No Home Match, Going to No. 2 Arkansas, No Worries Cowgirls in the NCAA
STILLWATER – Head coach Colin Carmichael and his staff along with several athletic department officials including director of athletics Chad Weiberg and deputy athletics director Reid Sigmon stood over toward the beautiful grandstand of Neal Patterson Stadium as the Cowgirls players sat in almost the middle of the bright green and still flourishing playing pitch of the stadium. The Cowgirls were right in line with the video board and they weren’t about to miss seeing their name flash on the bracket for the upcoming NCAA Soccer Championships. I asked Carmichael if he knew as the selection show continued. “Yes,” he said, “but you can wait five minutes and find out.”
The girls got a little nervous when Colorado came up on the board. The Cowgirls lost at home to the Lady Buffs 2-1. Colorado is No. 55 in the RPI measuring tool. The Cowgirls ar No.. 31.
“I wondered if they were going to take Colorado instead of us because we had lost that match,” team leader and All-Big 12 performer Alex Morris said later. “That match is going to haunt me forever.”
“I love the moment for the kids,” Carmichael said. “Like when somebody gets in that they weren’t expecting and they get a little nervous, but I love when they scream and yell.”
It was okay, the selection show continued and after announcing Arkansas as a No. 2 seed on one side of the bracket, the announcer said, “That potent offense of the Razorbacks will get a huge challenge from nearby from the stingy defense of the Oklahoma State Cowgirls.”
“I’m excited about it,” Morris said after the announcement. “I’m happy we’re in the tournament. I think Arkansas will be a challenge but I don’t think it is anything impossible for us. The thing for me is they are a very direct team and very athletic. I don’t know anybody more athletic than Molly Breiner, Ellie (Geoffrey) and C.J. (Chloe’ Joseph). I’ll take my attackers and my defenders over their attackers anyday.”
Yes, Oklahoma State is the No. 33 team on the NCAA Selection Committee’s board, but because of cost concerns the matchups don’t purely go by seed. The Cowgirls will take on a No. 2 in Arkansas at Razorback Field in Fayetteville on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
“It means a ton. I feel really great for these seniors, the fourth and fifth-year after the transfer portal,” Carmichael said of getting into the tournament. “This is why they want to play at Oklahoma State and I think two-of-the-last-three-years we were one of the last two teams left out. That really hurts. it gets to you. This year we felt good about where we were. This is where this program wants to be in big games like this. I’m excited for the young players to experience this as well.”
Oklahoma State has a 6-2 record all-time against Arkansas, but the two programs have not met since 2014.
“You could have had an easier draw, but you’re in the NCAA Tournament,” Carmichael said. “If you when the first round as an eight seed then you play a one-seed. You are going to play somebody good. Good news for us is a lot of our fans will get to go and our parents. Our travel is easy. We respect them. They have good defense and we have girls that can score. I think it’s just a really high level soccer match.”
It will be all of that. I can’t help thinking about the old television show “Highlander” where immortals battled on the Earth and when an immortal extinguished another, he inherited his or her power. Soebody could inherit a lot of power on Friday night in the hills of Arkansas.