Soccer Falls To Oregon 2-1

Sunday, September 6

Boulder, Colo.

1 p.m.

Colorado

3-2-0

Oregon

2-1-1

Oregon

Colorado

Photo by: Ray Miller

September 06, 2009 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Aaron Lopez, Denver Nuggets

BOULDER - The 15th-ranked University of Colorado women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to the University of Oregon in the final game of the Colorado Soccer Classic here Sunday afternoon.

"Oregon is a great team, and after such an emotional and difficult game Friday against DU we simply did not have the same energy today," said head coach Bill Hempen. "Oregon did a great job and we weren't as sharp as we could have been."

Oregon (2-1-1), who tied Colgate in Boulder on Friday, would get on the board first in the 15th minute when Jen Stoltenberg carried the ball into the middle of the box. Stoltenberg dribbled around a pair of Buffalo defenders and fired a hard shot toward the goal that hit that glanced off the crossbar and bounced into the CU net for the 1-0 lead.

Colorado (3-2), despite outshooting the Ducks seven to three, was unable to capitalize on its first half opportunities. CU and Oregon both recorded a pair of shots on goal.

Both the Buffs and the Ducks kept the tempo high entering the second half, and Oregon's would Stoltenberg keep the pressure on the CU defense, as she notched her second goal of the game in the 59th minute.

The Buffaloes, facing a two-goal deficit, responded less than four minutes later with a goal of their own. Freshman Shaye Marshall trapped a cross from sophomore Kelly Butler at the top of the goal box and immediately blasted a shot into the back of the net, bringing the Buffs within one goal with just under 25 minutes left to play. The goal was Marshall's first of her career.

"It was definitely really exciting (scoring first collegiate goal)," said Marshall. "It was a great feeling, but of course we would have preferred the win.

"We came out a little slow today. It is never easy when you find yourself in a deficit. Next week we can't wait for things to happen. We have to bring more energy and execute our plays all game instead of just in the second half."

With five minutes left in the game, CU would fire three consecutive shots toward the Oregon goal, hoping for at least one to slip through, but the Buffs were unable to get the ball in the back of the net. Sophomore Kassidy Fitzpatrick, junior Amanda Foulk, and senior Nikki Marshall each took hard shots on frame, but between the Oregon goalkeeper and her defense, they would keep the Buffs from tying the game.

Colorado wrapped up the match outshooting Oregon 18 to nine, with the Ducks tallying four saves to CU keeper Kara Linder's two. Senior Nikki Marshall led all Buffs with five shots, two of which were on goal.

"It is difficult playing a game Friday and coming right back Sunday," added Hempen. "For our young players, they simply just have to get adjusted to the college level. It is nothing you can tell them to do, it is something that they will learn on their own."

Colorado takes the field again next week when it hosts No. 21 Utah on Friday, Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. The Buffs will then travel to Gainesville, Fla. to take on No. 6 Florida on Sunday, Sept. 13.

"For now, we have to move on and concentrate on next week," said Hempen. "Our schedule doesn't get any easier and that just comes with being a part of such a strong program. We will continue to work hard and play better."

CU will be celebrating sisterly love at Prentup Field against Utah in honor of the great sister duos that have starred as Buffs in recent years. There will be a special halftime recognition with Fran and Laura Munnelly and postgame, fans will have a chance to meet, greet, and get autographs with the Marshall and Munnelly sisters. In addition, the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a FREE CU inflatable pennant.