Cowgirl Soccer in Big 12 Semifinals

Kansas will be looking for revenge.

The Oklahoma State soccer team is in the Big 12 tournament semifinals and is matched up this afternoon with the No. 19 ranked team in the RPI index in the Kansas Jayhawks.

In the regular season, the Cowgirls made it look easy against KU with a 5-2 win, including a dominating first half when they shut the Jayhawks out.

Coach Colin Carmichael admitted on one hand his team could use the rest before making an NCAA Tournament run. On the other, OSU has never won both the regular season and tournament championship in the same season and that is a goal for the Pokes.

“My attitude is, ‘Let’s go win the thing, let’s go hopefully have a great game with Kansas and get a win and get in the final,'” Carmichael said. “It’s another chance for your kids to win a trophy and win a championship.

“We’ve never won both in one season so that would be another milestone for these kids so we’re excited to go play.”

KU provides several challenges for opponents, including one of the top goal scorers in the country in senior Katie McClure. She ranks No. 13 in the nation with her 14 goals.

The Jayhawks also boast the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in Addisyn Merrick.

In the same postseason team and player of the year voting, the Cowgirls had five players on either the first or second team led by one of their own stellar defenders as Kim Rodriguez was named unanimously to the conference first team.

OSU will once again be without leading scorer Grace Yochum, but still has plenty of firepower with Jaci Jones, Gabriella Coleman and Olyvia Dowell.

The semifinals match starts Friday afternoon at 4:30. Texas Tech and TCU will play at 7PM to determine the other side of the Championship.