OSU Soccer Goes For Shot in Big 12 Championship Game with Semifinal Against Baylor

Colin Carmichael said the tournament might get a little dicey for his side.

Several players on the Oklahoma State soccer team have been putting in tons of minutes, lots of miles and more than a couple of bruises in the process. Midfielders Anna Beffer and Julia Lenhardt, and defender Laurene Tresfield have all put significant time on the pitch during the regular season and continue to do that into the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. After beating Oklahoma in the opening round, the Cowgirls get perhaps the worst draw possible in the semifinal, fifth-seeded Baylor.

The Bears are as physical a team as one will find in Big 12 soccer. They are big, tall and aggressive off the ball. OSU on the other hand, likes to slow the game down, control the ball and keep it on the ground.

Carmichael hopped on Robert Allen’s radio show on Triple Play Sports Radio on Friday morning and said the result of the semifinal will be determined by which style dictates the flow of the game.

Baylor topped No. 4 Texas in its first-round contest on a golden goal in overtime, so the Bears will have played a few more minutes than the Cowgirls heading in, but that shouldn’t make a realistic difference. The regular season meeting was one of OSU’s most contested of 2017. In overtime, Haley Woodard knocked in a header from five yards out to crush the Bears 1-0 and push the Cowgirls’ Big 12 record to 3-0.

OSU has another streak rolling right now, winners of six in a row and nine of the last 10. Carmichael told Pistols Firing his team is rightfully playing with a great deal of confidence, knowing that even if the Cowgirls put out a “B” performance (or maybe even a little worse), they still have a chance to win. And with Baylor’s rugged style, that might have to be the case as they ugly it up against the Bears on Friday afternoon in Kansas City for a right to move on to the championship match.

Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m., and the winner will go on to play the winner of No. 2 West Virginia and No. 3 TCU, who play at 6 Friday night.

The Cowgirls are set to take on Baylor in a #Big12SOC semifinal. Hear from @coachcolin_osu prior to Friday's match #GoPokes #okstate pic.twitter.com/X2MgW6R3hv

— Cowgirl Soccer (@CowgirlFC) November 2, 2017