EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma soccer program might have just 22 seasons to its history, but that doesn't mean there aren't significant accomplishments along the way. A recent update to the program's page on bronchosports.com revealed some key moments and milestones that are the subject of this Friday Feature.
Mike Cook started the Central Oklahoma soccer program from scratch back in 1998, which isn't far behind the NCAA's sponsoring of the sport just a decade earlier. Cook, who still coaches today, wasted little time putting UCO on the map. Now, 22 seasons and 323 victories later, there's no questioning the prowess of the program in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Here are a handful of notes that tell a little about the level Cook's Bronchos have reached.
The first official soccer game in UCO history took place on September 5, 1998. The Bronchos fell short that Saturday against St. Edward's in Austin, Texas.
The first victory in program history came four days later, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, when Central beat Science & Arts, 2-0.
The first home game in school history happened on Sunday, September 13, 1998 against St. Gregory's. UCO won 3-0.
Central went 11-9-0 in 1998's inaugural campaign. The Bronchos would post 15 consecutive winning seasons from 1998-2012.
The 2000 squad: Just the third team in school history and one of the best, the 2000 version of the Bronchos brought home the first conference title, made the first trip to the NCAA Tournament, and finished the year posting a 21-3-0 overall record. UCO posted five team records that season too, including points (246), goals (84), assists (78), shots (608), and shots on goal (331).
There are also six individual school records from the 2000 season. Eventual UCO Hall of Famer Sally Holmes posted 81 points, 35 goals, 171 shots, and 96 shots on goal. Jeorgia McGinty also set a school record with 14 assists that season, and Lauren Vogel's 98 saves is a record too.
UCO posted a similar season in 2002, again winning the Lone Star Conference Championship, making another trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Bronchos went 20-3-0 that season, including a nine-game win streak to open the season, a record then that stood from 2002-2018. We'll end with another highlight, and school record, from the 2002 squad.
An interesting note about the 2002 team. UCO played three consecutive overtime games – the final game of the regular season and both of its LSC Tournament games. It's the only instance of three straight overtime games in school history. And … Central won all three.
The 2003 team (15-5-2) made the NCAA Tournament too and gave Central its first ever back-to-back trips to the annual postseason gauntlet. After a one-year absence from the tourney, UCO made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2005, 2006, and 2007. That stretch remains a record today.
Central Oklahoma has made 14 trips to the NCAA Tournament in school history: 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019. The Bronchos have a 7-10-3 all-time record in the NCAA Tournament.
UCO has had 116 all-conference selections during its 22-year history. The Bronchos, members of the Lone Star Conference from 1998-2010, had 82 selections during that stretch and has 38 selections since joining the MIAA in 2012. Three squads, 2000, 2007, and 2018, have posted a school record nine all-conference selections. UCO has also won numerous conference postseason awards. The Bronchos earned 17 awards in the LSC – seven defensive player of the year, five offensive player of the year, and five freshman of the year awards. Central has earned five in the MIAA – one defensive, one offensive, one goalkeeper of the year and two freshman of the year awards.
In 2004, though the Bronchos didn't make the NCAA Tournament that year, UCO did get its first All-American selection in defender Stephanie Gulisao, who was a Third Team All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Central Oklahoma has had 10 players earn All-American honors a combined 11 times. The Bronchos had an All-American in four consecutive years (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007). Gulisao was the first in 2004, Lindsey Hull, Melissa Terry, Carmen Davis, Alli Miller, Jordan Hutchison, Quinn Tookey, Katie Killion, Kelsey Gordon, and Kelsie Eason followed.
UCO's All-Americans include six defenders, two midfielders, and two forwards.
Kelsie Eason became the first two-time All-American in school history in 2019. She earned Third Team All-American honors from the Conference Commissioner's Association in 2018 before earning Second Team All-American honors from the United Soccer Coaches' in 2019.
Katie Killion, who earned First Team All-American honors in 2018, was also named National Player of the Year that season, the first time any Broncho has earned that award.
Killion led the country in goals scored – 30 – and also had 13 assists that season. She led the Bronchos on what is arguably the best season in school history.
The 2018 squad finished the season 22-2. It was the third 20-win season in school history and is a record for most wins in one season. Two losses are also a record for fewest in a single season. The Bronchos added a 16-0 start to the season for another school record. That is also a record for the longest win streak in school history.
In 2018, UCO swept the postseason awards slate from the MIAA. Killion was named Offensive Player of the Year, Kelsey Gordon was named Defensive Player of the Year, Kelsi Gibson was named Goalkeeper of the Year, and Taryn Kedzior was named Freshman of the Year. Killion, Gordon, and Eason all earned All-American honors that year, the first time Central had multiple selections in one season.
Now, shutouts. They don't always mean a victory. There have been a handful of 0-0 ties at UCO. But shutouts are the ultimate sign of dominance over an opponent. And at UCO, it's happened quite often. The Bronchos have recorded at least two shutouts in every single season they've played. UCO set a school record with 15 shutouts during the 2002 season. A record six consecutive shutouts have happened five times.
So how many times has UCO shutout an opponent? How about, 213 times!
There are really countless milestones, achievements, and more great notes that didn't make it in today's highlighting of the UCO soccer program. They all absolutely deserve to. We at UCO athletics hope this spotlight shines as bright on the soccer program as the program does for the university.
