Laramie, Wyo. - The
University of Colorado soccer team stepped up to the challenge against its
northern rivals, defeating the University of Wyoming Cowgirls 2-0 on Friday at
Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex.
Junior Anne Stuller and
freshman Madison Krauser kept up their offensive heat against head coach Danny
Sanchez's former team.
"It was a little surreal,"
Sanchez said. "Obviously we have a lot of great feelings for this program and this
team, but once the game started it was like we were playing any other team."
The Cowgirls were 36-34-11
under Sanchez's tenure, and fall to 6-3-0 in their first season with Pete
Cuadrado. The Buffs improve to 5-1-2 as the complete non-conference play this
weekend.
With seven goals this
season, Stuller ties Melissa Cartmell (1999) for fifth on CU's list of most
goals by a junior.
Goalkeeper Annie Brunner also
moved up in the record books. She had several solid saves in the second half
for four total in the game. She moved past Kara Linder (2006-09) for sixth most
saves with 127 all-time for the Buffs.
She notched her fourth
shutout of 2012 to tie for 10th most shutouts in a season. Brunner ties Kara
Linder (2007) and Sloane Cox (1998) for 10th place, and also holds down the sixth
spot for five shutouts in 2010.
"It was a good win," coach Sanchez
said. "This is a really good team, and we knew it. Wyoming really stepped up in
the second half. This is the first time they've been shut out since their first
game (a 2-0 loss to Montana)."
Though both teams took
three shots in the first half, Colorado reached the back of the net to take a
2-0 lead into halftime and eventually claim the win.
In the 14th minute, Madison
Krauser sent one wide, but just two minutes later broke away off an assist from
fellow freshman Olivia Pappalardo to roll one past the keeper and put the Buffs
on the board.
At the 31:52 mark, Anne
Stuller banked one in after a deflection by a Wyoming defender to score her
seventh goal of the season.
"Stuller just needs a
little space, and she was able to get a shot off," Sanchez said. "In the first
half we played very well."
Seven first half fouls got
in the Cowgirls' way, giving the Buffs the upper hand.
A goalkeeper change for
Wyoming did help cool Stuller's electric offense coming out of the break.
Courtney Merkle came in for Carmen McDermott and grabbed a save for the
Cowgirls just 49 seconds into the second half.
The Cowgirls stepped up at
both ends of the ball, outshooting the Buffs seven to two. Sanchez said this
led to some scary moments, with Wyoming throwing everything at CU in the second
half. Sophomore Lucie McDonnell led Wyoming offensively. McDonnell sent it wide
12 minutes in and forced a save 10 minutes later.
After a shooting drought,
the Amy Barczuk shot one at the net off a corner kick from Quinn Krier that was
saved, keeping the Buffs at 2-0.
Wyoming took three shots in
as many minutes, with two of them on goal, but couldn't get anything past
Brunner. CU had a close call in the final 28 seconds, but Brunner secured the
shutout.
Sanchez looks forward to
the Buffs' final regional match-up of the season against Air Force (4-1-2 going
into the Friday night game against Colgate.
"This is our last chance in
the non-conference to really play and show who we are," Sanchez said. "It's our
first televised game (on the Pac-12 Networks), and the Buff Brigade will be out
in full effect."
Make a
healthy and environmentally friendly trip to Prentup Field on Sunday, Sept. 16
to watch CU Soccer take on Air Force at 1:00 p.m. The first 100 fans who
bike to Prentup will receive a FREE CU t-shirt! Admission is free so grab
your family and friends for a bike ride to Prentup Field and be sure to sit in
the newly created cheering section the Buff Brigade!
