SOCCER PICKS UP FIRST WIN OVER HUSKERS 3-1

Friday, October 31

Boulder, Colo.

2:00 PM

Colorado

15-2-1, 8-1-1Big 12

Nebraska

11-6-1, 6-4-0Big 12

Nebraska

Colorado

October 31, 2003 | Soccer

Box Score

By: CUBuffs.com

BOULDER - The University of Colorado soccer team wrapped up regular season play with a 3-1 victory over Nebraska at Pleasant View Soccer Complex Friday afternoon. On an ice-covered field, the Buffs got their first ever win over Nebraska in what was the coldest soccer game in Colorado history. Colorado seniors Heather Hawkins, Emily Barnes and Orly Ripmaster played their final regular season home game in the frigid 27-degree weather.

With the win Colorado improves to 15-2-1 overall and a conference best 8-1-1 in Big 12 play, while Nebraska falls to 11-6-1/ 6-4-0.

"I was shocked at the number of people who were here early especially with the 2 o'clock start, then the weather, that's awesome," said head coach Bill Hempen on the crowd of 684. "We've had good crowds all year long. I'm really happy that they like what they see and they keep coming back."

Nebraska jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the 16th minute with Lindsey Ingram netting the first goal of the game. Huskers' forward Ashley Carter slipped past the CU defense and found Ingram on the right side of the field, who one-timed it past Colorado keeper Jessica Keller, who picked up her 14th win of the year.

Colorado was quick to respond as forward Jen Thais evened the score at 1-1 just two minutes later. Thais received a pass from CU forward Kathryn Grandinetti and beat Nebraska Keeper Brooke Bredenberg from 30-yards out for her fourth goal of the season.

Two minutes after Colorado got on the board, the Buffs took a 2-1 lead on a Katie Griffin goal. In the 19th minute Thais knocked the ball to Griffin who trapped it and volleyed it in over the head of Bredenberg. Griffin's 10th goal of the season extended her school record for the most goals in a single season.

Nebraska came close to evening the contest with less than five minutes remaining in the first half. Keller knocked down a header by Husker Ashley Carter and CU defender Tricia Regan was quick to clear the rebound, preserving the Buff's 2-1 lead going in to the half.

Colorado was awarded a penalty kick after a streaking Griffin was taken down by a Nebraska defender in the box in the 58th minute. Fran Munnelly converted the PK by beating Bredenberg in the lower left corner of the goal.

"The last penalty kick I took in a game I missed, so I kind of took it upon myself to get some confidence back in it and really hit it home," said Munnelly. "There's 12-feet of goal and one foot of goalie so it's all mental. It was good to get in and it made me happy."

Keller helped the Buffs maintain their two-goal lead late in the second half. She came deep out of goal to clear the ball but had to scramble back to the net and make a one-handed diving save on an Ashley Carter shot that came off of Keller's clear.

"I am not a fan of these conditions and I was really nervous at first," stated Keller. "I just had to make sure that I had my body behind the ball on every shot and I played through it well."

All three Colorado seniors were in the starting line-up for the Buffs in their regular season finale. Emily Barnes started her first career game for the Buffs, and Hawkins started her first game since the 2001 season. Ripmaster was in the starting line-up for the 18th time in her first season at Colorado.

"It was an amazing feeling being out there and beating Nebraska for the first time in team history," said Hawkins. "This means so much to me. Everybody was ready and gave it their all."

The Colorado Buffaloes enter next week's Big 12 Tournament as the top seed and will take on No. 8 Missouri (9-9-1 overall/3-6-1 Big 12) on Thursday, November 6th at 10:00am MST in San Antonio. The game will be a rematch of last years first round tournament play when the Buffs took on Missouri and defeated the Tigers 1-0.

"It's going to be a completely different situation. Going in as a five seed and an underdog is a lot different than going in as a one seed and expecting to win," said Hempen. "I think the Big 12 is really good one through eight, you know even nine and 10 are difficult to play again. It's just going to be a battle, but we're looking forward to it."