Impenetrable Medina Leading Cowgirls

The Oklahoma State Cowgirls are currently riding a six-game winning streak thanks to a secret weapon protecting the net.

Goalkeeper Rosa Medina caught fire in mid-September and the rest of the Cowgirl squad joined their senior leader.

After what seemed to be a lost season thanks to six straight losses and numerous injuries, Oklahoma State started a six-game home stretch to quickly turn the season around, in which Medina recorded four shutouts.

The Cowgirls began their run with a 2-1 victory over Cal Poly, in which Medina tallied seven saves while allowing the lone goal, however, the goalie was just getting warmed up. Medina returned to the field two days later to hold Tennessee-Martin scoreless in a, 1-0, defensive battle to capture her first shutout of the season.

After a weekend with mediocre competition, the Cowgirls would face tougher foes in the OSU Invitational the following weekend. Medina proved her first shutout wasn't a fluke by posting back-to-back shutouts, this time against Memphis in another, 1-0, OSU victory. Medina also held a two-loss Tulsa squad to one goal just a few days later to extend the Cowgirls' streak to four games and end the OSU Invitational undefeated.

Medina was coming off what appeared to be the best weekend of the veteran's career, but she outdone herself this past weekend.

The brick wall didn't allow a goal in two game games. Medina boosted Oklahoma State to its first conference win over Iowa State and also blanked Dayton the following Sunday for her fourth shutout in less than a month.

"Brilliant, brilliant," OSU coach Colin Carmichael said of Medina's recent performances. "Especially in the last probably eight games. I thought early on she made a mistake against Oklahoma that cost us and credit to her, she shook that right off and came against Arkansas and played well and since than she's been solid. Now she's really starting to make some big saves. The Iowa State game she made two huge saves to keep them off the score sheet. I'm really pleased with Rosa, hope it continues, but she's done a great job."

Medina kicked off her senior campaign in the worst way possible after allowing an easy goal to Oklahoma and falling to the Bedlam rival, 2-0. Her woes continued and Medina gave up fifteen goals in the first half of the season, but since than she has only allowed two.

"Maybe confidence," Carmichael said was the difference in Medina's performance. "I think like any kid when you're getting shutouts and you're not giving up any goals, you feel better about yourself. She's a senior, she made a mistake early and she's bounced back from it really well, I'm very proud of her."

Carmichael may not be wrong about the reason behind his goalkeeper's success.

"I feel good (about my performances), it gives me confidence," Medina said after the victory against Iowa State.

Rather it be confidence, talent, or just pure luck, Medina and the Cowgirls will need it all to maintain their winning streak on the road this weekend. Oklahoma State will travel to Lawrence, Kan. Friday night to challenge the top twenty Jayhawks. Kansas is supporting an 11-1 record and also has two conference wins under its belt.

The road trip doesn't get any easier on Sunday against No. 8 Texas Tech. The Red Raiders were flawless until falling to Texas in overtime in their last match to bring their record to 10-1.

"Can't wait for these two games, two really good teams," said Carmichael. "A chance to test how far we've come over the last three weeks. We feel like we've got players healthy, they've trained together, we've kind of made strides each week in my opinion and now it's a chance to test ourselves against really good teams."