Soccer Falls 2-1 in Overtime to Texas A&M

Sunday, November 6

San Antonio, Texas

12 a.m.

Colorado

12-7-3

Texas A&M (Championship)

16-3-2

OT 3

OT 4

Colorado

Texas A&M

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

November 06, 2005 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Lindsay Lew, Associate SID

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Despite tying the game up in the 64th minute of play, the No. 23 ranked University of Colorado women's soccer team could not find the net again and fell to the No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies by a score of 2-1 in double overtime here Sunday afternoon.

"Our kids played incredibly hard and they represented the University of Colorado with the utmost character and class," said head coach Bill Hempen. "I'm very proud of each and every Buff for their effort in the sweltering heat of Texas."

Texas A&M got on the board first, when Kat Krambeer slotted a through ball inside the left of the CU penalty area. CU keeper Kirstin Radlinski came off her line to try and intercept Melissa Garey coming through before she could get a clear shot off, but Garey hit a rocket into the upper left corner of the goal to make it 1-0.

Tricia Regan netted Colorado's lone shot on goal late in the first half. Kathryn Grandinetti played a strong service into the box from the right side, and Regan, playing in the midfield, got a solid head on it and forced A&M keeper Kati Jo Spisak into making a save.

The halftime stats were dead even. Colorado and Texas A&M each had seven shots, with both goalkeepers grabbing one save apiece. A&M was a little heavier on the fouls, with 11 to CU's 5. Garey was also the recipient of a caution after a hard foul on CU's Katie Griffin.

After the halftime whistle, Colorado dominated the play. It would pay off when they found a way to answer the Aggies with a goal of their own. After Katie Griffin took a foul 40 yards out from the A&M goal, the Buffaloes lined up for a free kick. Junior Laura Munnelly dumped a driven service into the box, where it found the head of freshman Alex Cousins. Cousins hit a solid flick with her head with her back towards the goal, and the ball found the back of the net to knot the game at 1-1. It was her first career goal.

"Our immediate reaction when they scored was a bit of panic," said senior defender Darci Smerchek. "But that went away and we found a way to tie it up. Kirstin had some huge saves...she had a really good game today. She had a huge game and I'm fully confident with her behind us."

After the Buffs tied it up, the Aggies fought hard to try and put one in in regulation, but the CU defense was up to the task, while the offense registered a few more scoring opportunities as well. Neither team was able to find the net in regulation, so the teams went to overtime.

A&M got the game-winner in the second overtime. The Aggies took a ball down the left sideline and were able to cut in on the end about 10 yards from the end line. Suzzette Devlin took a ball from Laura Probst and blasted a shot from the left side, about 15 yards out. Radlinski made an awesome diving save to her left, but wasn't able to corral the ball in. It took a lazy bounce over the line and ended the game just 38 seconds into the second overtime period.

"I saw her coming and I stepped out and she hit a hard shot," said Radlinski. "I dove and got a good piece of it but she hit it so hard that I didn't stop it all the way. I tried to get up in time, but as soon as I turned over it just rolled over the line. I don't think I could have gotten to it if I had gotten up."

Three Buffaloes were named to the All-Tournament Team. Senior defender Smerchek, senior midfielder Kat Grandinetti, and junior forward Katie Griffin. Grandinetti had two assists and a goal in the tournament, while Griffin had three goals and an assist.

"We really did believe we were going to win the whole time...it's pretty disappointing," said Smerchek. "But it's okay because we still have the NCAA Tournament and we are going into that playing really well."

The Buffs will find out when they'll be back in action this Monday, Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. MST, when the NCAA announces the field for the 2005 NCAA Soccer Championship. Colorado is 12-7-3 on the season and is expected to earn an at large bid to the tournament. The selection show can be viewed on ESPN News.