The pre-season can be a strenuous time. Every practice position battles abound and playing time is on the line.
With that in mind, the Oklahoma State soccer coaching staff continues to put the finishing touches on the team. Friday’s season opener against New Mexico is rapidly approaching, and for Cowgirl players, playing time is on the line.
The Cowgirls recently used an exhibition against Texas Christian University as a tune-up before they kick off the new season. The “friendly” ended in a scoreless tie, for neither team could break the deadlock.
Regardless of the result, coach Colin Carmichael said the team responded well.
“The scrimmage was good,” Carmichael said. “We came out healthy, which is the main thing, and we created some chances and defended really well obviously to get the shutout. Overall, we wanted to test the fitness levels and see how we run, and I think overall [the exhibition] was good.”
Although OSU lacked scoring firepower against TCU, goals came in flurries during the 2006 campaign. The Cowgirls scored 46 goals, good enough for third in the Big 12. Senior midfielder Sasa Jackson said despite the lack of goals against TCU, the team had plenty of opportunities.
“We need to work on finishing (chances) for sure,” Jackson said. “Other than that, I mean we created good chances, but we had a whole bunch of open goals where we should have finished. We’ve worked on a lot of defense so now we get to work on finishing, we should be better on Friday.”
The scrimmage was also a chance for newcomers to get much needed experience.
One of those players helped contribute to the shutout effort. Freshman goalkeeper Kaitlyn Gustaves relieved starter Erin Stigler for the final 15 minutes of the match.
“It was a little nerve-racking,” Gustaves said. “It’s definitely different (from high school), but goalies are kinda their own team so they really just have to kinda worry about what they’re doing.”
Carmichael said Gustaves showed no signs of nervousness.
“Kaitlyn did well,” Carmichael said. “Obviously, Stigler is the starter right now, but it’s nice to have a backup who’s played a bit. She did a good job. She’ll play over the course of the season obviously depending on how practice goes.”
Carmichael has good reason to put every position up for grabs. The stakes have never been higher.
The Cowgirls head into the season nationally ranked for the first time in program history. OSU is ranked No. 23 in the NSCAA/adidas and SoccerTimes.com polls. Soccer Buzz magazine ranks the Cowgirls No. 29.
Carmichael said the only ranking that matters is the one given at the end of the season.
“Obviously we want to be ranked at the end of the year,” Carmichael said. “It’s nice; it shows that the program is getting a little more respect nationally than it has in the past. It’s exciting, but it doesn’t really matter until late in the season.”
Jackson said she was proud of how far the program has come.
“We definitely deserve [the attention]; we worked our asses off,” Jackson said. “Last year we did really well and we have a lot of returning starters.”
However, unlike this past season, other teams are gunning for the Cowgirls.
“I’m pleased with being ranked 23rd, but I’d rather start off lower and work my way up because people are out for you,” Jackson said.
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