OBU Athletics
Jordan Beech, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications
CONWAY, Ark. – A nine-goal second half helped Oklahoma Baptist pull away against Hendrix College on Friday night in the Lady Bison’s season opener. It’s the first time OBU has opened up their season with a win since 2016.
Lauren McCormack paced a young Lady Bison team that started six freshmen and sophomores with six goals while also controlling 11 draws.
The Lady Bison and Warriors traded goals to start the first half, but OBU eventually pulled created some distance. After two OBU players received back-to-back yellow cards, the Lady Bison defense stood tall, holding Hendrix without a shot while playing 7-versus-5. That defense sparked OBU’s offense and saw Emery Kennedy score her first career goal in the Green-and-Gold to put OBU up 6-3.
McCormack took the opening draw of the second half straight through the heart of the Warriors’ defense to set the tone out of the break. Though OBU played woman-down for the final three minutes due to yellow card accumulation, the Lady Bison saw out the victory.
“We had a long layoff between our fall scrimmage and our season opener, and I think it showed a little at the start,” OBU head coach Jordan Beech said. “It was a solid start against a well-coached team that definitely showed us where we need to improve ahead of next week.”
McCormack led the team with six goals, followed by Devin Miller with three and Taylor Skomp and Madison Gordon each with two. Gordon, Kennedy, Morgan McCoy and Miller all scored their first goals as Lady Bison.
Courtney Barnickle went the distance in goal for OBU, collecting 14 saves against just nine goals allowed.
Oklahoma Baptist (1-0) returns to action next Friday, Feb. 22 when they make the trip to Leavenworth, Kansas, to face Saint Mary at 4 p.m.