Colorado
8-6-2, 3-3-2Big 12
Oklahoma
11-6-0, 4-4-0Big 12
Soccer Upends Oklahoma 2-1
October 25, 2002 | Soccer
BOULDERÂ - Colorado scored its first goal of the season directly off a corner kick when Ashlie Mihalcin's header off a Fran Munnelly kick and Michelle Matassa touch in the 42nd minute proved to be the game-winner as the Buffs beat Oklahoma for the first time since 1998, 2-1.
"It really means a lot," said senior Meghan Swanzy on her first career win versus the Sooners. "Last year they really killed us so it is nice to get them back. But the best part is making our position in the Big 12 Tournament a little more certain."
The win puts the Buffs at 8-6-2/3-3-2 in Big 12 play as CU's unbeaten streak now stands at five games, the longest since an identical streak during the 1999 campaign. Oklahoma, which blanked the Buffs 4-0 a year ago, lost its third straight and falls to 11-6/4-4. The win also puts the Buffs three points closer to qualifying for November's Big 12 Tournament.
"It gets us one step closer, but there are so many teams with the same number of points," said head coach Bill Hempen. "I feel a lot better about it after this game, but I feel like we need at least one more point. We'd like six (with wins over Oklahoma State and Nebraska), but I think we're in with one."
Colorado was being outshot 5-3 halfway through the opening stanza when the Buffs went on the offensive, with four shots in a span of 2 minutes 38 seconds. Munnelly's third shot of the game came in the 31st minute on a free kick and hit the left post, which rebounded to Jen Thais, whose follow went high. In the 33rd minute Alyssa Burgess' shot was blocked and the rebound and shot, by Munnelly, was tipped out of bounds off the post by Oklahoma keeper Catherine Wade.
The Buffs would get two mores shots off to OU's one before a corner kick taken by Munnelly in the 42nd minute would be the set up for Mihalcin's second goal of the conference season.
"We've practicing that play a lot," explained Mihalcin. "I just kept running hard and fortunately got the goal." After trailing 5-3 in shots, the Buffs would go into the intermission with the 11-6 edge in shots, and the 1-0 lead on the scoreboard.
Oklahoma nearly knotted the game at a goal each when Logan Womack's shot from from 10 yards in front of the net in the 61st minute ricocheted of the left post and along the goal line before being jumped on by CU's Sara Erskine, who improved to 5-2-2 with today's win. "I've gotten a lot more experience and feel more comfortable back there (in goal)," said Erskine. The defense and I are working really well together."
Munnelly's next two shots were near misses as her attempt in the 61st minute hit the crossbar and her shot in the 68th minute off a free kick was headed for the low left corner when Wade got her fingertips on it for the save. Nicholle Taylor's attempt 20 seconds fell short of the right post.
The Buffs made it a 2-0 contest when Kristina Lamberty netted her second of the season in the 76th minute off an Ashlie Mihalcin and Jessie Chrismer combination play. But the celebration was short lived as five seconds later, Oklahoma's Shannon Wing took a Heidi Kohlbacher shot that rebounded, and put it past Erskine.
Immediately following a goalie change in the 78th minute, the Sooners would make a late-game run for the tie, taking three of the game's last four shots. Colorado's defense, paced by senior Aimee Bugay who had her share of clears in the closing minutes, held off the OU attack and a goalie kick by Erksine with seconds remaining on the clock closed the game.
"The defense is playing really well and not making costly mistakes," complemented Hempen. "Mentally, we are staying in the whole game, and it is showing."
The Buffs continue their Sooner State homestand when the Buffs close out their regular season home slate against Oklahoma State Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will mark the last home match for seniors Aimee Bugay, Sara Erskine, Lindsey Galas, Heather Hawkins, Tiffany Booth, Regan Howard and Meghan Swanzy.
Team Stats
Mihalcin,Ashlie (2)
Assisted By: Munnelly,Fran , Matassa,Michelle
Header off a corner
41:23
Lamberty,Kristina (2)
Assisted By: Chrismer,Jessie , Mihalcin,Ashlie
75:53
Wing, Shannon (3)
Off a rebound
75:58
