Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Illinois
Cowgirls Advance To Sweet 16
November 18, 2011 | Cowgirl Soccer
Nov. 18, 2011
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State advanced to its second consecutive Sweet 16 and set a school record for wins with a 1-0 victory over Illinois in the second round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship Friday night at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.
Annika Niemeier's goal in the 25th minute lifted the second-seeded Cowgirls to the win as they improved to 21-1-2 on the season. Coach Colin Carmichael's squad will now host Maryland at 1 p.m. Sunday looking to advance to the Elite Eight for the second-straight year.
On an emotional day for OSU following the deaths of Cowgirl women's basketball coaches Kurt Budke and Miranda Serna in a plane crash on Thursday, the Cowgirls were able to record their NCAA-leading 17th shutout of the season and earn their 10th 1-0 win of the year.
“It was always going to be tough, and given everything that happened today it was very difficult for the girls to focus and be motivated like we normally would,” Carmichael said. “But our team showed again what kind of courage they have, what kind of desire they have and how tough they can be to come out and play with the intensity they did.
“Illinois is a great team. It was a very, very close game and certainly could have gone both ways. We're just thankful at this stage to advance to Sunday to face Maryland.”
OSU All-American defender Melinda Mercado, who played basketball for Budke's Cowgirls as a freshman during the 2008-09 season, added that playing the game was not easy, but a pre-game speech from OSU Athletic Director Mike Holder helped the team focus.
“Early in the day when we all found out (about the crash) it was very difficult. You put the game in the back of your mind, and that's what you're thinking about at the moment,” Mercado said. “But I think once we got in the locker room and Coach (Mike) Holder came and talked to us, we just really focused in. I think his speech really got to us, about how they would want us to be focused and come out with a 'W.'
“Once the game rolled around we were more focused, but we were definitely grieving with the rest of Stillwater earlier.”
Illinois (17-5-2) just missed on several scoring opportunities early in Friday's match. Just over five minutes in, a shot by Marissa Mykines deflected off the crossbar, and at the 10:44 mark, OSU goalie AD Franch made a full-extension diving save on a blast by Vanessa DiBernardo to keep the Illini off the scoreboard.
Franch matched a season high with seven saves en route to her 11th shutout of the season, which tied the OSU single-season record that she set as a freshman in 2009.
OSU's record-setting goalie said Coach Budke and Coach Serna were on her mind throughout the contest.
“Deep down, there's that belief that they're right there with us, and that's how I felt tonight,” Franch said. “Every save I made, I just felt like there was someone right there with me. That helped us out.”
OSU would tally the only score it would need at the 24:36 mark. Krista Lopez beat a defender near the end line and sent a pass to Megan Marchesano, who flicked the ball to Niemeier in front of the net. Niemeier then delivered her third goal of the season past Steph Panozzo.
Both teams would have several scoring opportunities throughout the rest of the match, but neither could find the back of the net. Illinois outshot the Cowgirls by a 17-13 margin with each keeper recording seven saves.
The Cowgirls would withstand a furious offensive attack over the game's final 10 minutes as Illinois controlled the ball and the scoring chances but were unable to capitalize against the stingy OSU defense.
“(Illinois) was good – they put some nice shots on frame, and it was a great win to come out of it,” Franch said. “It's always difficult when a team is coming down blazing because they have nothing to lose – push 'em up and go at 'em.
“But we hung in there and found a way to stick it out. That's the only thing we can ask for, and hopefully that will continue.”
Post-Game Quotes
OSU head coach Colin Carmichael
On the loss of Kurt Budke and Miranda Serna
“It's very hard to express in words – I knew Coach Budke and Coach Serna very well. They were two wonderful human beings, full of light and enjoyment, upbeat. Just to think they're not around anymore is just devastating. It's something that's very hard to express. As a coach who works in that profession, it really hits very close to home that you're off doing your job and the next day you're not there.
“It's just very sad. I certainly feel for their families, and it's just something nobody should have to go through.”
On discussions of postponing Friday's match
“We talked about what to do and from the president's office to the athletic director's office, everybody agreed that the game should be played because it was an NCAA Tournament game and it didn't just effect Oklahoma State – we had three other teams here plus all the other brackets that would be affected with postponement. I think it was the right thing to do. We talked with our team before the game about using this as a way possibly to bring a little bit of happiness to the OSU family for just a brief time.
“Coach (Mike) Holder met with our team before the game and expressed his desire, and we felt that Coach Serna and Coach Budke would want us to go out and win the game and maybe just let people forget for just a few minutes. There will be a time for us to grieve with everybody else, but we were just excited about getting out there and playing and if it helped these guys for just a little while, to focus on the game for a little bit, that's probably a real positive thing for us.”
On advancing and the play of his team
“That's what the NCAA Tournament is about. Illinois is a great team. I don't think they'd be beaten in 13 games coming in, and they beat Penn State and Notre Dame in their last two games who are top 10 programs usually.
“It's always going to be very difficult. The whole key is just to advance. You don't always have to play your best soccer in the tournament, you just have to win, and tonight was the case. We certainly could play better. But I'm not sure we could play any tougher – we hung in there and played with a lot of heart.”
Illinois Coach Janet Rayfield
"This was what you expected of two great defensive teams battling it out on a great night of soccer. I think I would be remiss without expressing my condolences to Oklahoma State for the tragedy they experienced today. Games like this, it's moments. We made a defensive mistake and credit to Oklahoma State for punishing us for that. I'm proud of the way this team fought tonight all the way to the end of the second half. We left everything we had to try to equalize. Everyone said Oklahoma State was a great defensive team, and they proved that tonight.”
