STILLWATER, Okla. – The No. 4-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team fell to No. 6 Oklahoma State, 2-1, in double overtime on Friday night at Neal Patterson Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.
After scoring the game-tying goal in the 76th minute to eventually force extra time, the Mountaineers conceded a golden goal with just 26 seconds to play in the second overtime period. The dramatic conclusion was just part of a tightly-contested match between two top-10 squads.
“I thought everyone put their hearts on their sleeves and went after it tonight,” WVU coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. “We had chances, and we had some really good moments, but, unfortunately, we weren’t able to complete it.
“Sometimes losses can be the best lessons. Now, we have to be even more determined and focused to make sure we fix our mistakes in order to win next Friday at home.”
WVU (2-1, 2-1 Big 12) was able to create offensive pressure early on. First, senior midfielder Stefany Ferrer-vanGinkel attempted a shot from the top of the box in the ninth minute, but it sailed high over the goal. Later, sophomore forward Enzi Broussard’s nice run into the scoring area allowed her to take on a shot from distance. However, the 19th-minute chance rolled wide of the net.
In the 24th minute, junior midfielder Isabella Sibley connected on a shot from 20-yards out, which was saved by the Oklahoma State keeper. West Virginia outshot the hosts, 6-3, in the opening 45 minutes, but the two teams returned to the locker room for halftime in a scoreless tie.
The Cowgirls (3-0, 3-0 Big 12) struck first in the 51st minute on a counter-attack goal. A few minutes later, junior goalkeeper Maddie Murphy came off her line to scoop up a loose ball inside the box, preventing another OSU scoring chance.
That led to a pair of chances by sophomore defender Julianne Vallerand and junior forward Alina Stahl in the 64th and 71st minute, respectively, but neither shot found the back of the net.
Then, Ferrer-vanGinkel tied the match at 1 in the 76th minute off an unusual free kick. The Barcelona, Spain, native hit the cross bar before the ball deflected off the Cowgirl keeper and into the goal for the equalizer. The tally marked Ferrer-vanGinkel’s second goal of the campaign.
Redshirt junior forward Lauren Segalla nearly won it for the Mountaineers as time expired in regulation, but her attempt to the far post was pushed aside for a Mountaineer corner kick.
After neither team could muster a goal in the first overtime, the Cowgirls won it in the 110th minute when a scramble in front of the goal led to an open look. With the loss, WVU fell to 9-2 all-time against Oklahoma State, including 3-1 in Stillwater. Ten of the two schools’ 11 meetings have ended in a one-goal affair.
WVU held a 13-11 advantage in shots in the loss, while OSU led in shots on goal, 7-6. The Cowgirls also recorded seven corner kicks, to West Virginia’s four.
Murphy made a career-high five saves in the setback. Offensively, Ferrer-vanGinkel paced the team with four shots.
Next up, the Mountaineers return home to take on Texas on Friday, Oct. 2. Kickoff at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET.
