Soccer Shocks No. 8 OSU, Advances To Big 12 Championship Game

Friday, November 7

San Antonio, Texas

4:30 PM

Colorado

14-3-4

Oklahoma State (Semifinal)

17-1-3

OT 1

OT 2

Colorado

Oklahoma State

Photo by: Ray Miller

Soccer Shocks No. 8 OSU, Advances To Big 12 Championship Game

November 07, 2008 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Aaron Lopez, Denver Nuggets

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The No. 16 University of Colorado women's soccer team battled No. 8 Oklahoma State to a 1-1 tie in the semifinals of the 2008 Big 12 Championship Tournament here Friday night.

The game was then decided on penalty kicks, which Colorado won 3-2 thanks to three saves by senior goalkeeper 2008 second team All-Big 12 selection Kirstin Radlinski, advancing the Buffs to the Championship game. With the tie, Colorado is now 14-3-4 overall, while Oklahoma State is 17-1-3.

"We think we're a pretty good team and I know that they're a real good team," said head coach Bill Hempen. "We just saw a really good soccer game where two teams battled to the end pretty even."

The Buffs had a difficult time converting their shots on goal in the first half, but the forward duo of Nikki Marshall and Gianna DeSaverio fought their way through the Oklahoma State defense in the 23rd minute of the game. Marshall battled with a Cowgirl defender and managed to get off the pass to DeSaverio. DeSaverio took a touch and took the shot, but OSU goalkeeper, Erin Stigler was able to make the save.

The Cowgirls and the Buffs played to a scoreless first half, with OSU outshooting CU seven to six. Radlinski was forced to make four saves while Stigler only faced two Colorado shots on goal. Senior midfielder Amber Bettenhausen's presence in the backfield was very important for the Buffs in the first half as she cleared a number of dangerous balls in the box.

The second half would prove to be a different story and Colorado would take the 1-0 lead in the 63rd minute of the game when the Buffs were awarded a free kick from about 30 yards out of the box. Freshman defender Caroline Danneberg sent a high ball towards the front post into the Cowgirl box. Fellow freshman Kelly Butler was able to get her head on the ball and flicked it past the OSU goalkeeper and into the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season.

"The game was definitely intense tonight," said Butler. "The whole season comes down to this and it feels so good to know we're playing one more game in the conference tournament because we worked so hard."

The Cowgirls would not let up, however, and they tied the game less than 15 minutes later. Senior defender Nikki Keller blocked two back-to-back OSU shots that were on frame, but 2008 first team All-Big 12 selection Kasey Langdon took back control and sent a high ball that just went over the hands of Radlinski and into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.

With four minutes left to play, the 2008 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Yolanda Odenyo, was left wide open in front of the Colorado goal. Odenyo took a hard shot, but Radlinski made a diving save to preserve the tie.

Both teams would play to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation, forcing the game into overtime. Colorado is no stranger to overtime in the Big 12 Tournament, as they sent the game into extra time for the seventh time. The Buffs are now 2-1-4 in overtime play in the conference tournament.

After 110 minutes of play, Colorado and Oklahoma State played to a 1-1 tie for the second time this season. The Cowgirls had a number of opportunities to end the game, but Radlinski, playing arguably the strongest game of her career, made six saves in just 20 minutes of extra time.

"It was such an intense game," said Radlinski. "I felt like I had to be on my toes the entire game because they kept coming down at us. When we didn't have the ball it was kind of frantic trying to organize the defense, but we were able to hold them to just one goal. That's when I realized that this was our time. I told myself to stay on my game and keep the team in it and I knew we could win if it went to penalty kicks."

Radlinski finished the game with 12 saves which gives her a new school record of saves in a single game, breaking former keeper Jessica Keller's (2003-05) previous record of 11.

Oklahoma State wrapped up the match outshooting the Buffaloes 28-17, with OSU putting 13 shots on goal to CU's nine. The match proved to be a physical battle as the Buffs recorded 17 fouls to OSU's 10.

In the shootout, CU's Kelly Menachof stepped up to take the first kick but Stigler made the save. OSU's Annika Niemer made her shot, as did CU's Marshall right after to put the score at 1-1. Radlinski would then put the Buffs back in good shape when she saved Melinda Mercado's shot. Senior defender Michelle Wenino made her shot and OSU's Bridget Miller did the same. Freshman Kate Russell converted her first PK has a Buff to put the score at 3-2 Colorado. OSU's Kyndall Treadwell was up next but she was denied by Radlinski, with the lead still favoring CU.

Radlinski would have the chance to end the end the game as she stepped up to take Colorado's fifth kick, but Stigler made a strong save to her right. Even though Radlinski didn't finish the game on a goal, she would do what she does best and save Siera Strawser's kick to allow the Buffs to advance to the Championship game and win the penalty kicks by a score of 3-2.

"Kirstin Radlinski was the star of the game," said Hempen. "She was unbelievable in overtime and that just allowed us to stay in the game because we didn't have a whole lot left. Then for her to make three saves in penalty kicks, you just don't see that a lot.

"You ask your goalkeeper to make one save and we win the game. She made three and we won the game. We missed a couple of our shots and I think that every time you lose an opportunity PK-wise, you have to stop one more and she just rose to the occasion tonight."

"The same thing happened to me in high school when I shot the same way and the keeper saved it and we lost," said Radlinski. "This time I knew I had the opportunity to come back and save it I just told myself that I had to make up for the one that I missed. When she came up, I was watching her body language and was able to fully extend and save it. I walked off and stayed in the zone because I thought that we were still in the game. I didn't realize that it was over until my team was running over to me and tackled me and it was an exciting moment."

This will be the third time since 2005 that Colorado has advanced to the finals of the Big 12 Tournament, giving them the most championship game appearances of any team in that span.

"Our number one goal right now is to get our players as physically back in as we can," said Hempen. "We know that Missouri will wear us out if they win and with Kansas we will have to be at our tactical best to beat them. Again, we put ourselves in position to have a go at the final and we couldn't be more pleased."

The Big 12 Championship game will get underway on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. MST at the Blossom Soccer Complex. The Buffs will face No. 2 seed Missouri after the Tigers advanced by way of penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie with Kansas. Fans can follow the action live at www.big12sports.com and it will be televised via tape delay on Fox Sports Net. Check your local listings.