CU Falls to DU After Penalty Kick

Saturday, September 4

Denver, Colo.

7 p.m.

Colorado

2-1-0

Denver

2-1-0

Colorado

Denver

Photo by: Tony Harman

September 04, 2010 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Cydney Ricker, Graduate Assistant SID

DENVER - The University of Colorado women's soccer team fell to the University of Denver 2-1 after a successful penalty kick with less than a minute left in the game Saturday evening at CIBER Field.

"I still think we have a really good team," said head coach Bill Hempen. "We just have to be prepared to do better the next time. I really can't fault effort as much as execution."

Colorado's record falls to 2-1 on the season while the Pioneers snag their second win to put them up 2-1.

Just over six minutes into the first half, the Pioneers made it onto the scoreboard after a corner kick was delivered to Jessy Battelli who was right in front of the goal. Battelli's head connected with the ball and sent the ball sailing just over the top of CU goalkeeper Annie Brunner into the goal to put Denver up 1-0.

This was the first time Brunner has given up a goal in the three games she has been CU's starting goalkeeper.

Although they were down by one, the Buffaloes seemed to take control of the game throughout the first half and continued to stay aggressive in front of the goal. They fired a total of five shots on goal at the DU keeper just in the first half.

In the 38th minute of the game, Hayley Hughes struck the ball from 18 yards out. The ball deflected off the back of DU defender Alexis Hanks and changed directions just at the top of the goal box and ricocheted into the bottom left side of the goal.

Hughes' goal tied the game 1-1 going into halftime after scoring her first collegiate goal at CU.

With just under 11 minutes left in the game, Anne Stuller passed it to Kassidy Fitpatrick in the center of the field. Fitzpatrick shot the ball into the goal, but it was stopped by Campbell on the right side of the goal box and the score stayed tied 1-1.

It was obvious that a key component to DU's defensive effort was that of Campbell in the goal. Campbell recorded a total of six saves throughout the game.

"Their keeper made some blinding saves," Hempen said.

In an attempt to take the lead, DU's Kalie Vaughn beat Amy Barczuk at midfield and went sprinting towards the goal. Brunner left the goal and leaped to stop the ball just at the top of the box. The referee called a foul on Brunner, and a penalty kick was awarded to the Pioneers with just under a minute left to play.

Nicholette DiGiacomo went one-on-one with Brunner in the goal. DiGiacomo's shot flew past Brunner on the left side to secure the win for DU, 2-1.
What seemed to be a controversial call resulted in DU's favor and lost CU the game.

The Buffaloes dropped their first game of the 2010 season after a nail-biting ending, but look forward to their second game of the DU Invitational.

The Buffs will take on UNLV at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 6 at CIBER Field. This will be the first time the two teams have ever met on the soccer field.