SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Texas will return to the Big12 Championship match
for the second consecutive year as they converted on five of five
penalty kicks to advance past No. 6 Oklahoma State, Friday night at
Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio.
The Cowgirls scored first as Annika Niemeier fed Yolanda Odenyo
through four defenders giving Odenyo a one-on-one with Longhorn
goalkeeper Diana Pfenninger. Pfenninger came out of the net and Odenyo
was able to put the ball past her to give the Cowgirls an early 1-0
advantage at the 15 minute mark.
The Longhorns evened the match out when Kelsey Carpenter took
advantage of a failed Oklahoma State clear to score in the 33rd minute.
Texas had two chances to win with a minute remaining, first
when OSU's goalkeeper Erin Stigler came out to challenge a wide open
Carpenter but Niemeier caught up and sent Carpenter's shot out of
bounds.
Then Emily Anderson sent a header towards the goal but her shot bounced off the cross bar, sending the game into extra minutes.
With just under two minutes remaining in the first overtime,
Kasey Moore headed in a Pfenninger penalty kick but the goal was called
back due to an offsides penalty.
Neither team scoring during the second set of extra minutes
sending the game to penalty kicks. Oklahoma State's Odenyo missed the
Cowgirls first opportunity giving the Longhorn's a 1-0 advantage that
OSU could never make up, advancing Texas 5-3.
Defending Big 12 Champion Texas, will now face No. 1 seed Texas
A&M in the championship match at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The game will be
broadcast on FSN tape-delayed. Check your local listing to find out
broadcast times in your area.