12th-ranked Cowgirls Steal 3-2 Win Over KU
Oct. 10, 2008
STILLWATER, Okla. –
Despite goals from junior Estelle Johnson and senior Missy Geha, the Jayhawks fell in overtime to 12th-ranked Oklahoma State, 3-2, in a Big 12 soccer match Friday evening at the OSU Soccer Complex.
Kansas falls to 8-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play, while the Cowgirls improve to 11-1-1 and 2-1-1 in the Big 12.
The Jayhawks led 2-1 in the 89th minute, but was called for a handball in the box, giving OSU’s Annika Niemeier a penalty kick with one minute remaining. The Cowgirl forward shot low to the near post to tie the match.
Just 2:03 into overtime, Kasey Langdon and Yolanda Odenyo pushed the ball forward following a Kansas turnover and played give-and-go with Langdon finishing on a shot to the near post. It marked the second time this season the Jayhawks have fallen in overtime.
Kansas dominated most of the match, but could not overcome a late flurry by the Cowgirls. KU was whistled for 16 fouls in the second half, compared to just six by OSU.
The Jayhawks took a 2-1 lead into the halftime break on the strength of two beautiful plays.
First, Johnson scored her first career goal on a blast from 25 yards out in the 23rd minute. The junior collected a loose ball and dribbled down the field, firing a shot that tucked just underneath the crossbar to give the Jayhawks a 1-0 lead.
OSU tied the score in the 31st minute on a tip-in by Langdon on a pass from Kyndall Treadwell.
The Jayhawks took a 2-1 lead on some fancy passing. Freshman Kelsey Clifton dribbled a ball down the near sideline and sent a pass to the top of the box where senior Jessica Bush tipped the ball to the far side of the box where Geha ran onto the ball and blasted a shot that rattled off the near post and bounced in just 1:04 before halftime.
It was Geha’s second of the year, and first since the Purdue match on Aug. 22.
Oklahoma State held a 22-15 advantage in shots, including an 8-2 advantage over the final 10 minutes of regulation and overtime.
Junior goalkeeper Julie Hanley tied a career high with nine saves. Three different Jayhawks, Bush, Monica Dolinsky and Shannon McCabe led the way with three shots each.
This marked the third straight regular season meeting between the teams that went into overtime. KU played to a 2-2 tie with the Cowgirls last year in Lawrence, while OSU picked up a double-overtime win in 2006.
Kansas will look to regroup Sunday with a match at Oklahoma at 1 p.m.
