In a file photo, CU's Kate Russell takes the ball during a 2008 win against Texas. CU lost to Texas in this year's mathup. (CU Independent file/Danielle Alberti)
It took one goal and 106 minutes.
That was the margin and the time necessary to separate the Texas Longhorns and the Colorado Buffalos from a deadlock in San Antonio. It was also the time it took for the Buffs’ 2009 season to arrive to a disappointing end.
Scoreless after 90 minutes, the Buffs lost 1-0 in double overtime to the Longhorns Wednesday in the first round of the Big 12 Conference Soccer Championship, according to a news release.
Sixth-seeded Texas wasted no time in its attack after the opening kickoff, creating two shot opportunities within the first 10 minutes. They would maintain a steady attack throughout the first half.
Third-seeded Colorado would answer in the second half with a pair of shots from junior forward Amanda Foulk and sophomore midfielder Kassidy Fitzpatrick. Their shots were denied by Texas goalkeeper Alexa Gaul.
Freshman forward Shaye Marshall temporarily played goalkeeper after heading the ball away from the Buffs goal after a Texas shot in the 77th minute.
Hannah Higgins ended the Buffs’ opportunity for a second consecutive Big 12 Championship Game appearance after a one-on-one attack against senior goalkeeper Kara Linder resulted in the only goal of the match in the 107th minute.
With the loss, the Buffs ended their campaign with a 9-10 record while Texas improves to 9-8-3 on the season. The Buffs failed to capture 10 or more wins for the first time since 2001.
The Buffs went 0-3 during the regular season as visitors against opponents from the Lone Star State. It’s a factor which may have haunted the squad as they made the trip to San Antonio. On Oct. 25, the Buffs also lost 1-0 in double overtime to the Longhorns in Austin, Texas.
Head coach Bill Hempen, who just completed his ninth season at CU, said the loss was all too familiar.
“The game was kind of the epitome of our season,” Hempen said in a news release. “We played well to a certain point, but when it meant the most, we were unable to execute and that was ultimately our downfall.”
Buffs honored
Three Buffaloes earned Big 12 Conference honors, the league announced Wednesday.
Senior forward Nikki Marshall garnered her fourth consecutive All-Big 12 First-Team honors while freshman defender Amy Barczuk was named to the All-Big 12 Second-Team.
Marshall’s accolade marks her as only the second player in program history to accomplish such a feat, joining Fran Munnelly, who was a Buff from 2002-05. Marshall will leave CU as the school’s all-time leader in points scored, 93, and goals scored, 42.
Barczuk and freshman midfielder Erin Bricker were named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. Barzcuk is the only freshman on the team to start every match for the Buffs this season.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Esteban L. Hernandez at Esteban.hernandez@colorado.edu
