Sunday, February 12
Louisville, Ky.
10:00 AM
Colorado
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Louisville
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Colorado
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Liz Phillips and Sophie Halus prepare for a draw control against Louisville
Photo by: Louisville Sports Information
Buffs Close Opening Weekend With Louisville Loss
February 12, 2023 | Lacrosse
LOUISVILLE – The Colorado Lacrosse team struggled to keep up with Louisville in a 12-5 loss to the Cardinals here at the UofL Lacrosse Field Sunday afternoon.
The Buffaloes weren't able to get enough production on offense today, scoring just five goals on 19 total shots on goal. Despite committing less turnovers and winning more draw controls, Colorado's time of possession did not compare to Louisville's which limited CU's scoring opportunities.
Colorado (0-2) suffered large scoring runs made by the Cardinals (1-1) who just came off a close 5-4 loss to No. 9-ranked Denver, Colorado's next opponent.
In the first quarter, Colorado kept it close, allowing just one goal; however it was in the second quarter where Louisville started to gain momentum.
"We saw some sparks on defense in both games, and we can build off of that, but we have to be able to sustain it for 60 minutes," coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "We are capable of carrying this team defensively, but we have to lock it in for 60 minutes and a full 90 seconds each possession."
CU faced a 5-1 deficit heading into halftime, before coming out firing in the third quarter. The Buffs were able to come within one goal at 5-4, but then it was all Louisville from that point on as the Cardinals scored seven unanswered goals in the final two quarters.
"Offensively we have to shoot better," Whidden said. "We have to commit to running our offense with purpose and aggressiveness, but be patient enough to wait for great opportunities."
Charlie Rudy recorded another hat trick with her performance today after she scored four goals against Vanderbilt in the season opener. Sam McGee and Morgan Pence were the only other Buffs to put a goal in the back of the net this afternoon, each scoring one goal.
Grace Donnelly and Danielle Heintz split time in net once again for Colorado. Donnelly, who played in the first half, recorded four saves on nine shots on goal while Heintz recorded five saves on 12 shots on goal in the second half.
"Our schedule is built for us to have to compete every play to win," Whidden commented. "We have some great opportunities ahead of us, and we have to decide today who we want to be and if we want to claw our way out of this or just continue to settle."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Only one goal was scored in the first quarter, and it came from Louisville in the opening minutes of the game. Colorado took nine shots in the quarter, five of which were on goal, and all saved by the Cardinals goalkeeper.
In the second, Louisville struck again to take a 2-0 lead with 9:31 remaining in the half. Rudy put CU on the board with an unassisted goal, bringing the Buffs within one at 2-1. Following Rudy's goal, the Cardinals responded with three unanswered goals to lead 5-1 at halftime.
Rudy maneuvered her way through the Louisville defense to score her second goal of the game 2:36 into the third quarter. Two minutes later, McGee scored on a great quick-stick finish on an assist from Pence to
cut the Colorado deficit to just two at 5-3. Rudy then recorded her second hat trick of the season after intercepting a loose ball near the goalkeeper and burying a goal on the doorstep to make it 5-4. After the Buffs had thought they were coming back, Louisville scored five straight goals to extend its lead to five at 10-4. CU called a timeout with 41 seconds left in the quarter as a result.
The Cardinals scored two more goals in the fourth quarter to bring their total to 12. The Buffs scored one more goal with just under 4:30 to go, but it wasn't nearly enough as Louisville won 12-5.
UP NEXT:
Colorado Lacrosse will play the Denver Pioneers in its first home game of the season on Saturday, February 18th at 1:00 p.m. MT.
The Buffaloes weren't able to get enough production on offense today, scoring just five goals on 19 total shots on goal. Despite committing less turnovers and winning more draw controls, Colorado's time of possession did not compare to Louisville's which limited CU's scoring opportunities.
Colorado (0-2) suffered large scoring runs made by the Cardinals (1-1) who just came off a close 5-4 loss to No. 9-ranked Denver, Colorado's next opponent.
In the first quarter, Colorado kept it close, allowing just one goal; however it was in the second quarter where Louisville started to gain momentum.
"We saw some sparks on defense in both games, and we can build off of that, but we have to be able to sustain it for 60 minutes," coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "We are capable of carrying this team defensively, but we have to lock it in for 60 minutes and a full 90 seconds each possession."
CU faced a 5-1 deficit heading into halftime, before coming out firing in the third quarter. The Buffs were able to come within one goal at 5-4, but then it was all Louisville from that point on as the Cardinals scored seven unanswered goals in the final two quarters.
"Offensively we have to shoot better," Whidden said. "We have to commit to running our offense with purpose and aggressiveness, but be patient enough to wait for great opportunities."
Charlie Rudy recorded another hat trick with her performance today after she scored four goals against Vanderbilt in the season opener. Sam McGee and Morgan Pence were the only other Buffs to put a goal in the back of the net this afternoon, each scoring one goal.
Grace Donnelly and Danielle Heintz split time in net once again for Colorado. Donnelly, who played in the first half, recorded four saves on nine shots on goal while Heintz recorded five saves on 12 shots on goal in the second half.
"Our schedule is built for us to have to compete every play to win," Whidden commented. "We have some great opportunities ahead of us, and we have to decide today who we want to be and if we want to claw our way out of this or just continue to settle."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Only one goal was scored in the first quarter, and it came from Louisville in the opening minutes of the game. Colorado took nine shots in the quarter, five of which were on goal, and all saved by the Cardinals goalkeeper.
In the second, Louisville struck again to take a 2-0 lead with 9:31 remaining in the half. Rudy put CU on the board with an unassisted goal, bringing the Buffs within one at 2-1. Following Rudy's goal, the Cardinals responded with three unanswered goals to lead 5-1 at halftime.
Rudy maneuvered her way through the Louisville defense to score her second goal of the game 2:36 into the third quarter. Two minutes later, McGee scored on a great quick-stick finish on an assist from Pence to
cut the Colorado deficit to just two at 5-3. Rudy then recorded her second hat trick of the season after intercepting a loose ball near the goalkeeper and burying a goal on the doorstep to make it 5-4. After the Buffs had thought they were coming back, Louisville scored five straight goals to extend its lead to five at 10-4. CU called a timeout with 41 seconds left in the quarter as a result.
The Cardinals scored two more goals in the fourth quarter to bring their total to 12. The Buffs scored one more goal with just under 4:30 to go, but it wasn't nearly enough as Louisville won 12-5.
UP NEXT:
Colorado Lacrosse will play the Denver Pioneers in its first home game of the season on Saturday, February 18th at 1:00 p.m. MT.
Team Stats
COLO
LOU
Shots
26
28
Turnovers
14
17
Caused Turnovers
8
10
Draw Controls
11
10
Free-Position Shots
2
3
Ground Balls
14
14
Game Leaders
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
1
G
1
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
1
G
0
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Lacrosse
G
/ LacrosseA
/ LacrosseA
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