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Buffs Return To Prentup For Pac-12 Play

QUICKLY: The CU soccer team begins its home Pac-12 Conference schedule at Prentup Field this weekend. The Buffs are unbeaten through four games, losing only once so far this season. CU (6-1-3) takes on Washington and Wash ington State to begin a five-game homestand. The Buffs open against the 7-2-1 Huskies on Friday at 3 p.m. The weekend ends on Sunday as the Buffs take on the Cougars (6-2-1) at 2:30 p.m. Be sure to stick around after Sunday’s game for a special autograph session with the team!

COLORADO VS. WASHINGTON: This will be just the second meeting for the Buffs and Huskies. In their first season in the Pac-12, the Buffs fell 2-1 at Husky Soccer Complex. Anne Stuller scored an unassisted goal to put CU on the board in last year’s defeat.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES: The Huskies have lost two straight. They fell 3-1 to then-ranked No. 17 BYU and were upset by USC in their conference opener. Junior Lindsay Elston, who has six goals and four assists, is one of eight Huskies to score this season. Goalkeeper Kari Davidson leads the Pac-12 in saves.

COLORADO VS. WASHINGTON STATE: This will be the third time the Buffs and Cougars have met. In their first meeting in 2010, CU claimed a 2-1 overtime win. Last season, the Buffs fell 4-0 at Lowe Soccer Field in Pullman, Wash.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS: The Cougars shut out then-ranked No. 2 UCLA last Friday in a scoreless tie, but fell to Santa Clara on Sunday. In their two losses, the Cougars have been blanked 7-0. WSU is an offensive presence, scoring 21 goals this season, including eight by Micaela Castain.

LAST WEEK: CU opened Pac-12 Conference play last Friday at Oregon. Both teams went into the match-up un beaten through their previous three games, and a scoreless double overtime tie extended their streaks. CU goalkeeper Annie Brunner had four saves in her third straight shutout. BUFF BRIGADE: CU fans help give the Buffs a real home field advantage at Prentup. Colorado ranks third in the Pac-12 in attendance, averaging 1,117 fans per game. The Buffs are undefeated in three home games this season.

CU KNOWS NO DEFEAT: CU is currently on a four-game unbeaten streak. The Buffs have shut out their three previous opponents, and six total. CU goalkeeper Annie Brunner leads the Pac-12 in shutouts and is in a four-way tie for third on CU’s single season shutouts list.

WINNING: The Buffs began the 2012 season with an unprecidented five-game unbeaten streak, including three straight shutouts in their opening games, both program firsts. CU has only lost once this season, 4-1 to Denver at the DU

Invitational. The 6-1-2 non-conference start marks just the the fifth time in program history that CU won at least six regular-season non-conference games. The most recent was a 7-1-1 start in 2008.

COLORADO CONNECTIONS: Washington and Washington State have a combined four players from Colorado. UW’s Berkley Gamble and CU’s Anne Stuller and Nikola Machalek are all Boulder natives who attended Fairview. WSU freshman Susie White attended Mountain Vista in Highlands Ranch, as did CU junior Hayley Hughes. Mesa Owsley and Kourtney Guetlein of WSU are from Fort Collins and Monument, respectively.

RECORD BREAKERS: Juniors Annie Brunner and Anne Stuller continue to make their names known in Pac-12 soccer. Brunner leads the Pac-12 with six shutouts and is tied for third with 34 saves this season. She is in a four-way tie for third on CU’s single season shutouts list, and with 13 shutouts in her career, holds down the third spot for most all-time by a Buff. It took Stuller just 106 shots (landing her in a three-way tie on CU’s career list) to also break into CU’s top 10 for shots on goal. She ties Gianna DeSaverio (2007-08) with 50 shots on goal. With seven goals this season, Stuller ties Melissa Cartmell (1999) for fifth on CU’s list of most goals by a junior.

ALL-STAR ATHLETES: Three Buffs have received major honors this season.

Sept. 10-16: Annie Brunner, CU Athlete of the Week

vs. Wyoming        W 2-0     0 goals allowed   4 saves

vs. Air Force         W 2-0     0 goals allowed   4 saves

Brunner has recorded 131 saves all-time, moving past Kara Linder (2006-09) for sixth most for the Buffs. She notched back-to-back shutouts to hold down the sixth spot twice with five shutouts in two different seasons (2010 was her first).

Aug. 27-Sept. 2: Madison Krauser, CU Athlete of the Week

vs. Northwestern                T 2-2      3 shots   1 goal     2 points

Krauser’s first goal of the season came just minutes after captain Amy Barczuk scored in the second half. She is the only freshman to have started every game.

Aug. 20-27: Anne Stuller, Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week, CU Athlete of the Week, Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week

vs. LIU   W 2-0     6 shots   2 goals   4 points

vs. Wright State   W 2-1     5 shots   2 goals   4 points

Stuller joined Nikki Marshall (2006) and Katie Griffin (2005) to become only the third player in CU history to have three multiple goal games in a single season, with her other two-goal game happening at Northern Colorado.

Aug. 13-19: Annie Brunner, Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week

vs. Northern Colorado       W 3-0     0 goals allowed   3 saves

vs. Colorado College           T 0-0      0 goals allowed   5 saves

Brunner shut out both teams in the Colorado Cup and also shut out LIU in the Omni Hotels Colorado Women’s Soccer Classic. It was the first time in CU history the Buffs started their season with three shutouts and the first time since 2008 the team had three shutouts in a row.

Anne Stuller, CU Athlete of the Week

vs. Northern Colorado       W 3-0     3 shots   2 goals   4 points

vs. Colorado College           T 0-0      2 shots

PAC-12 COACHES POLL: Colorado was picked to finish 11th in this year’s Pac-12 Coaches Poll. Stanford, the reigning NCAA Champion, received nine out of 11 possible first-place votes. UCLA, Cal, Oregon State and Washington rounded out the top five. Arizona State and USC followed, with Utah and Washington State tied for eighth. Oregon and Arizona were chosen as 10th and 12th.

COMING UP: Remember the Buffs are also at home next weekend with two big conference matchups. On Friday, Oct. 5, the Buffs take on California at 4 p.m. Crocs will be hosting a shoe donation drop box at the game in conjunction with their Crocs Cares program. The first 100 fans who donate a pair of shoes will receive a $50 Crocs gift card! CU Soccer will play No. 2 Stanford on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. Make sure to arrive early for a special pregame appearance and run by Ralphie!
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