Los Angeles - The
University of Colorado soccer team was in familiar territory as Sunday's game against
Southern California went into a second overtime. But on this day, the Buffaloes
got to experience a new sensation, a win in the Pac-12 Conference for the first
time this season. The Buffs headed into overtime play for the sixth time in
2012 to claim the 1-0 win over the Trojans.
"We've been so close in a lot of situations," CU head coach Danny Sanchez said.
"To go on the road against a very aggressive team and to win in overtime just
kind of validates all the hard work they've done."
Neither team could get a shot off in the first 10 minutes of extra play, but
senior captain Amy Barczuk helped the Buffs to their first overtime goal in the
fifth minute of double overtime.
Hayley Hughes had a short throw-in to Anne Stuller who set up the play. Stuller
avoided two USC defenders, turned and crossed to the Buffs in front of the net.
Barczuk got the ball and slid left past the defense to net the goal and grab
the road win.
"Anne Stuller had a nice turn and sent the ball across to Amy (Barczuk),"
Sanchez said. "She did a great job of shielding the defenders ... It was a very
good goal and a good exclamation point for how we performed today, and really
the whole weekend."
Colorado improves to 7-7-3 overall, 1-6-1 Pac-12 with the win. Southern
California upset Utah on Friday, but falls to 5-8-3, 2-4-2 in the loss to the
Buffaloes.
A pair of Buffs also climbed the record books during the weekend. Goalkeeper
Annie Brunner claimed her seventh shutout of the season and the 14th of her
career. She grabbed five saves against USC to move her season total to 58. She now
holds both the 11th and 10th spot (2010) on CU's season saves list. Brunner
also moved up to fifth for CU with 159 career saves.
Stuller had an outstanding game as well, taking five shots, four of which were
on goal. Stuller jumps three spots to sixth place on CU's season list with 34
shots on goal. She also holds down seventh place with 67 shots attempted this
season. Stuller improved in the career record book as well, claiming eighth
place with 63 shots on goal.
The Buffs and Trojans played a very deliberate first half. Both teams took just
three shots a piece, and CU took four corners compared to USC's one.
USC's Hayley Boysen took the first shot of the game in the 15th minute, hitting
one wide off a high hit corner kick. The Buffs countered in the 18th minute.
After a pair of corners by Shaye Marshall, Barczuk headed the ball from the far
post, but Caroline Stanley grabbed the save.
Stuller continued to show her striking strengths in this game, taking several
free kicks in the first half. In the 24th minute, she forcefully hit one wide from
the right edge of the box.
Thirty minutes in, both teams picked up the pace, though the Buffs and Trojans
worked to limit the other's looks on goal. USC sent one wide at the half hour
mark, and CU responded in a major way three minutes later. Stuller took another
free kick, this time with a better placement of just right of the middle from
about 30 yards back. She struck the ball high past two defenders that Stanley
narrowly punched it away by the crossbar.
Southern California worked a great running game, but had difficulty getting
anything beyond the Colorado defense. With 13 seconds remaining in the half,
USC controlled the ball, but rushed the shot, sending one well over the net.
The Buffs and Trojans headed to the break in a scoreless tie.
After having zero shots on goal in the first 45 minutes, USC came out heated
from the opening minute of the second. The Trojans outshot the Buffs nine to
seven in the second half, but neither team was able to score.
Elizabeth Eddy and Megan Borman both sent shots at the keeper in the first 32
seconds, but Brunner was ready for both saves. Five minutes later, the Trojans
got another look, this time sending it wide.
In the 52nd minute, Stuller got another one on goal for the Buffs from a corner
kick that Stanley once again prevented from getting netted. The Women of Troy
went on an offensive shooting spree, taking three shots in a four minute
period, and hitting two on goal. In the 58th minute, Borman headed the ball
wide and sent one at the goal just over a minute later.
USC continued its physical play, adding two more yellow cards to their 15 total
going into this game. Though the Trojans received the cautions, they didn't
lose focus on controlling possession.
The Buffs got back into the game in the final thirty minutes of regulation,
when Stuller forced another save. CU spread its offensive, with Madison Krauser
getting her first shot of the game in the 67th minute, and Heather Ward hitting
one on goal two minutes later.
The Trojans caused quite a stir at the net in the 77th minute. First the Buffs
deflected the ball away, but USC reclaimed the ball and hit it high.
Colorado and Southern California played full force in the final 10 minutes of
regulation, both fighting to end the game with a goal. In the 83rd minute,
Colorado grabbed possession with Hayley Hughes hitting one wide. One minute later,
Stuller rushed the net from the right and took a great strike that was once
again saved.
With under five minutes to play in the second half, both teams caused close
calls for the opponent. The Trojans controlled the ball, and took a shot from
the far edge. As the Buffs tried to clear the ball, it bounced off the
crossbar, and the Trojans almost claimed an own goal.
"There one chance for a goal actually came off of us," Sanchez said. "It was
just one of those days that instead of going into the goal, it got back to
Brunner. I think that was kind of our moment where we thought, 'Well maybe
today is our day, and we can actually get a win.'"
Colorado had an opportunity with 56 seconds remaining as Krauser rushed to the
net but was blocked. For the fourth time in Pac-12 play this season, the Buffs
headed into overtime.
The Trojans dominated the ball in the first overtime, though neither team could
get a shot off. The Buffs would go into a second overtime for the fourth time of
the season.
The Buffaloes were determined to end in the game with a win in the second
overtime. Early, Colorado double-teamed the Trojans to stop a strong rush. In
the 105th minute, the Buffs claimed the win. Stuller fought to get past two
defenders after getting the ball from a throw-in. She edged toward the net,
where she turned to cross the ball to her teammates in the middle, and found
Barczuk ready. Barczuk moved to the left of the Trojans' backline to hit the
game-winner for her third goal of the season.
"She's a great player," Sanchez said of Barczuk. "She's a great leader, and she
embraces it. I just feel really good for her. Her senior year is coming to an
end. She had this great moment to lead us to the victory and to win the game
for us ... We still have three games left so there's a lot to play for, but it
was a good moment for her for sure."
The Buffs conclude their four-game roadtrip in Arizona before
returning to Prentup for their final game of the regular season. CU takes on
Arizona on Friday, Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. Colorado ends the trip against Arizona
State on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on the Pac-12
Networks.
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