Friday Soccer Roundup

Cowgirls Drop Regular Season Finale

AMES, Iowa – Oklahoma State closed out its regular season Friday night with a 1-0 loss to Iowa State at the Cyclone Soccer Complex.

With the loss, the Cowgirls are 7-5-6 overall and finish 2-3-3 in the Big 12 Conference. OSU will be the No. 6 seed at next week's Big 12 Soccer Championship in Kansas City and will face third-seeded Texas Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Swope Soccer Village.

 The Cyclones (9-8-2, 3-4-1) netted the lone goal of the match in the eighth minute. After taking a pass from Emily Goldstein, Jessica Reyes delivered a left-footed shot from 20-yards out that glanced off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net.

The first half closed with ISU owning a 6-3 advantage in shots, but the Cowgirls became the aggressor after intermission.

OSU's attack created numerous scoring opportunities over the final 45 minutes, but Carmichael's squad could not find the equalizer. During a five-minute span early in the second half, the Cowgirls had four shots, but two attempts by Allie Stephenson were saved while Courtney Dike and Madison Mercado sent shots wide of the mark.

In the 66^th minute, OSU created its best chance as Dike found herself with the ball just a few yards in front of the goal but sent her shot high and wide of the mark.

That was the story of the second half for the Cowgirls, who outshot the home team by an 11-4 margin after intermission.

Both goalies finished with three saves in the match, with OSU's Michela Ongaro making a great diving save in the 76^th minute by deflecting a six-yard shot by Koree Willer off the near post to prevent the Cyclones from adding to their lead.

OSU now turns its attention to the postseason and a matchup against Texas, a team the Cowgirls tied 1-1 in Stillwater on Oct. 18.

ORU sets victories record, clinches bye in win over Cowgirls, 2-0

TULSA – It was a night to celebrate for the Oral Roberts University women's soccer team on Friday as the Golden Eagle seniors closed their careers at the Case Soccer Complex in style with a 2-0 victory over McNeese State.

Following the match, Jennifer Abernathy, Rachel Carroll, Mary-Kate Halsmer, Leah Bickers, Jordan Parsons, Lexie Salas and Tatum Lynn were honored by their teammates, coaches and fans.

The ORU (15-4-0, 10-2-0) win, and a 1-1 draw between Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls State, guarantees a top two finish and a first round bye for the Golden Eagles in next week's Southland Conference Tournament. It also sets a new school record for wins in a season. McNeese State fell to 6-11-2 overall and 1-10-1 in league play.

While the Golden Eagles' regular season came to a close on Friday, they are still in the race for the regular season conference title. ORU trails Stephen F. Austin by a game, with SFA taking on Incarnate Word in the season finale on Sunday. If the Ladyjacks fall to the Cardinals and move into a tie with the Golden Eagles, then ORU would claim the regular season title through the head-to-head tiebreaker.

In ORU's victory on Friday, Parsons had a huge evening, netting both goals in the match. In the 80^th minute, Kaily Cox had an opportunity that was blocked by a Cowgirl defender. After a touch by Kayla Keller, Parsons controlled the loose ball in front of the net for the first goal.

Both Cox and Keller were credited with assists on the goal.

Four minutes later, Cox helped on the second goal as well. Following a Cowgirl foul on the opposite side of the midline, Cox sent a free kick into the box. The keeper knocked the ball down, but Parsons was waiting to sneak it into the back of the net for her eighth goal of the season.

Maddie Rhodes (10-3) didn't have much trouble in earning her sixth shutout as the Cowgirls weren't able to get a shot on goal. Maggie Marks took the loss for the Cowgirls, recording seven saves.

Parsons and Abernathy led the Golden Eagles with three shots each, two of which were on goal. Carroll, Lynn, Kayla Keller, Tahlor Lyman and Megan Giles all had a shot on target in the victory.

ORU will now wait until the completion of Sunday's conference slate before finding out its seed, time and opponent for the Southland Conference Tournament next weekend in Lake Charles, La. By earning a bye, the Golden Eagles will begin tournament play on Friday, with the championship match taking place on Sunday.

OU Falls In Season Finale

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The Oklahoma soccer team fell in a 2-1 decision to the Kansas Jayhawks on Friday afternoon at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. Oklahoma (4-13-1, 1-7-0 Big 12) tied up the match in the 74th minute of play at 1-1, but surrendered a late goal with under three minutes left to play against KU (7-10-2, 2-5-1 Big 12). With the win, Kansas secured the eighth and final spot in the Big 12 Championship field next week, while OU will narrowly miss qualifying for their fourth-straight conference tournament.

After a slow start to the first half, KU took a 1-0 lead over the Sooners in the 28th minute of play. The Jayhawks' Jamie Fletcher controlled a loose ball in the box and in the subsequent confusion, sent it past Stade for her second goal of the season.

Despite both teams battling a strong wind that challenged OU and KU ball handlers, the Sooners managed to get several solid looks at the Jayhawk goal throughout the first half. Perhaps Oklahoma's best scoring opportunity of the half came when Kansas was called for a handball in the box off an OU corner, giving the Sooners a penalty kick. Daisy Cardona took the PK for the Sooners, but the ball sailed wide right of the goal and KU's lead was preserved heading into halftime.

The Sooners got a good look right out of the gates in the second half when Devin Barrett fired in a shot that just nicked off the crossbar to prevent OU from snapping up the equalizer. OU continued their aggressive offensive play, challenging KU goalkeeper Kaitlyn Stroud at every opportunity while maintaining consistent possession.

KU began to respond in the 25th minute as Caroline Kastor and Fletcher ripped off a pair of shots to challenge Oklahoma goalkeeper Kassadie Stade. Stade responded on both counts, making a pair of tough saves to keep the Jayhawks from extending their lead.

After several opportunities, OU picked up the equalizer in the 74th minute on a goal from Cardona. After Nelson collided with Stroud in the box, Cardona controlled the ball and sent it in from five yards out to tie things up at 1-1. The goal gives Cardona a team-best six this season.

As the teams moved under the ten minute mark, the urgency and tempo of the match continued to increase as each team hunted for an advantage. The match took a sharp turn when Stade collided with a KU player outside of the box, sending Stade out of the match with under five minutes to play. True freshman Miranda Larkin took the field as the Sooners went down a player, and the Jayhawks capitalized on the mismatch just minutes later when Fletcher netted her second goal of the afternoon to send KU up 2-1.

KU tried to go up 3-1 moments later, but Larkin made a spectacular fingertip save to keep the Sooners hopes alive with just a minute left on the clock. OU was unable to get a solid look at the goal and time expired, giving Kansas the victory and sending the Jayhawks on to Kansas City.

The Sooners finished the match with a season-high 22 shots overall, including 12 on goal and 10 corner kicks. Stade wrapped up the match with two saves, while Larkin added one save in four minutes of play. Stroud posted 11 saves for Kansas opposite her team's 12 shots.

The loss ends Oklahoma's 2013 campaign at 4-13-1 and 1-7-0 in Big 12 play. OU logged victories over Kennesaw State, Texas State, Oral Roberts and TCU this fall while taking on one of the nation's most challenging slates, including seven top 25 opponents.