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Oklahoma State's Krista Lopez Will Hope To Break A Scoring Slump on Friday Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff

(2) Oklahoma State (19-1-2, 6-0-2, 1st Big XII) vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff (13-4-1, 9-0-0, 1st SWAC)

When – Friday, November 11, 8:00 PM EST

Where – Cowgirl Soccer Complex, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Quick Reaction – OSU certainly didn’t get any favors in this quadrant of the bracket.

Oklahoma State Thus Far – After last season’s thrilling campaign that ended with a trip to the Elite Eight, many eyes were on OSU as potential College Cup contenders. The Cowgirls certainly passed every early test put in front of them, though some would argue that the Big XII side’s record was partly a product of a schedule that saw them open up with eight straight teams that would finish outside of the uRPI Top 100. Three straight wins over San Diego, BYU, and Utah State would calm some of the critics down, and OSU would go on to win four in a row to inch closer to a league title. The team’s 100% record would be ended by perennial thorn in the side Texas in Stillwater, meaning OSU would need to avoid defeat in College Station to stay in pole position for the title. That they did, playing out a combative scoreless draw against the Aggies, with the Cowgirls wrapping up the league title a week later with a win against Texas Tech. Colin Carmichael’s squad would make hard work of Oklahoma and Texas in the first two rounds of the Big XII Tournament before a rematch with Texas A&M; in the Big XII Tournament final. The second time around was just as tight as the first, but the Cowgirls would suffer their first defeat of the season in crushing fashion as A&M; scored with just seconds left in regulation to take a 1-0 win. The defeat may have cost OSU a #1 seed in addition to an extra piece of silverware.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff Thus Far – The Golden Lions are a long way away from the club that won just a single game in both 2006 and 2007. A steadily improving side in the SWAC, UAPB entered 2011 as one of the favorites in the conference along with Jackson State. The team would learn some hard lessons in non-conference play, losing their first four though they played Mississippi State and Southern Miss very close on the day. UAPB would come close to beating Arkansas State as well, leading the Sun Belt side 4-2 with less than a minute remaining before conceding twice and having to settle for a 4-4 draw. The Golden Lions would finally break through with a win against Central Arkansas before starting SWAC play. All they’ve done is win since that draw with Arkansas State. UAPB’s now won thirteen straight matches and essentially crushed every SWAC side in their path to the league’s auto bid. Rather interestingly, UAPB does not enter this tournament as the field’s lowest ranked team in the RPI, that honor falling to Montana. It’s a signal that Roberto Mazza’s team may be one of the best ever to emerge from the SWAC.

Who to Watch

Oklahoma State

Melinda Mercado (D) – Two-time Big XII Defensive Player of the Year is one of the best defenders in the country and a dominant force at the back for OSU.
Adrianna Franch (GK) – U.S. U23 international in goal might have best reflexes in college ranks. An undisputed difference maker in goal.
Carson Michalowski (D) – The other half of the Cowgirls’ Twin Towers at the back but no less talented than Mercado.
Krista Lopez (F) – Team’s top offensive option hasn’t hit heights of last year’s breakout season. Worries mounting over form though after scoring drought that has hit over a month.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Silvia Fuentes (F) – JUCO legend had twenty-eight assists this year, tied for sixth all-time in DI history. Adding to that total here would make her a cult heroine.
Rachel Harker (M) – Canadian senior helps steady the Golden Lions and led team in SWAC divisional scoring with four goals.
Nicole Parks-Powell (F) – Massive (6’1″) senior forward had eleven goals this year, but just one against SWAC divisional foes.
Erika Forbes (D) – Another Canadian stalwart for Mazza’s side who’ll have to play the match of her life for her side to have any chance at all.

Best WPS Prospect – Franch is close to being a lock for the top goalkeeper selected in next year’s WPS Draft and is a real sleeper in the race for the USWNT’s next #1.

Palatable? – UAPB’s one of the best SWAC teams that’s ever come out of the woefully underfunded conference but got an impossible draw. It’s hard to see this one staying competitive for more than a half-hour.

Famous Last Words – A UAPB win would be the biggest upset in the history of the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Lions have enough experience and a smattering of talent to not get totally humiliated, but anything other than a heavy defeat would be a real surprise.

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