Soccer Ties Nebraska 1-1 in Lincoln

Friday, September 29

Lincoln, Neb.

3 p.m.

Colorado

6-2-2, 1-1-1Big 12

Nebraska

6-2-3, 1-1-1Big 12

OT 3

OT 4

Colorado

Nebraska

Photo by: Chip Bromfield, ProMotion Ltd.

September 29, 2006 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Lindsay Lew, Associate SID

LINCOLN, Neb. - The University of Colorado women's soccer team fought for 110 minutes here Friday afternoon and came away with a 1-1 tie against the University of Nebraska at the Nebraska Soccer Field.

"It was an exciting game end-to-end, a very competitive match," said CU head coach Bill Hempen. "There were very few instances where anyone backed out of challenges. We weren't quite engaged in the physical nature of the first half, but once we got the idea that that was the only way we would succeed, we had to jump in and match their intensity and we did that quite well."

The first half went by without a goal for either team for the second game in a row. Colorado led the shot statistics with 10 shots to Nebraska's seven. None of the Huskers' first half shots were on goal, while the Buffs forced Nebraska keeper Jamie Klages into three first half saves.

In the second half of action, Nebraska got on the board first. Ashya Jamani got the ball off a quick restart following a save by Jamie Klages on a Nikki Marshall shot. Jamani fired a shot that sophomore goalkeeper Kirstin Radlinski saved initially but couldn't corral in. Nebraska's Brittany Timko was there to put home the rebound giving NU a 1-0 lead at the 50:07 mark of the game. It was Timko's eighth goal of the season.

Colorado tied things up thanks to the freshman Marshall. She raced downfield after a ball and NU's Jamie Klages came off her line to challenge. Klages got there first, and tried to kick the ball out but Marshall got in front of her and blocked it, took a few dribbles and hit a shot that hit the post. Marshall continued to follow the play and was able to get to the rebound and she tucked her second opportunity away to knot up the game at 1-1 at the 68:51 mark. It was Marshall's eighth goal of the season and her first in Big 12 play, and her first since CU's 2-1 win over Utah.

"Alex (Cousins) played it through to me and I just ran onto it and shot it past the goalie," said Marshall. "It hit the post and came right back at me and I put it back in so that was lucky. The upperclassmen had told me before that the Big 12 is rough, and I didn't really realize what they meant by that and now I get it. It's a privilege to play with girls that play that hard in this conference and it's cool. It's respectable."

Radlinski came up big several times in the second half for Colorado after the Timko goal. She made five saves after Nebraska took the lead, three after the Buffs tied things up. Her efforts paid off as neither team would score and they would go to overtime.

Neither team would get a shot on goal in the first overtime. Marshall had a few chances up top, as did the Husker offense, but neither team would get one in. The same was true of the second overtime. Nebraska got their best chance of the extra period with 1:11 left when Jamani found herself open in front of the CU goal after a soft clearance by Radlinski, but she hit it over the goal and that ended the Husker threat.

"Kirstin made some really good saves, but she also about ended my life and she literally passed it to Ashya who took one look at the goal and luckily for us chipped it over," said Hempen.

Marshall ended the match with a game high and career high 10 shots, just two of which were on goal, thanks to several blocks by the Husker defenders. Radlinski wrapped up the game with seven saves on 27 shots, while Klages had four saves on 25 CU shots. The Huskers were whistled for 26 fouls, with Colorado getting called for 12.

"At first, we tried to play our game of possession and Nebraska plays a different type of game that really clashes with ours," said senior midfielder Allie True, who finished with six shots. "We had to change our tactics and adjust and we worked really hard. As far as scoring, the ball didn't bounce our way when we were trying to finish. We played really hard. Nebraska is constantly pressuring you and so you have to always be aware of where you are they will knock you down if you don't play quickly. If you aren't ready for them it is going to be a rough game for you."

Freshman Kelly Ross made the first start of her career, starting at outside midfield. She replaced junior Maura Gentile in the lineup, who was lost for the duration of the season with a torn ACL suffered against Oklahoma State. Katie Griffin made her return after sitting out the last two games with a sprained ankle. This is Colorado's second tie of the season, the last coming in the season opener against Vanderbilt. This game marked the second start in a row for Radlinski, who also earned her first win of the season. Libby Doyne also saw the most action of her career, playing the entire second half en route to 51 minutes.

"The style of the game dictated the kind of play we get from Libby, so I put her in and she did what I asked her to do and did quite good," said Hempen. "I didn't leave her in because that's her first real playing time in that environment and I didn't think her legs would stay with her, so I put in ?Q' (Jess Quador) in the overtime and she did quite well. That type of game is a test if you really want to play soccer at this level, that kind of game separates the ones that want to and can from the ones who don't want to do it anymore."

The Buffs (6-2-2, 1-1-1 Big 12) will return home to face the Wyoming Cowgirls (5-4-2) on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. at Prentup Field. The teams tied last year in Denver 1-1 in double overtime. Admission and parking at all regular season Colorado soccer games are free.