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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Katie Killion
4
Winner Central Missouri UCM (19-4-1 (8-2-1 MIAA))
3
Central Oklahoma UCO (22-2-0 (10-1-0 MIAA))
Winner
Central Missouri UCM
(19-4-1 (8-2-1 MIAA))
4
Final
3
Central Oklahoma UCO
(22-2-0 (10-1-0 MIAA))
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Central Missouri UCM 1 2 1 4
Central Oklahoma UCO 2 1 0 3

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Chris Brannick

UCO's Historic Season Ends In Central Regional Final

ALLENDALE, Mich. - The University of Central Oklahoma soccer team's season came crashing to an end in overtime of the 2018 NCAA Tournament Central Regional Final after a 4-3 loss against Central Missouri.

The Jennies scored the sudden-victory goal in the 98th minute to win the game, advance in the tournament, and end the Bronchos' season at 22-2.

"This team fought to the very end," UCO head soccer coach Mike Cook said. "We certainly had a chance to win this game and keep it going, but we didn't. I just want to say how proud I am of the team. This team accomplished so much. They won more games than any other UCO team in history and made it pretty far in the postseason. They can certainly be proud of that at the end of the day. It's a tough way to end it, but I'm proud of them for everything they accomplished."

Morgan Cherry opened the scoring early Friday, with a 17th-minute goal to put the Bronchos on the board. The moved slow early, with both teams searching to find their footing. UCO earned a few quick shots as did Central Missouri. Through 15 minutes of play it appeared the game might be a low scoring affair. Then Cherry struck.

The senior from Allen, Texas found space on the right side of the field after receiving a pass from Katie Killion, and manuevered through the defense. As soon as she had her shot, she took and put the Bronchos on the board.

Killion then took her turn. She got a pass from Casey Herndon about 20 yards out in front of the net. After doing some manuevering of her own through a trio of Central Missouri defenders, the senior from Broken Arrow, Okla. fired a missile from about 12 yards out and put Central Oklahoma up 2-0 in the 27th minute.

Central Missouri got on the board with a 34th-minute goal from Courtney Killian. UCM earned an easy opportunity when Kelsey Mueller and Jada Scott made a pair of quick passes to give Killian an easy shot from the right side of the box.

The Bronchos out-shot Central Missouri 13-6 in the first half, putting six shots on goal to UCM's four. Kelsi Gibson made three first-half saves to preserve the Broncho lead.

Asha Haile wasted no time in the second half getting the Bronchos a 3-1 lead. In the 49th minute, the junior from Norman, Okla. took a short pass from Killion on a fastbreak and buried her 18th goal of the season. 

But Central Missouri  then had the quick response, adding a second goal in the 50th minute to make it 3-2. Scott took a shot that Gibson deflected and as Broncho defender Kelsey Gordon tried to clear the ball off the back line, she hit it right into the foot of Central Missouri's Makayla Toth and into the goal. 

The Jennies tied the game in the 83rd minute with Toth scoring her second goal of the game. That scored would be the overtime-forcing goal in the match. Friday was Central Oklahoma's first overtime game of the 2018 season.

Killion had a chance early in the 10-minute overtime period, but her shot missed just wide. The Bronchos ended the day with 24 total shots, 11 on goal, and out-shot UCM 2-1 in overtime. But it was Central Missouri's lone OT shot that ended it.

Central Oklahoma finished the season 22-2. It's the most wins in school history. The 16-game win streak to start the season is also the most in school history.
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