Colorado University Athletics

First Win in Over 10 Years

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Colorado's Tyler Snyder picks up the ball Saturday during their lacrosse match against Colorado State at Folsom Field. The Buffaloes won, 11-4. (Jacob Fuerst/CU Independent)Colorado's Tyler Snyder picks up the ball Saturday during their lacrosse match against Colorado State at Folsom Field. The Buffaloes won, 11-4. (Jacob Fuerst/CU Independent)Zack ShapiroZack ShapiroCUIndependent

Zack Shapiro

CUIndpendent

Monday, April 27, 2009

Even though the annual football game between Colorado and Colorado State is still several months away, the two schools met at Folsom Field on Saturday for a battle of menGÇÖs lacrosse.

No. 11 Colorado beat No. 8 Colorado State 11-4 to win the Rocky Mountain Showdown for the first time since 1998, the same year the MenGÇÖs Collegiate Lacrosse Association was established.

Colorado State captured the lead with their first goal about three minutes into the first quarter. It would be the only lead that the team would have all game.

Colorado answered with a goal by Kyle Driver with 10:27 left in the first quarter. Tyler Snyder then threw a shot that CUGÇÖs James Blackburn deflected into the net, giving Colorado a 2-1 lead.

The Buffs scored again with 5:18 left in the first quarter with a goal by Joel Packer, putting CU up comfortably at 3-1.

Colorado State answered as Paul Larson scored during the final minutes of the first quarter, but Colorado responded once again with the first of four goals for Blackburn to make the score 4-2.

CSU kept the game close as Luke Miller brought the game back to a score of 4-3 with a goal with 8:49 left in the first half.

ColoradoGÇÖs Martin Taffet was injured in the second and had to leave the field for the half.

At the five-minute mark, a CSU offsides penalty lead to another goal by Blackburn, putting CU up 5-3. Blackburn scored his third goal a minute later.

CU scored three more times in the half, two of which came from Blackburn, putting the team up 8-3. Blackburn finished the game with four goals and two assists.

Colorado State scored their last goal of the game with 11:44 left on the game clock with a shot by Will Cantwell.

It was certainly a team effort for the Buffs as time expired, with goals by Chris Dinardi, Joel Packer and Colin Rosenblum that closed CSU out of the game for good.

CSU ended the game with 21 turnovers, while CU racked up 23. CUGÇÖs goalie had 13 saves, keeping Colorado State to a meager four points.

The Buffs will face the University of Wyoming on at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Kittredge Field in their season finale before hosting the conference tournament, which begins Friday.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Zack Shapiro at zashapiro@colorado.edu.