STILLWATER – Oklahoma State’s top-two scorers continued to lead the way as the Cowgirls defeated Mercer, 3-1, Thursday night at Neal Patterson Stadium.
The win was the third straight for OSU, which improved to 6-1-1; Mercer dropped to 4-2-2.
OSU all-time leading goal scorer Grace Yochum netted two goals for the third consecutive game, while Olyvia Dowell finished off the Bears with her fifth of the season. Yochum’s record mark now stands at 40, while Dowell’s goal was the 28th of her career, which moved her into a tie for seventh on the Cowgirls’ all-time list.
After a lengthy string of road matches, the contest marked the first at home for the Cowgirls since Aug. 21 as they improved to 2-0-0 at Patterson Stadium this season.
Cowgirl freshman goalkeeper Jordan Nytes was called into action early against the Bears, diving to her right and snatching a header from Nicole Icen to keep the game tied 0-0 in the 13th minute.
OSU took a lead it never relinquished in the 35th minute when Yochum pounced on a sensational cross from Megan Haines and headed the ball top shelf to the near post from 12-yards out to put the Cowgirls up 1-0. Shyann McClary also notched an assist on the play.
Following the break, Nytes was called into action multiple times in the opening 20 minutes of the half. She would finish the contest with three saves on MU’s six shots.
OSU doubled its lead after a handball in the box by Mercer in the 77th minute as Yochum slid the ensuing penalty past Mercer goalkeeper Lindsay Bell to put the Cowgirls up 2-0.
Mercer would get one back nine minutes later when Aliah Kitchens snuck a header past Nytes to get the Bears on the board at 2-1.
But Dowell answered just 16 seconds later, finishing the scoring for the Cowgirls and putting the match to bed in the 87th minute to secure the 3-1 victory for OSU.
OSU returns to action Sunday when the Cowgirls host 25th-ranked Brown at 1 p.m
