Posts tagged BYU
CU soccer: Finally—a win over DU
Nov 17th
DENVER – The University of Colorado soccer team finally tasted victory over No. 15 and fourth-seeded Denver when it was most important – in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship.
With less than seven minutes remaining in regulation, senior standout Anne Stuller netted the game-winner to give the Buffs’ the 1-0 victory.
In Stuller and her fellow seniors’ time at CU, the Buffs had never gotten a win over their in-state rival Denver. That changed Saturday in front of a crowd of 1,394 at Denver’s CIBER Field. In just their third win in Denver, the Buffs reclaim the slight series edge over the Pioneers, 9-8-1. The Buffs are now a perfect 2-0 against the Pioneers in NCAA play.
The Buffs got further revenge on the Pioneers after DU claimed a 3-0 win at CIBER Field earlier in the season to put an end to the Buffs’ recording-setting start of six wins to begin the 2013 campaign.
After remaining winless in their final four games of the season, the Buffs improve to 13-6-2 overall (after finishing tied for sixth in the Pac-12 Conference with a league mark of 4-5-2). CU advances to the Round of 32 for the first time since 2007 (when the Buffs fell to No. 3 Portland in the second round of tournament play). The win was the Buffs’ first over a ranked opponent since 2010, when the squad took down No. 12 UCLA and No. 6 Texas A&M in back-to-back games.
Denver suffers just its second loss of the season, falling to 18-2-1 as its impressive season is put to an end.
“First, I want to congratulate Denver on a great season,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said. “They’re worthy of the four seed they got. They had a great season pre-conference and during the conference. As far as the match today, like I told the team, we’re really proud of what this team has accomplished. Last year they finished tied for last place in the Pac-12. They’ve really bought in and done everything we’ve asked them. We’re really proud, especially of our four senior starters, but really everybody. We’re really pleased that we’re able to represent the University of Colorado on this stage.
“Today’s match could have gone either way. I felt both teams played very well. Big moments take special players, and Anne Stuller’s a special player. She came up and made the play when we needed it. Brunner and Lizzy (Herzl) and Hayley (Hughes) and Bianca (Jones) and Alex (Huynh) were rock solid in the back against Kristin Hamilton and Nicholette DiGiacomo and all their dynamic attacking players. We’re just real, real happy to have the opportunity to move on to Florida next week.”
The Buffs just edged the Pioneers in nearly every category. CU outshot DU 15 to 13 (with six on goal to DU’s three). CU also took three more corner kicks (seven to four), helping set up more shooting opportunities at the net. The Buffs’ backline held DU’s two leading scorers and record-breaking seniors Kristen Hamilton and Nicholette DiaGiacomo (who helped Denver become one of just 16 Division I teams with multiple double-digit scorers) to just three shots combined, with none on goal.
In the 84th minute, Brie Hooks was fouled just outside the left corner of the box, setting up the free kick that would give the Buffs the game. Stuller, who’s become known for her killer strike, bent her shot over the wall of defenders, getting the ball to deflect and reach the far post.
“That was all Brie,” Stuller said of the free kick setup that led to the goal. “She’d been putting the defense on their toes all night. She’s so dangerous out of the midfield; she’s really dangerous anywhere. She just came up and attacked the defenders and created a foul. Hats off to her – that was big time by her.”
Stuller, who says her team has been a “treat to play with” and fights every game, continues to shine in her senior season. She adds to her CU single season records with 89 shots and 52 shots on goal. Stuller also ties Katie Griffin for second most points in single season at CU, with 25.
In what has been her best season to date, goalkeeper and co-captain Annie Brunner grabbed three saves and posted her ninth clean sheet of the season, her career-best. She and 2003 Big 12 Championship team member Jessica Keller are the only two Buffs to have at least nine shutouts in a single season. Brunner is now the second-winningest keeper in program history with 32 in her career. Brunner has contributed to 24 shutouts in her career, and in 2013 has posted career-best season totals of 78 saves, a 3.71 save percentage and 0.98 goals-against average.
“I knew it was going to come down to a one-goal game,” Brunner said. “Going into the game, I was just on extreme focus like, ‘Hey I’m going to make one big save this game, maybe two, and we’re going to get one and that’s how we’ll win the game.’ Sure enough, DU started putting a lot of pressure on us in the back and that’s just when you’ve got to step up. Our defense did great blocking shots, and I just had to save a couple of them and that’s how you win.”
In the opening minutes of the game, the Buffs worked to press the net, getting two corner kicks, though the Denver defense prevented them from any looks at the net.
Denver took the first shot of the game in the fourth minute. A wide Nikki Pappalardo found Francesca Garzelloni at the front of the net, but Hayley Hughes forced the ball wide. Hughes was at it again, this time on offense, finding her shot blocked in the 10th minute. The Pioneers continued to make moves in the opening 15 minutes, with DiGiacomo finding an open look in front of the net, but blasting the ball out of the park.
After focusing on defense, the Buffs finally got back into Pioneer territory, with Hooks responding to DiGiacomo, but rushing her shot wide. The Buffs had one of their best opportunities of the half in the 18th minute. From deep left, Hooks found Emily Paxton at the right. Paxton sent a through ball to Stuller at the right post. Stuller aimed her shot at the net, forcing DU keeper Cassidy Rey to dive for the ball at the far post. Though the ball remained in play, a DU defender came into the net to clear the ball.
In the 25th minute, the Pioneers got another opportunity when Pappalardo beat her defender to get the ball in front of the net. After a few touches, Garzelloni hit just over the crossbar.
The Buffs dominated offensively in the final 15 minutes before the break. In the 34th minute, Hooks found her target and made Rey claim her second save. Following a hard foul on Madison Krauser, the Buffs got a free kick off from about 40 yards deep off a late call. Though DU initially got the ball, CU recovered, and Stuller got blocked at the net. CU would take another shot and corner in the final six minutes, but were unable to get a shot past the DU defense.
In the final two minutes before the break, the teams traded free kicks from midfield. DiGiacomo got another shot off for the Pioneers, but the game would remain scoreless at the half. (The Buffs are now 7-5-1 this season when entering halftime in a scoreless tie).
Stuller once again began the half with tough offensive pressure, forcing a corner kick that got to Paxton, whose shot went wide. Though Denver spent a lot of time in CU territory, they were only able to get one shot off and take one corner in the first 10 minutes, though their shot was a big one. In the 51st minute, a CU turnover in front of the DU net nearly cost them a goal. With lots of action and players going down in the box, Brunner grabbed a great save of a Garzelloni shot. The Buffs had several other strong defensive plays, with Bianca Jones helping the Buffs get a goal kick following a DU corner.
CU then went on a shooting spree, taking five shots and three corners in less than 12 minutes, while holding DU to playing defense. The Buffs played together in the 58th minute, with Jerman getting a good read to set up a play that would find Krauser at the left edge. Krasuer rushed in and shot, getting the ball to the center of the net, where Rey grabbed the save. Krauser was at it again just two minutes later, hitting the ball wide this time.
In the 64th minute, Jerman and Brooke Rice worked together to get Jerman in front of the net. She took a close range shot that was saved by Rey’s finger tips. The Buffs then got a corner, and Lizzy Herzl’s header got blocked. The Buffs kept up the pressure, with Jerman this time getting blocked. The Buffs got two more corner kicks, but Denver was finally ready to get on the attack.
It wasn’t until the 72nd minute when DU’s Hamilton was able to take her first (and only) shot. She got an open look from close range, but Brunner was ready as the shot went high. Denver was able to attack again at 75:01, with Pappalardo forcing a save from close range. The Pioneers continued to make the Buffs’ defense work, forcing another great save from Brunner in the 79th minute.
Then, the momentum began to turn the other way, as Denver got back to back fouls that would help spur the Buffs’ scoring drive. In the 81st minute, Alex Huynh took a free kick that was an easy grab for Rey. DU would reclaim possession and get a free kick from 25 yards out, but the Buffs’ came up with big back-to-back blocks.
CU would then rush from one side to the other, with Hooks, who was forcing a lot of aggressive plays out of the DU defense, going down just outside the left corner of the box. Stuller would put her golden boot to use to shoot over the wall and score off a deflection to give the Buffs the 1-0 lead.
“If I strike the ball cleanly and if I get it over the wall, there’s a good chance it’s going to get a rebound or go in,” Stuller said. “That was my focus – just getting over the wall, but not getting over the net. That’s what I try to do when I hit the ball.”
Denver would send everyone forward in the final six minutes, taking three more shots and two corners, but the Buffs would hold strong in the closing minutes to claim the win.
CU joins UCLA and Stanford as the only Pac-12 teams to advance to the Round of 32. With the win over Denver, and a loss by Colorado College on Saturday, CU is also the only in-state team to advance. CU will travel to Tallahassee, Fla. to take on BYU (15-4-1), who defeated Weber State 4-0 in their first round, on Friday, Nov. 22. Though the teams have never met on neutral ground, BYU holds a 3-0-1 lead over CU.
“They’re very good,” Sanchez said. “They’re co-champions in the West Coast Conference, which is one of the top leagues. Obviously I’m familiar with them from back in the Mountain West days. They’re very athletic. They’re very direct. They’re very good. They were probably border line to get a seed as well this year. We know the challenge of that. We’ve actually watched a little bit of them hoping that we’d have the opportunity to advance and face them. We know they’re a great team with a great coach – Jennifer Rockwood’s been there since the start of the program. They’re a perennial tournament team, and we’ll have our hands full, but we’ll start worrying about them tomorrow at practice.”
—
Marlee Horn
Graduate Assistant SID
University of Colorado
Buff cross-countryers ranked nationally pre-season
Aug 27th
XC Men Start Season at No. 3; Women Ranked 14th
NEW ORLEANS – The 2013 cross country season is just about to begin, and once again the University of Colorado men’s and women’s programs are starting off the season on a familiar note as both teams are ranked in the USTFCCCA Top 30 Preseason Poll.
The men’s team is ranked third overall and the women are 14th in the poll. They are both ranked quite high in the regional rankings as well, which came out on Monday afternoon. The women are the top rated team in the Mountain Region and the men are ranked second behind Northern Arizona.
CU’s men are the top Pac-12 program in the national poll, recording 337 points for third-place. Oklahoma State recorded the top place in the poll with 358 points and received 10 of the 12 first-place votes. NAU is second with 349 points and the two remaining first-place votes. The Buffs recorded 30 more points than the fourth-place vote getter, BYU (307).
On the women’s side, Providence is the preseason favorite with 359 points (11 first-place votes). Florida State is second (343) and Oregon is third with 334 points, accompanied by the final first-place vote.
The Buffs will start their season on Saturday, August 31, with the Alumni/Open/Time Trial on CU’s South Campus at the Buffalo Ranch Cross Country Course. The men’s 8-kilometer race is at 8:30 a.m. and the women’s 5.8k will follow at 9 a.m. Parking and admission are free.
[includeme src=”http://c1n.tv/boulder/media/bouldersponsors.html” frameborder=”0″ width=”670″ height=”300″]
CU Buff sports (not so) briefs
Sep 28th
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!
—