AnniePokely
11-27-2007, 05:58 PM
Ryan Steele - NewsPress
This season, Oklahoma State was driven to prove it wasn’t a one-hit wonder.
After setting a school record in wins (17), finishing second in the Big 12 Conference and advancing to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, the Cowgirls entered 2007 with eight returning starters and high expectations.
OSU compiled a 14-6-3 record this year and qualified for the national postseason for the second straight season before dropping a 4-0 decision to No. 1 UCLA in the second round. Even though coach Colin Carmichael was disappointed with the loss, he said his club is continuing to take steps in the right direction.
“Coming off last year’s success, the big question was, ‘Can we sustain it?’ I think we answered that question,” Carmichael added. “I think the main thing for us was to come out and prove not only to ourselves but to everyone else that we’re here to stay. We’re not just a one-season team.
“In my opinion, we proved we’re good enough to take on just about anybody on our day, but if we want to go to the next level, we have to consistently be that good and maybe that’s the one thing we have to improve on for next year.”
The ’07 campaign was marked with signature wins including a 2-1 overtime victory against then-No. 9 Notre Dame — last season’s NCAA national runner-up — on Sept. 16. The loss snapped the Fighting Irish’s 43-game home unbeaten streak, which was the third-longest in the history of Division-I women’s soccer.
O-State also upset then-No. 5 Missouri — the program’s first win against a Top 5 opponent — and knocked off then-No. 8 Texas. At times this season, however, the Cowgirls were plagued by their inability to finish chances.
“We’ve been guilty all season of creating opportunities and not putting them away,” Carmichael said. “That’s one of the things that makes a good team a great team. I think we’ve proven we can be a national Top 25-type team consistently, but if we want to be a national Top 10 team consistently, that’s what we have to strive for.”
The Cowgirls will bid farewell to four seniors — Sasa Jackson, Adriane Radtke, Niccole Grimaldi and Stephanie Lovely — but return several key players for the 2008 season. OSU’s top returnee is junior Yolanda Odenyo, who was granted an extra year of eligibility earlier this season.
Odenyo, a preseason All-American and 2006 Co-Big 12 Player of the Year, recorded seven goals and three assists this year and earned first-team All-Big 12 accolades.
Also coming back will be Siera Strawser — the club’s leading scorer in ’07 with eight goals — as well as Kasey Langdon, Bridget Miller, Jamie Markaverich, Katie Richardson, Allyson Leggett and Annika Niemeier and goalkeeper Erin Stigler, the program’s career shutout leader.
“After the UCLA game, we thanked the seniors for their hard work and we told the returners, ‘Now the obligation is on you to continue the rise that this senior class helped begin,’” Carmichael said.
“I think we have the ability to be a Top 10 team next year, but there’s so many things you can’t control in sports — injuries, luck and all those things go into the success of a season. What we can control is our work ethic in the offseason and our preparation in the spring to get better.”
This season, Oklahoma State was driven to prove it wasn’t a one-hit wonder.
After setting a school record in wins (17), finishing second in the Big 12 Conference and advancing to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, the Cowgirls entered 2007 with eight returning starters and high expectations.
OSU compiled a 14-6-3 record this year and qualified for the national postseason for the second straight season before dropping a 4-0 decision to No. 1 UCLA in the second round. Even though coach Colin Carmichael was disappointed with the loss, he said his club is continuing to take steps in the right direction.
“Coming off last year’s success, the big question was, ‘Can we sustain it?’ I think we answered that question,” Carmichael added. “I think the main thing for us was to come out and prove not only to ourselves but to everyone else that we’re here to stay. We’re not just a one-season team.
“In my opinion, we proved we’re good enough to take on just about anybody on our day, but if we want to go to the next level, we have to consistently be that good and maybe that’s the one thing we have to improve on for next year.”
The ’07 campaign was marked with signature wins including a 2-1 overtime victory against then-No. 9 Notre Dame — last season’s NCAA national runner-up — on Sept. 16. The loss snapped the Fighting Irish’s 43-game home unbeaten streak, which was the third-longest in the history of Division-I women’s soccer.
O-State also upset then-No. 5 Missouri — the program’s first win against a Top 5 opponent — and knocked off then-No. 8 Texas. At times this season, however, the Cowgirls were plagued by their inability to finish chances.
“We’ve been guilty all season of creating opportunities and not putting them away,” Carmichael said. “That’s one of the things that makes a good team a great team. I think we’ve proven we can be a national Top 25-type team consistently, but if we want to be a national Top 10 team consistently, that’s what we have to strive for.”
The Cowgirls will bid farewell to four seniors — Sasa Jackson, Adriane Radtke, Niccole Grimaldi and Stephanie Lovely — but return several key players for the 2008 season. OSU’s top returnee is junior Yolanda Odenyo, who was granted an extra year of eligibility earlier this season.
Odenyo, a preseason All-American and 2006 Co-Big 12 Player of the Year, recorded seven goals and three assists this year and earned first-team All-Big 12 accolades.
Also coming back will be Siera Strawser — the club’s leading scorer in ’07 with eight goals — as well as Kasey Langdon, Bridget Miller, Jamie Markaverich, Katie Richardson, Allyson Leggett and Annika Niemeier and goalkeeper Erin Stigler, the program’s career shutout leader.
“After the UCLA game, we thanked the seniors for their hard work and we told the returners, ‘Now the obligation is on you to continue the rise that this senior class helped begin,’” Carmichael said.
“I think we have the ability to be a Top 10 team next year, but there’s so many things you can’t control in sports — injuries, luck and all those things go into the success of a season. What we can control is our work ethic in the offseason and our preparation in the spring to get better.”