Box Score EDMOND, Okla. – On a cold and overcast day, the SWOSU soccer team lost 3-1 on the road to the Central Oklahoma Bronchos. The first half was another tremendous defensive effort for SWOSU. Then in the second half, Quinn Tookey, Ashley McDaniel and Lexi Carroll all scored for the home side, while
Shelley Mueller scored one late for the Bulldogs.
Five minutes after the starting whistle blew, Central Oklahoma collected the ball off a bad touch and fired a shot wide of the post. Within the first ten minutes, the Bulldogs defensive line had already weathered three shots, with Flores being called into action on the third for her first save of the game.
Due to a wardrobe issue, SWOSU ended up playing the next 10 minutes of the match down a man. Thanks to the veteran leadership of
Charlotte Eastman and
Randa Castleberry, Flores only had to face two shots on frame which she was able to comfortably save. Finally, the Bulldogs were able to get back to even strength and Eastman took the first shot of the game for the visitors off a free kick just outside the box that went wide.
As half time drew near, SWOSU picked up the attacking pressure considerably.
Olivia Butler, earning her second straight start, forced Central Oklahoma's keeper Brandi Bartley into a pair of saves. The team went into the half deadlocked at 0-0.
The second half started largely the same as the first, with Flores again being called to make a tremendous save one on one. Carroll broke through the back line and fired a shot low, but Flores immediately dropped to the ground and pushed the ball out for a throw in.
UCO finally broke through in the 55th minute from a corner. Emily Hahn took a shot that rebounded to Tookey who put it into the top right corner of the goal. The Bronchos managed to double their lead almost immediately after the restart on a cross from Carroll that saw McDaniel hit it over the head of Flores and into the goal. The two teams traded possession in the middle of the field for the next 10 minutes before a foul in the box gave Carroll a chance at the spot. She converted the PK to push the lead to 3-0.
The Bulldogs upped the pressure searching for a way back into the game. In the 66th minute, Butler found herself on the counter and put in a cross that went over the heads of a trailing
Cori Kelly and Mueller in the box. SWOSU finally found the back of the net in the 76th minute when Kelly fed a through ball to Mueller. From 20 yards out, Mueller put in a hard low shot that beat Bartley. It was Mueller's first goal of the season and of her career.
Kelly almost pulled another one back for the Bulldogs in the 89th minute on a low shot to the near post, but Bartley scooped it up for the save. The final whistle blew soon after.
Action resumes Sunday at 1 PM when the Bulldogs return to the SWOSU Athletic Complex to host the Midwestern State Mustangs.
