Soccer Advances To Big 12 Semifinals With 1-0 Win Over Nebraska

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The No. 16 University of Colorado women's soccer team battled the University of Nebraska and came away with a 1-0 shutout win over the Huskers here Wednesday in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.

With the win, Colorado improves to 14-3-3, while Nebraska falls to 10-9-1.

"After not advancing last year, I am just excited that we get to go on to the next game," said senior defender Michelle Wenino. "Today was a total team effort; everything was there."

It would take some time before Colorado would get things going offensively and Nebraska managed to control the first part of the game in CU's half of the field. The Huskers' best opportunity came in the 32nd minute of the game when Molly Thomas was left wide open for a shot at the top of the goal box. Thomas fired it toward the goal but Buffalo goalkeeper Kirstin Radlinski was able to make the diving save and deflect the ball wide.

With less than three minutes to play in the half, the Buffs nearly got on the board when CU freshman Kelly Butler took a hard shot toward the NU goal but the ball bounced of the crossbar and back into play.

The Buffs and Huskers played to a scoreless first half, with Colorado outshooting Nebraska eight to four.

Colorado returned from half time with a new attitude and the Buffs were determined to take control of the game. Just four minutes into the half, CU would break the scoreless tie and get on the board first.

Senior forward and leading scorer for the Buffs, Gianna DeSaverio, carried the ball down the right side of the Nebraska goal box. DeSaverio crossed the ball toward a pair of players in front of the goal and senior defender Michelle Wenino proved to be the target. Wenino had plenty of time to plant her feet and head the ball in the goal. NU goalkeeper Brittany Pfeil was able to get her hand on the ball, but it had already crossed over the line, giving Colorado the 1-0 lead with 41 minutes remaining in the game.

"I saw two white players standing on the six," said DeSaverio. "I didn't know who was there, but when I looked up and saw that it was Michelle, I knew the ball was going into the back of the net"

"Gianna's ball was the best service I think I've ever had," said Wenino. "The ball went up and kind of died and I had a lot of time. My defender was ahead of me and the whole backside was left open for me to put it away."

Wenino, the 2008 Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, now has two goals on the year and DeSaverio notched her third assist on the season.

"Our center back scores the winning goal," said head coach Bill Hempen. "But she gets forward when she wants to and usually does something good with it, and she certainly did that today. Michelle was the recipient of a great effort by Gianna. That was a great service. She got past a player and attacked the goal line and made something happen. She played a great ball and created that one."

Nebraska would do everything they could to try and tie the game in the remaining minutes, but Colorado's defense showed no signs of letting up. In the last six minutes of the game, Nebraska took six shots, forcing Radlinski to make five saves and preserve the win.

Colorado and Nebraska finished the match taking 12 shots each. The Buffs, however, only managed two shots on goal to Nebraska's six.

"You get one step further in the tournament and it becomes a little tougher," said Hempen. "We were playing a team today that's trying to get into the NCAA tournament. They were fresh and excited to play. Now, the next layer comes off and the team we are going to play will have to do the same thing tonight and both teams will be equally exhausted on Friday. We just hope that we're not as tired as our opponent."

Wenino and the Buffaloes will now prepare to take on the winner of top-seed Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. The game will kick off at 4:30 p.m. MST on Friday, Nov. 7 at the Blossom Soccer Complex in San Antonio. For more information, visit www.big12sports.com.

"Every match up is really tough," said Wenino. "Oklahoma State and Texas Tech have completely different styles of play. It's good to get this win under our belt and now we can focus on the next game."

Soccer Advances To Big 12 Semifinals With 1-0 Win Over Nebraska

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Team Stats

Michelle Wenino

Gianna DeSaverio

Kelly Butler

Amber Bettenhausen

Players Mentioned

Kelly Butler

Gianna DeSaverio

Kirstin Radlinski

Michelle Wenino

Players Mentioned

Kelly Butler

Gianna DeSaverio

Kirstin Radlinski

Michelle Wenino