Oct. 2, 2009

Box Score in PDF Format

AMES, Iowa - Oklahoma State was unable to end its winless streak in Ames on a rainy Friday night as Iowa State emerged with a 2-1 win over the Cowgirls at the ISU Soccer Complex.

With the loss, OSU fell to 7-5-0 overall and 1-3-0 in Big 12 Conference play. The Cowgirls have won only once on Iowa State's home field, that coming in 1996 in the Cowgirls' first year of soccer.

"I was very proud of the way we played. It's the best we've played in Ames in a long time, we just didn't get the result we wanted," said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael. "We created numerous chances and had two goals called back that we thought we perfectly good goals.

"A credit to Iowa State, their kids played hard, and they hung on to the one-goal lead grimly at the end. I was happy with our performance and the way we played. I thought everybody stepped up, and we probably deserved a little bit better than we got."

Iowa State (5-3-4, 1-2-0) took an early lead just under 10 minutes into the match. Off a free kick just inside midfield by Lauren Fader, a scramble for possession ensued in the box. The Cyclones won the battle as Mary Kate McLaughlin booted the ball past OSU goalie Keely Kippenberger and into the back of the net to give the home team a 1-0 advantage.

OSU's first chance at an equalizer came in the 23^rd minute, but Siera Strawser's left-footed blast was saved by a leaping Ann Gleason to keep the Cowgirls off the scoreboard.

The Cowgirls would take advantage of their next opportunity, however. Annika Niemeier sent a cross to Kasey Langdon, who gained control of the ball and blasted a shot from 10-yards out to the upper near post to tie the score. The goal was Langdon's fourth of the season, tying her for the team lead, while Niemeier notched her second assist.

With just over three minutes remaining in the opening half, OSU nearly took the lead. But Niemeier's header off a free kick was saved by Gleason.

Gleason's save kept the tied 1-1 at intermission. The opening half stats were nearly equal as well as ISU outshot the Cowgirls, 8-7, while Gleason recorded three saves to Kippenberger's two.

The match did not remain tied for long after intermission as six minutes in, the Cyclones scored again off a free kick. This time Amanda Woelfel scored off a free kick from just outside the box as her shot to the far post put ISU back on top.

At the 60-minute mark, OSU had a golden opportunity to record another equalizer when Langdon broke free 25-yards out and went one-vs.-one against Gleason. But Gleason was up to the challenge as she was able to deflect Langdon's shot away.

The Cowgirls had a short free kick opportunity of their own less than five minutes later, but a pair of shots off the free kick were blocked as ISU held its lead.

Both teams had scoring chances around the 15-minute mark. However, OSU was whistled for a questionable offsides call, and after ISU won a corner kick on the ensuing attack, a Cowgirl defender was able to save the resulting shot from crossing the goal line.

OSU's best scoring chance of the second half came at the five-minute mark. Kyndall Treadwell blasted a shot from 22-yards out that caromed off the near post. Strawser was there to bury the rebound in the back of the net but was whistled for offsides to nullify the tying goal.

The Cowgirls outshot ISU by a 19-13 margin. Gleason finished with five saves for the Cyclones.

OSU returns to action Sunday at 1 p.m. at Nebraska.