with Mercado for the team lead.

The match ended with both teams having recorded 15 shots, but many of the Jayhawks' attempts were from long range and only two were on goal.

OSU concludes the regular season with a trip to Ames, Iowa, to take on Iowa State Friday at 7 p.m. and will open play in the Big 12 Soccer Championship in Kansas City on Nov. 6.

Tulsa Women's Soccer Team Ties Marshall

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Tulsa women's soccer team tied Marshall, 2-2, on Sunday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex in Huntington, W.Va. TU moved to 9-6-3 on the season and 3-3-3 in Conference USA, while the Thundering Herd moved to 8-6-3 overall and 3-3-2 in the league.

Lana Bermel put the Golden Hurricane on the board with just 3:13 ticked off the clock as she punched in a rebound attempt taken by Camille Pelley.

Alyssa Cathey evened the scored in the 59th minute, but Jordan O'Brien put TU up once again off an assist from Alexa Sidorakis at the 72:01 mark. Myka DeMarco punched in a penalty kick for the Thundering Herd in the 81st minute and forced overtime.

Neither team could find the back of the net in both overtime periods and the game ended in a tie.

Marshall had a 20-15 lead in shots, including an 8-5 advantage in shots on goal, and took an 8-4 lead in corner kicks.

Sidorakis led the Tulsa attack with six shots, while Bradi Hinch and O'Brien each had three shots. Hayley Harryman logged all 110 minutes in goal and earned six saves.

Tulsa will conclude the regular season at home against UTSA on Thursday. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium.

ORU Silences Lady Demons, 2-0; Ties Wins Record

TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts University women's soccer team tied a school record for victories on Sunday afternoon as the Golden Eagles shutdown the Lady Demons of Northwestern State, 2-0.

ORU improved to 14-4 overall on the season and 9-2 in the Southland Conference to keep pace with Stephen F. Austin and Southeastern Louisiana in the league race, while NSU fell to 6-10-1 and 4-5-1. The 14 victories for ORU ties the mark set by the 2000 and 2004 teams.

Heading into the final weekend of the season, the Golden Eagles are in second place to SFA, while maintaining a half a game lead over SLU. Both SFA and SLU have two matches remaining in the season, with ORU closing its season on Friday.

In Sunday's match, the Golden Eagles remained on the attack much of the contest as they outshot the Lady Demons, 19-7. On the occasion NSU was able to control the ball in its final third, the ORU defense stepped up, only allowing one shot, a header, inside the penalty area.

Jordan Parsons led the Golden Eagles with three shots on target, one of which was netted for a goal in the 35th minute to put ORU up 1-0. Madison Valenzuela was credited with the assist as Parsons was able to clean up a fumbled saved by the NSU keeper following a shot from Valenzuela.

A little more than a minute into the second half, the Golden Eagles added the second goal of the match when Megan Giles collected a loose ball in front of the net and took the shot for the goal.

Both Parsons' and Giles' goals were their sixth of the season.

Golden Eagle keeper Maddie Rhodes (8-4-0) had a quiet day on her end of the field as she saved two balls from the Lady Demons in the victory. Jessica Danku kept the Lady Demons in the match, making several diving and leaping saves as she recorded eight in the loss.

The Golden Eagles hasn't allowed a goal to the Lady Demons in three matches over the past two seasons, outscoring them 10-0.

ORU will close the regular season on Friday as they host McNeese State on Senior Day at the Case Soccer Complex. Kickoff is schedule for 7 p.m. with the recognition of the seniors taking place during pre-game activities.