Unlucky Chances Contribute To Colorado Loss

Sunday, October 16

Boulder, Colo.

1:00 p.m.

Colorado

3-9-2, 0-5-1Pac-12

Oregon

7-7-1, 2-4-0Pac-12

Oregon

Colorado

Photo by: Scott Arnold, ProMotion Ltd.

October 16, 2011 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Taylor Temby, Graduate Assistant SID

BOULDER - Colorado changed up its lineup in hopes of finding a different outcome, but the Buffs lost to Oregon 3-1 at Prentup Field and dropped to 3-9-2 overall on Sunday afternoon.
It was evident from the kickoff it was going to be an aggressive match. Senior Caroline Danneberg went down with an injury just two minutes into play and had to be replaced. Amy Steiner was also injured later in the game, and neither player returned.

"[Before today] we were down to three subs," CU head coach Bill Hempen said. "And then Caroline gets hurt and we carry her off, and we carry [Amy] Steiner off-now we're literally down to one sub."

Colorado was also without defender Hayley Hughes who was sitting out due to a red card she received against Washington State last week.

Despite its short bench, CU took control of the game early, but suffered from a few unlucky plays throughout the game.

With just 26 minutes remaining in the first half, Amy Barczuk played a beautiful through-ball to Carly Bolyard who was able to spin around her defender and get a hard shot off. Oregon keeper Lindsay Parlee made the save and immediately booted the ball down the field. Her kick took an unlucky bounce for the Buffs and went over the defense to a charging Bri Pugh. Pugh, who played high school soccer in Highlands Ranch, Colo., was able to chip the ball over CU keeper Annie Brunner and into the goal to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead.

Colorado suffered another unlucky play just three minutes later when a cross by Oregon's Maddy Mercier hit the arm of Amy Steiner in the box. A hand ball was called and the Ducks were awarded a penalty kick. Scout Libke beat Brunner to the top left corner on the kick for her third goal of the season, and gave her team a comfortable 2-0 lead.

The Buffaloes picked up their play and dominated the rest of the half, but were unable to score.

Stuller hit a free kick with 19 minutes remaining in the half that made Parlee scramble in the box. She was able to knock the ball wide, but gave the Buffs a corner kick. Colorado had six corner kicks to Oregon's one in the first half.

Brunner kept the Buffs alive with a great save in the final two minutes before halftime. Oregon made a hard rush downfield led by Achijah Berry, but her shot was punched away by Brunner. The Buffs were behind 2-0-despite outshooting Oregon 6-5-at the end of one.

Colorado came out where it left off and took it to the Ducks in the second half. Freshman Storie Ledger got open in the Oregon goal box and put a shot off the crossbar just six minutes into second half play.

In the 72nd minute, Oregon's Ryann Davie was barely able to get past CU's Anne Stuller-who was playing defense instead of her normal forward position-and cross the ball to Ally Aschbacher who had snuck into the box behind CU's defense. She was able to shoot the ball past Brunner and give her team a 3-0 lead.

Stuller fought back and stopped a breakaway chance just minutes later. Hempen said he had to ask for volunteers to play defense today because of all of the injuries, and Stuller was the first to raise her hand.

"I'm really impressed with [Stuller] today, because she plays with a really big heart and it showed today," Hempen said.

"She did a great job back there. She saved a one-on-one and made some really good tackles," added Kate Russell.

The rest of his team continued to show its determination and tremendous effort. In the 76th minute, Ledger found herself open in the box again and gave a bouncing pass to Russell who was able to tap the ball in past Abby Steele for her third goal of the season. Despite being down 3-1, CU showed it was going to fight until the end.

The Buffaloes' assistant coaches Chris Gnehm and Tracy Chao took over head coaching duties when Hempen was given a red card in the 77th minute.

Colorado could not score again, and the game ended in disappointment.

"We've had so many games we're clearly in, and that we can clearly win, so it is discouraging when we're missing those opportunities to come out on top," said Russell. "Everyone on the team is working hard, doing the best we can. Every game we're right there in it. Everyone's just working hard, and you can't be mad at that."

Colorado will head to California this week to play two tough matches. CU will face Cal on Friday, Oct. 21, and Stanford on Sunday, Oct. 23.