Soccer Falls 2-0 to UCLA

Sunday, September 11

Los Angeles, Calif.

12:30 PM

Colorado

1-3-2

UCLA

5-1-0

Colorado

UCLA

September 11, 2005 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Allie Musso, Assistant SID

LOS ANGELES - The third-ranked UCLA women's soccer team handed the University of Colorado its third loss of the season Sunday afternoon, registering a 2-0 victory in CU's final match of the 2005 UCLA Women's Cup. With the loss, the Buffs fall to 1-3-2 overall. UCLA improves to 5-1-0.

The Bruins controlled the opening half and nearly scored in the fourth minute when Danesha Adams sent a shot towards CU's goalkeeper Jessica Keller and was denied by the post. UCLA tried to work the Buffs defense again with back-to-back corner kicks in under a minute and a shot from Caitlin Ursini that ended in one of four saves Keller recorded in today's match. But the Bruins would get on the board in the 15th minute when freshman Kara Lang was able to get her head on a throw-in from Stacy Lindstrom and found the back of the net.

Despite the Bruins aggressive play in the first half, recording six fouls to CU's three, the Buffaloes were able to hold down the defense and keep the Bruins scoreless for the remainder of the half.

The two teams opened the first 15 minutes of the second half evenly matched, without much action in front of the goals. Colorado sophomore Allison Kidd had three of CU's six shots in the match and she continued to put pressure on the Bruin's defense in the 62nd minute as she sent a shot just over the top of the goal, recording her third and final shot.

Just three minutes later, UCLA's McCall Zerboni challenged the Buffs defense with a shot on goal, but it wasn't going to be enough to get by the hands of Keller. In the next 17 seconds, however, the Bruins were able to get Iris Mora on the receiving end of a cross from the left side. Mora was pressured by the defense, but was able to one-touch it to turn around and score, putting the Bruins ahead 2-0.

Trailing 2-0, the Buffaloes turned to forward Katie Griffin to test the Bruin defense. In less than two minutes, Griffin came up with a pair of attempts to give Colorado a chance to get on the board. However, both shots resulted in saves by UCLA's goalkeeper Valerie Henderson.

Despite the much more evenly matched second half, Colorado was unable to finish their chances and closed out the tournament with two losses.

Colorado senior Fran Munnelly, along with freshmen Nikki Keller and Michelle Wenino were named to the All-Tournament team following the match.

All three of Colorado's losses have come from ranked opponents. The Buffs have suffered losses against No. 1 University of North Carolina, No. 22 University of Southern California and the third, today, against No. 3 UCLA. Colorado's 2005 pre-season schedule is perhaps one of the toughest that they've had in school history, marking the first time that the Buffs have ever faced three ranked teams this early in the season.

With this part of the schedule behind them, CU returns home to wrap-up pre-season play on Friday, September 16 when they host the Detroit Titans in the fourth annual Colorado Soccer Classic at 4 p.m. on Prentup Field.