Sunday, September 30
Boulder, Colo.
TBA
Colorado
1-5-1, 0-1-1Big 12
2
vs
2
Texas A&M
4-2-1, 1-0-1Big 12
1
2
OT 5
OT 6
F
Texas A&M
2
0
0
0
2
Colorado
0
2
0
0
2
Colorado Ties Up No. 9 Texas A&M, 2-2, In Longest Game In CU History
September 30, 2001 | Soccer
BOULDER - Colorado freshman Jen Thais scored her second goal of the season with 20 seconds remaining in regulation to send the Buffs' Big 12 Conference match vs. No. 9 Texas A&M into overtime, where neither team could capitalize on two additional 15-minute periods to knot the game at 2-2, at the Pleasant View Soccer Complex here Sunday.
In the longest game in CU's six year history, going the full distance at 120 minutes, the result was CU's best effort vs. a ranked opponent since a 3-2 overtime win against then-No. 22 Waco in 1997, and the Buffs' pair of goals was their best offensive effort vs. an Aggie team in the same span. The double overtime session was just the second in program history, and second in as many seasons as last year's loss was decided in the 116th minute of play.
Today's tie combined with Friday's 3-2 loss to Texas puts the Buffs at 1-5-1 overall/0-1-1 in Big 12 play. Texas A&M is 4-2- 1/1-0-1 in Big 12 play after the conference opening weekend.
"I'm just happy that these kids didn't have to walk away from this game with a loss," said Colorado head coach Bill Hempen. "We've accepted the fate of the preseason and in the Big 12 season we were hoping to make some noise. This wasn't a big bang, but it sure was a tremor."
Texas A&M took a 2-0 lead into the halftime break when Kristen Strutz took a pass from Andrea Starns in the 16th minute and converted a shot that had gone off CU's Heather Hawkins which was nearly ruled an own goal had the goal not been a direct result of the momentum on the initial shot from Strutz. The Aggies made it a two-goal advantage when Emma Smith finished off a series that included a shot, save, rebound and assists from Nicky Thrasher and Strutz.
It was almost a 3-0 Aggie lead at halftime when Nicky Thrasher took a pass from Smith inside the goal box with 13:48 remaining before Colorado keeper Whitney Peterson made one of her seven saves laying on her side, outstretched to her right as Thrasher was trying to kick the ball from her grasp.
"Today we showed what kind of team we are," said Peterson of the complete team effort. "We're figuring out what we expect from each, and what Bill expects from us. We're more confident."
Almost four minutes into the second half, freshman walkon Alyssa Burgess scored her first career goal when she took a pass from classmate Danielle Bickley at the top of the box and sailed it passed a diving Esther Thompson.
Both teams would battle over possessions over the next 40 minutes before Colorado freshman Jennifer Thais would send the game into overtime when she scrambled to put her second goal of the season in the net off a feed from Heather Zonker and Danielle Bickley.
"We were running on pure adrenaline at that point of the game, "said Thais. "We have so much heart and just really wanted to win that game."
The Buffs continue their Big 12 campaign away from Boulder Friday and Sunday, Oct. 5 and 7 at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, respectively. "We have to make sure that we play as hard as we played today. We can't play to the level of our opponents like we did against Wyoming. We've got to keep up the effort and concentration," said Peterson.
In the longest game in CU's six year history, going the full distance at 120 minutes, the result was CU's best effort vs. a ranked opponent since a 3-2 overtime win against then-No. 22 Waco in 1997, and the Buffs' pair of goals was their best offensive effort vs. an Aggie team in the same span. The double overtime session was just the second in program history, and second in as many seasons as last year's loss was decided in the 116th minute of play.
Today's tie combined with Friday's 3-2 loss to Texas puts the Buffs at 1-5-1 overall/0-1-1 in Big 12 play. Texas A&M is 4-2- 1/1-0-1 in Big 12 play after the conference opening weekend.
"I'm just happy that these kids didn't have to walk away from this game with a loss," said Colorado head coach Bill Hempen. "We've accepted the fate of the preseason and in the Big 12 season we were hoping to make some noise. This wasn't a big bang, but it sure was a tremor."
Texas A&M took a 2-0 lead into the halftime break when Kristen Strutz took a pass from Andrea Starns in the 16th minute and converted a shot that had gone off CU's Heather Hawkins which was nearly ruled an own goal had the goal not been a direct result of the momentum on the initial shot from Strutz. The Aggies made it a two-goal advantage when Emma Smith finished off a series that included a shot, save, rebound and assists from Nicky Thrasher and Strutz.
It was almost a 3-0 Aggie lead at halftime when Nicky Thrasher took a pass from Smith inside the goal box with 13:48 remaining before Colorado keeper Whitney Peterson made one of her seven saves laying on her side, outstretched to her right as Thrasher was trying to kick the ball from her grasp.
"Today we showed what kind of team we are," said Peterson of the complete team effort. "We're figuring out what we expect from each, and what Bill expects from us. We're more confident."
Almost four minutes into the second half, freshman walkon Alyssa Burgess scored her first career goal when she took a pass from classmate Danielle Bickley at the top of the box and sailed it passed a diving Esther Thompson.
Both teams would battle over possessions over the next 40 minutes before Colorado freshman Jennifer Thais would send the game into overtime when she scrambled to put her second goal of the season in the net off a feed from Heather Zonker and Danielle Bickley.
"We were running on pure adrenaline at that point of the game, "said Thais. "We have so much heart and just really wanted to win that game."
The Buffs continue their Big 12 campaign away from Boulder Friday and Sunday, Oct. 5 and 7 at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, respectively. "We have to make sure that we play as hard as we played today. We can't play to the level of our opponents like we did against Wyoming. We've got to keep up the effort and concentration," said Peterson.
Team Stats
TAMU
CU
Goals
2
2
Shots
19
12
Shots on Goal
9
4
Saves
2
7
Corners
8
5
Fouls
13
10
Scoring Plays
TEAM
16:30
Smith, Emma
Assisted By: Thrasher, Nicky , Strutz, Kristen
Off rebound
39:52
Burgess,Alyssa (1)
Assisted By: Bickley,Danielle
Top of the box
48:42
Thais,Jen (2)
Assisted By: Zonker,Heather , Bickley,Danielle
89:40
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
2
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ SoccerM
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
GK
/ SoccerM
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