TicketsCINCINNATI— Late-game heroics from senior forward Ellie Flower led the University of Cincinnati women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Oklahoma State on Thursday inside Gettler Stadium.
Cincinnati picked up its second conference win of the year and improved to 3-6-4 (2-2-2), while Oklahoma State moved to 11-4-0 (4-2-0).
After drawing a foul 20 yards out, junior forward Fran Stables sent a free kick shot that bounced off both the crossbar and Oklahoma State goalkeeper Grace Gordon before Flower cleaned up the mess, tapping in the game-winning goal in the 82-second minute.
The goal marked the Cincinnati native's third of the season (a career-high) and the fifth of her career. As her breakout season continues, she currently is tied for the team lead in goals (three) and shots (16).
"She has been so great for us and has a knack for the goal," head coach Erica Demers said. "She anticipates where she thinks the ball will go. We told the team at halftime that we thought it was going to be a mistake that would change the game. I told them to make sure we weren't the ones making that mistake. Fran [Stables] putting the ball where it was there was so technical. She practices this every day after training, and it shows. She makes it hard for the goalkeeper and then Ellie [Flower] toe pokes it in."
Battling tough rainy conditions, the Bearcats pushed the offensive envelope, outshooting the Cowgirls, 12-5, including supplying the majority of offensive chances in the first half, leading the shot totals 5-1.
The UC defense did its part by holding Oklahoma State to its lowest offensive shot total of the season with just five. The Cowgirls entered the match averaging 20 shots per game.
Senior goalkeeper Anna Rexford only faced three shots on the goal as she claimed her third clean sheet of the season and her 14th career shutout, which tied her with former Bearcat Tracy Hale for the seventh-most in program history.
The victory was also Rexford's 22nd career win, which broke a tie with Hale for the sixth-most in program history.
The Bearcats tied a season-high with six players logging the full 90 in Thursday's match. Graduate student defender Ashley Barron played the full 90 for the fifth straight game and has achieved the feat in all but two of the teams' 13 matches this season.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will be back inside Gettler Stadium on Sunday for an afternoon match against Oklahoma. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ESPN+ / Big 12 Now.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's soccer, please visit GoBEARCATS.com and follow @GoBearcatsWSOC on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Cincinnati picked up its second conference win of the year and improved to 3-6-4 (2-2-2), while Oklahoma State moved to 11-4-0 (4-2-0).
After drawing a foul 20 yards out, junior forward Fran Stables sent a free kick shot that bounced off both the crossbar and Oklahoma State goalkeeper Grace Gordon before Flower cleaned up the mess, tapping in the game-winning goal in the 82-second minute.
The goal marked the Cincinnati native's third of the season (a career-high) and the fifth of her career. As her breakout season continues, she currently is tied for the team lead in goals (three) and shots (16).
"She has been so great for us and has a knack for the goal," head coach Erica Demers said. "She anticipates where she thinks the ball will go. We told the team at halftime that we thought it was going to be a mistake that would change the game. I told them to make sure we weren't the ones making that mistake. Fran [Stables] putting the ball where it was there was so technical. She practices this every day after training, and it shows. She makes it hard for the goalkeeper and then Ellie [Flower] toe pokes it in."
Battling tough rainy conditions, the Bearcats pushed the offensive envelope, outshooting the Cowgirls, 12-5, including supplying the majority of offensive chances in the first half, leading the shot totals 5-1.
The UC defense did its part by holding Oklahoma State to its lowest offensive shot total of the season with just five. The Cowgirls entered the match averaging 20 shots per game.
Senior goalkeeper Anna Rexford only faced three shots on the goal as she claimed her third clean sheet of the season and her 14th career shutout, which tied her with former Bearcat Tracy Hale for the seventh-most in program history.
The victory was also Rexford's 22nd career win, which broke a tie with Hale for the sixth-most in program history.
The Bearcats tied a season-high with six players logging the full 90 in Thursday's match. Graduate student defender Ashley Barron played the full 90 for the fifth straight game and has achieved the feat in all but two of the teams' 13 matches this season.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will be back inside Gettler Stadium on Sunday for an afternoon match against Oklahoma. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ESPN+ / Big 12 Now.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's soccer, please visit GoBEARCATS.com and follow @GoBearcatsWSOC on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.