STILLWATER, Okla. (OSU Athletics <http://www.okstate.com>) — Oklahoma State picked up its first win over a ranked opponent this season as the Cowgirls topped 17th-ranked Kansas, 3-0, Friday night at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.

Bridget Miller, Kasey Langdon and Katie Richardson each netted goals in the matchup of teams with the two highest win totals in the Big 12 Conference. OSU improved to 7-3-0 overall and evened its league mark at 1-1-0, while Kansas, which was playing its first Big 12 match of the season, dropped to 7-2-1.

“We were due one,” said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael. “We felt like we’ve played well all year against good teams. The three best teams we’ve played we lost by a goal, but we’ve been in all of them. We really felt we were due to explode against somebody, and it actually happened tonight.

“The key to success was our midfield really shut down their midfield and worked really hard to do it. (Kansas’s) midfield is very good at passing and moving and very good at possession. We challenged our group, and they responded. They were kind of the springboard that allowed our forwards to play.”

One of those midfielders helped OSU get on the scoreboard early. Just over 16 minutes into the match, Miller took a shot that ricochetted off the near post, past KU goalie Julie Hanley and over the line to give the Cowgirls a 1-0 lead. The goal, which was assisted by Colleen Dougherty, was the second of Miller’s career and first since her freshman season in 2006.

OSU took the 1-0 lead into intermission after its defense came up big just before the half when Melinda Mercado made a great defensive play by kicking the ball away from Whitney Berry, who was racing towards the box.

The Cowgirls needed just seven minutes to increase their lead in the second half. After the Jayhawks were whistled for a foul, Mercado took the free kick from 65-yards out. KU defender Kim Boyer whiffed going for the ball, and her failure to clear it allowed Langdon to sweep in, secure the ball and send a shot into the back of the net.

The score was Langdon’s third of the season and ended a drought of six-straight games without a goal for the All-Big 12 forward.

“It always feels great to score, but it’s even better because I haven’t been scoring lately,” Langdon said. “To get one in really gets me out of my dry spell.

“We really wanted to score coming out of the half and put the game away, and we were able to do that. It’s a big win for us, and it’s exciting because we performed well and we keep improving with every game.”

If Langdon’s goal didn’t seal the win, Richardson’s certainly did. In the 75th minute, the junior forward won the ball about 35-yards out, beat her defender and sent a shot off the hand of Hanley to give OSU a 3-0 cushion.

OSU’s win was huge for a team looking to defend its Big 12 championship, said Carmichael.

“They stepped it up because they know we needed to win,” Carmichael said. “We knew we needed to take care of our business and win. We’re at home, and we’ve been in close games and lost. Our kids had a sense of urgency to win this game.”

OSU returns to action Sunday with a 1 p.m. match at Missouri.

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