The Colorado women’s soccer team finished its last road trip of the 2012 season in Arizona this weekend winning 3-0 against the University of Arizona on Friday, and losing 2-1 in a thrilling double overtime loss to Arizona State University on Sunday.
Junior forward Anne Stuller dribbles around two defenders during a DU Invitational game on Friday, September 7th in this file photo. CU went 1-1 in Arizona. (Kai Casey/CU Independent File)
Friday’s victory marked the very first back-to-back Pac-12 victories in program history.
Part of what made the Buffaloes able to dominate on Friday evening was their strength on the ball, and more importantly their height advantage. Junior Lizzy Herzl, who stands at a staggering six feet tall, was able to dominate the air balls off of goal kicks and Arizona set pieces, but her height also played a key role in the 19th minute when she put the Buffaloes up a goal off of a Shaye Marshall corner kick.
In very similar fashion to the match against Stanford University earlier this month, the Buffs were able to capitalize just 16 seconds before the halftime whistle to put them up 2-0.
In the 79th minute, sophomore defender Bianca Jones worked up the field and received the ball from Nikola Machalek wide open at the top of the box, brilliantly finessing it just inside the right post for her second career goal in three games during this current road trip.
On Sunday, the Buffs faced a much tougher Arizona State squad that was evenly matched with the Buffaloes throughout the game. Where the Buffs were successful on Friday afternoon defensively with multiple defenders scoring goals, they were taken advantage of by the Sun Devils on Sunday.
The Buffs conceded 29 shots to ASU, and in a shocking fashion the Buffs lost the match 2-1 with 22 seconds remaining in the second overtime period.
CU goalkeeper Annie Brunner had a season-high nine saves, showing that the Buffs still played well defensively by forcing 18 shots off target.
In the 39th minute, senior captain Amy Barczuk scored her fourth goal of the 2012 season. Sunday was also Barczuk’s 22nd birthday.
Splitting the road trip with two wins and two losses, CU’s record now falls to 8-8-3 overall and 2-7-1 in Pac-12 play. Arizona State improves to 9-8-3, 5-4-1 to remain in the middle of the Pac-12 rankings.
CU soccer returns to Prentup Field for the last game of this season on Friday, Nov. 2, to square off against the University of Utah. The game is at 3 p.m., and the first 100 fans in attendance will receive a free autographed CU soccer poster in honor of Senior Day. The first 100 fans will also receive a free Gatorade Squeeze Bottle courtesy of game sponsor Gatorade. Come out to the game and support the seniors!
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Joseph Wirth at Joseph.wirth@colorado.edu.
