Soccer Claims Classic Title

Sunday, September 22

Boulder, Colo.

TBA

Colorado

4-3-0

Maine

2-5-0

Maine

Colorado

September 22, 2002 | Soccer

Box Score

By: CUBuffs.com

BOULDER - Jen Thais and Fran Munnelly scored on penalty kicks in the 31st and 41st minutes while Nicholle Taylor netted the game-winner in the 82nd minute of play to lift Colorado over Maine 3-2 and claim the inaugural Colorado Soccer Classic title at the Pleasant View Soccer Complex here Sunday.

In Sunday's first game, Denver senior Kerri Weaver notched her second goal of the game in the second minute of overtime to avoid the upset and upend Eastern Illinois, 4-3.

With both Colorado and Denver staying unbeaten over the weekend and not playing each other, the Buffs claimed the Classic title by virtue of outscoring Eastern Illinois (4-1) and Maine (3-2) by four goals to Denver's three.

"We tried to play at home with the altitude on our side and get the early lead," said assistant coach Paul Hogan. "After last week, we thought that this weekend would be huge to get us in the right mindset for Big 12 play."

With the win, Colorado improves to 4-3 overall, and has already bettered last season's win total (3) while Maine foes winless for a fifth straight game. No. 21 Denver improves to 4-1-2 overall and Eastern Illinois drops to 2-5-1. The Buffs' seven goals this weekend also marks a program best in a weekend series, bettering the previous mark by two scores.

Fran Munnelly nearly got Colorado on the board first in the 11th minute when she took a free kick outside the box that ricocheted off the left post and went wide right. But the first score would belong to Maine after a five-second span of organized chaos. A Maine cross/shot was cleared by Colorado defender Aimee Bugay on the goal line with 20:43 left in the half before teammate Alyssa Burgess would be issued a caution two seconds later. Three seconds after the caution Jen Buckley headed the ball past Jeanne Rankin on Maine's first shot of the game in the 21st minute of play.

In the 31st minute Tiffany Booth would be fouled inside the goal box and award the Buffs with their first penalty kick of the season. Taking the kick, sophomore Jen Thais threw Maine keeper Naomi Welsch a fake that force Welsch to dive right while Thais placed the ball in the bottom right corner of the net for her first score of the season. Ten minutes later a second Maine foul in the goal box would result in a second penalty kick, successfully converted by Fran Munnelly to send the Buffs into the halftime break with a 2-1 lead and edge in shots (6-2) and corners (3-2).

Colorado's defense would come up with a second incredible team save when Maine's Linda Consolante took a shot in the 52nd minute that was saved by Kristina Lamberty, on her knees, on the left post. Maine would net the equalizer on Erin Corey's shot off a Black Bears' corner in the 80th minute, to tie the score for just the next two minutes.

Jen Thais would attempt her second goal in the 82nd minute, but her shot rebounded off the crossbar and to Taylor would score her third goal of the season, first game-winner just seconds later.

"It was just so quick," commented Taylor. "I thought it was in. I just had to focus and get the ball in. This win was huge going into Big 12s."

In the earlier game of the day, Denver prevented the upset by defeating Eastern Illinois 4-3 in an exciting overtime victory.

In just the second minute of the first overtime, Denver forward Kerri Weaver beat Eastern Illinois goalie Lindsay Dechert in the right corner of the goal to seal the win for the Pioneers. The overtime goal was Weaver's second goal of the game.

Despite having an advantage in shots (21-10) and corner kicks (9-1), Denver had trouble putting Eastern Illinois away. The Pioneers first goal came in the 22nd minute when Melissa Behrent beat starting keeper Tiffany Groene with a header. The goal came off a corner kick and was assisted by Jamie Norwood and Katie Antongiovanni.

Denver's second goal took place in the 41st minute when Kerri Weaver put in a rebound off the crossbar. Denver midfielder Camile Flenniken picked up the assist as she took the initial shot that deflected off the crossbar to Weaver for her first goal of the season.

Eastern Illinois started the second half with a goalie change by putting Lindsay Dechert in net. The Panthers got on the board in the 54th minute when Beth Liesen got an assist from Kim Garkie and put the ball into the left corner of the net for her second goal of the year.

Eastern Illinois then tied the game at two a piece. Rachel Dorfman scored the goal for the Panthers and Liesen and Cara LeMaster picked up the assists. Just two minutes after tying the game, Eastern Illinois took the lead with Liesen's second goal of the game. Denver goalie Erica Izard mishandled the ball and Liesen was there to sneak it behind her, making this the first time Izard has given up three goals this season.

With just six seconds remaining in the game, Denver defender Jamie Norwood beat Dechert to tie the game and send it into overtime where Denver would eventually come away with the victory.

The Buffs open Big 12 Conference play Friday and Sunday at Kansas and Missouri, respectively. Colorado returns to Boulder for their conference home openers homecoming weekend, Oct. 4 and 6 against No. 9 Texas A&M and No. 4 Texas.