Keller's Late Goal Puts CU Past Panthers 1-0

Sunday, September 18

Boulder, Colo.

12 p.m.

Colorado

3-3-1

Pittsburgh

2-4-1

Pittsburgh

Colorado

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

September 18, 2005 | Soccer

Box Score

By: CUBuffs.com

BOULDER - For all of the straight-on, line-drive lasers the Colorado offense put in the direction of the Pittsburgh goal, turns out soft shot with a little spin on it is all the Buffaloes needed.

Colorado freshman Nikki Keller tallied her first career goal with just 6:49 remaining in the second half to give the Buffaloes a 1-0 decision over Pittsburgh in the final game of the fourth annual Colorado Soccer Classic Sunday afternoon at Prentup Field.

CU improves to 3-3-1 overall and pitched a shut out in the tournament after defeating Detroit 3-0 on Friday. Pittsburgh falls to 2-4-1 overall. Despite a 2-0 record for the weekend, the Buffaloes finished second in the tournament behind Denver, 4-2 victors over Detroit in the early game. The Pioneers, who shut out Pittsburgh 2-0 on Friday, claimed the title on the third tie-breaker, which was goals scored over the two games (DU: 6, CU: 4).

Through the first 83 minutes of the game, Colorado had out shot Pittsburgh 22-2, but only seven of those Buffs shots were on goal and all seven of those were right at Pittsburgh goal keeper Jamie Pelusi.

Keller then took matters into her own hands, or feet for that matter.

As the clock ticked under seven minutes, Pittsburgh had possession, in its own end, just outside the goal box. Keller made an aggressive move to force the turnover on the left side, dribbled the ball through the middle of the Panthers' defense. Just when the angle seemed to be gone, Keller pitched a soft liner towards the right post. The ball looked to be heading wide, but the ball's spin forced it back left, just between the post and the out-stretched hands of Pelusi.

"I just went for it," Keller said of her game-winning shot. "I didn't think it was going in, because I was so tired at the end of it. We just kept going at it (Keller and the Panthers defender) and I got a lucky bounce and barely rolled in on the side. I was aiming there, but I didn't know if it would get there because it was a little slow."

Pelusi had a solid game for the Panthers. She saved the other eight shots she faced, including a diving stop of an absolute rocket off the foot of CU senior Kathryn Grandinetti just three minutes after Keller's goal. Pelusi also thwarted numerous CU scoring chances throughout the game, intercepting crossing passes in mid-air before ever reaching their intended target.

The Colorado defensive backfield made life easy for senior goal keeper Jessica Keller, keeping Pittsburgh out of the offensive zone for most of the game. Pittsburgh's two shots came in the first half, only one was on goal, and they came within 20 seconds of each other. Panther midfielder Jennifer Kritch had a shot blocked by a CU defender which went over the end line to allow Pittsburgh's only corner kick of the day. Kritch took the subsequent corner kick, which was headed by Corina Sebesta on goal, but right at Keller for the save.

"The defense did a good job," CU head coach Bill Hempen said. "I think they (Pittsburgh) got tired because we held the ball so much which eventually got us a seam to stick one in.

"The kids did a great job. We're trying so hard, I just didn't want them to get frustrated because that just compounds the problem. We just kept battling and stuck one in today."

Colorado opens Big 12 Conference action on Friday, Sept. 23, against Nebraska at 4 p.m. at Prentup Field.