Texas Tech Athletics
Oklahoma State
Tech Falls to Cowgirls in Big 12 Quarterfinals
November 05, 2008 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 5, 2008
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Oklahoma State netted its first goal in only the fourth minute and Texas Tech would never be able to counter as the Red Raiders were edged, 3-0, Wednesday in the first round of the Big 12 Conference Championship at the Blossom Soccer Stadium.
Oklahoma State advances to face Colorado on Friday in the semifinals, while Texas Tech closes the season at 8-10-1 overall.
"Oklahoma State showed why they are the Big 12 Champions, and we give them credit," Tech head coach Tom Stone said. "All the pressure was on them, and they showed up with a strong performance."
Yolanda Odenyo, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, would start the scoring for the Cowgirls, taking the rebound off her own shot attempt to net her 16th goal of the season and give OSU an early 1-0 advantage.
The Tech defense would limit the Cowgirls the rest of the period to no goals and only seven shot attempts, while also preventing all five OSU scoring attempts off corner kicks.
The Cowgirls would open the second half with another goal, however, as Siera Strawser took a loose ball in the box and fired to the far post for her 11th goal of the season.
Tech would look to make a comeback midway through the second half, taking four corner kicks, but the OSU defense would negate all those attempts and switch fields into the Tech back-third.
Oklahoma State would add its final goal in the 71st minute as Kasey Langdon added her 11th goal of the season, taking a Katie Richardson pass from the left side and firing past the outstretched arms of Tech goalkeeper Tina Rincon.
Rincon finished with four saves in her final match with the Red Raiders, giving her 88 on the season, which is the sixth-best single season total in school history. Rincon also ends as the all-time career shutouts leader and second in career saves.
"After all we've been through this year with injuries and such, it is remarkable we even got here," Stone said. "We are sad to lose our seniors, but we appreciate all they have done for us. Coming here in back-to-back years is a great experience for our young players, and we now know what it takes to advance here, so it will definitely help us in the future."
Oklahoma State controlled the ball through most of the match, maintaining a 20-3 shot advantage while attempting five corner kicks to Tech's four.
Tech had not previously qualified for the Big 12 Championship in consecutive seasons in school history.
