DECATUR, Ala. – Oklahoma City University played to a muddy 3-2 loss to No. 3 seed Azusa Pacific (Calif.) on Monday night at the Jack Allen Soccer Complex.
The Stars ended their season with a mark of 19-3-1 after their loss in the second round of the 2010 NAIA women's soccer championships. The defeat marks the first time the Stars have fallen to an NAIA opponent this season.
“We came up a little bit short in the end, but it was a great season for the girls,” OCU coach Brian Harvey said. “If you've got to go out as a senior, I think it was a good way to go out. It wasn't 3-0, it was 3-2, we were leading twice, it was end-to-end, and they got one or two lucky bounces. The ball stopped in the mud a little bit, and we just came up a little bit short.”
OCU could only muster four shots to Azusa Pacific's 13 in the match, but the Stars scored with both shots fired to the goalkeeper. The Stars defense contributed to Azusa Pacific setting a new national-tournament single-match record for offsides. The Cougars had 13 offsides calls in the match to break the longest standing record of the tournament.
Malin Andersson, a senior from Huskvarna, Sweden, netted the first goal of the match in the 16th minute. The pass and assist came from Sheridan Horner, a sophomore from Choctaw, Okla. Andersson raced up the right side of the of the soggy pitch, fought through traffic and placed the shot out of reach of Azusa Pacific's Alexa Douglas. Andersson's score was her 13th of the season.
The Cougars tied the match in the 31st minute, taking a shot from the left side that made it to the far side of the net. The soft shot caromed off the post and squeaked by Brittany Tibbs to knot the game before halftime.
Azusa Pacific made a charge in the 59th minute with Tibbs making two saves in the span of three seconds to stave off the Cougars. OCU translated its defensive momentum into an offensive opportunity to take its second lead in the match.
Blerta Rashica, a freshman from Orebro, Sweden, got the go-ahead unassisted goal for OCU in the 60th minute, but the Stars' lead evaporated quickly.
The Cougars answered in the 67th minute off a header from Laura Feehs, her second goal of the match. Azusa Pacific remained on the attack and managed to net the eventual game-winning goal for the Cougars in the 82nd minute.
The Stars fought for position to earn an equalizing goal, but with a short clock ticking down to zero, time was not on the side of the Stars.
OCU said goodbye to a senior class that has been a vital piece of the Stars' successes over the past four years. Along with this trip to the NAIA Championships, these women were on the 2008 squad that earned a place in the NAIA Championship Opening Round and a 2007 team that went to the Region VI Tournament semifinals.
“We're really going to miss all of these girls,” Harvey said. “They're going to be very difficult to replace for next season."
Andersson left the Stars as OCU's all-time assist leader with 40 in her career. She set the single-season OCU record with 20 assists this season. She tied for third in the NAIA this season for assists. Over the span of her career, Andersson had 49 goals and 136 points to couple with her school assist record. She was named to the all-Sooner Athletic Conference three times and earned honors as an NAIA all-American in 2008.
Tibbs guarded her post as the OCU goalkeeper, starting the entirety of her collegiate career. She put together 250 saves and 37 shutouts, while only allowing 70 goals through four seasons. Tibbs earned distinction as a member of the all-SAC team in each of her four seasons including goalkeeper of the year honors in 2010. She also got an all-American nod for her efforts in 2007.
Josefine Holmgren, from Huskvarna, Sweden, played the role of central defender for the Stars while netting five goals, seven assists and 17 points in her collegiate career. Holmgren was a two-time all-SAC selection for OCU from her position in the backfield.
Alex Miley, from Edmond, Okla., served as team captain and senior leader for OCU. She amassed 12 goals, 14 assists and 38 points in four seasons for the Stars.
Stephanie Peña, from Tulsa, Okla., contributed two goals, four assists and eight points in her time playing for OCU. Pena's first goal was scored in the National Championships Opening Round match of the 2008 season and her second came on senior night for the Stars.
Coach Harvey would be remiss without showing appreciation and pride in the current senior class at OCU. "They've been a pleasure to work with, and it's been a great ride,” he said.
