Cowgirls Get First Win Of 2014

Allie Stephenson scored twice to lift Oklahoma State to its first win of the season Friday night at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.<br/>

Saturday, September 13th 2014, 12:11 am

By: News 9

Allie Stephenson scored twice to lift Oklahoma State to its first win of the season Friday night at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex as the Cowgirls knocked off Cal Poly, 2-1.

With the win, OSU improved to 1-6-0 on the season and snapped an eight-game losing skid for dating back to the 2013 Big 12 Championship final.

“Relief I think is the word for all of us,” said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael. “Cal Poly is a very good team, and we knew that coming in. They don't have the name recognition, but we knew they were quality. We're fortunate to come away with a win, but maybe we deserved a little break.

“We've said all along if we can get our whole group healthy, we think we'll be alright. I think that showed tonight — we were a little bit better with some of those kids back on the field.”

OSU took an early lead when in the 21^st minute, Miriam Rhinehart delivered a cross to Stephenson, whose shot from 12-yards out found the far post to give the Cowgirls a 1-0 advantage.

Cal Poly (2-4-0) matched OSU with six shots in the opening half, but Cowgirl goalie Rosa Medina recorded three of her seven saves prior to intermission to keep the lead intact.

However, in the 63^rd minute, the Mustangs would record the equalizer.

After star forward Elise Krieghoff was fouled just outside the 18-yard box, she stepped up and drilled the free kick off the OSU defensive wall. The ball deflected back to her, where she blasted a deep shot that glanced off the crossbar and to the feet of Megan Abutin, who tapped it in to tie the score at 1-1.

The game remained tied until the 71:56 mark. After Madison Mercado was tripped up in the box by a Cal Poly defender, the Cowgirls were awarded a penalty kick. And for the second time this season, Stephenson found the back of the net on the chance, recording a goal that proved to be the game winner.

Stephenson now has three goals in her last two games and three of the Cowgirls' five goals on the season.

“We really needed (a win),” Stephenson said. “We worked really hard all preseason and were here all summer, and it showed us that our hard work is paying off. We've gone through a lot of adversity this year so far, but hopefully we'll just go up from here.”

Playing with the lead, OSU held off numerous late attempts at the equalizer from the Mustangs, with Medina notching four saves in the final 17 minutes to secure the win.

The Cowgirls return to action Sunday when they host UT Martin at 1 p.m.