BOULDER –A near season high 1,032 fans saw Colorado come-from-behind on a Fran Munnelly goal in the 58th minute to tie Texas 1-1, then watch both teams battle an additional 51 minutes in two overtimes before the Big 12 matchup would go in the books as a tie, as the Buffs snapped a two-game skid here at the Pleasant View Soccer Complex Sunday.

            “Our kids responded with another really good effort.  I would have liked a win, but we didn’t lose either.  We got a point and that’s what we needed,” said Bill Hempen who remains just two victories away from his 200th career win after the weekend.

            Much like CU’s match against Texas A&M on Friday, it was a contest of opportunities for the Buffs’ offense, while the Colorado defense met every challenge presented.

            Just 32 seconds into the game, Shannon Kellogg’s header went just wide of the net and Texas goalkeeper Alex Gagarin.  Texas answered with back-to-back corners that were headed and cleared by Ashlie Mihalcin and Kellogg.

            In the fourth minute, the Buffs nearly capitalized on an own goal when a Brittany Dornseif throw-in to Mihalcin was crossed then cleared, but not before the ball nailed the left post before going out of bounds, setting up CU’s first corner of the game.  Kathryn Grandinetti’s cornerkick was snagged by Gagarin as Mihalcin was going up for the header.

            Both teams traded possessions over the next 18 minutes and eight fouls were exchanged in the physical matchup before the Longhorns’ Kelsey Carpenter netted the first score of the game in the 22nd minute, just seven minutes after coming off the bench.  Kelly McDonald served Carpenter from the top of the box and as CU netminder Jessica Keller came out, Carpenter slipped one past her on Texas’ first shot of the game.

            “Their strength was up front.  Their forwards were a handful,” complimented Hempen.

            Colorado responded with a pair of shots from Allie True whose direct kick in the 23rd minute was blocked and Fran Munnelly whose first shot of the afternoon was saved by Gagarin in the 28th.  But it was Jen Thais’ attempt in the 34th minute that had all but a few Texas fans on their feet.  Combination passing between Thais, Munnelly and Maura Gentile resulted in a scramble in the box with Thais coming up with the ball on the opposite post and her left-footed shot was cleared on the goal line next to the post by Krsten Teter, setting up the Buffs’ first corner.

            Colorado would take five more unanswered shots while the closest that Texas could come to a second score was a cross in the 40th minute that was punched clear by Keller and a UT foul immediately followed preventing a second chance shot by the Longhorns.

            The Buffs came out of the halftime intermission on the offensive with two corners and a shot by Katie Griffin in the 55th minute, while the CU defense, paced by junior Darci Smerchek limited Texas.  UT’s Amy Burlingham worked her way into the box via a missed tackle by Smerchek, who responded by clearing a rebounded save by Keller.  Following a UT foul, Thais served Fran Munnelly whose second shot of the game off the left post was saved by Gagarin, but the rebound went right back to Munnelly who one the ball for the putback.  It was Munnelly’s fifth score of the season, first since the LSU game on Sept. 17th.

            “We played really well this weekend, both emotionally and physically.  We learned a lot about ourselves and we feel good going into the next game,” said Munnelly.  “I think if we come out with the same intensity that we’ve had this weekend, good things will happen.  The goals will come.  We just need to keep having defensive pressure all over the field.”

            While both teams combined for 16 substitutions and six fouls, neither could come up with a shot to break the stalemate over the next 31 minutes.  Maddy Minnis, Munnelly and Gentile combined for a near attempt in the 50th minute, while Thais and Mihalcin almost got lucky when Gagarin fumbled a clear headed to her by teammate Christy Perkins. Smerchek cleared an attack in the 86th minute and with the momentum going Colorado’s way, an injury timeout was called with just over two minutes remaining.  The last attack of regulation was a Minnis to Grandinetti served where she was tripped up on the right sideline.

            Texas took three of the game’s four overtime shots in the third period.  Burlingham’s shot in the 91st minute went wide and Kelly Wilson’s attempt 72 seconds later was grabbed by Keller as she dove on her right side toward the post for her fourth and final save of the game.  With 14 seconds left in the first overtime period, UT’s Carrie Schmit had the ball in the box and Dornseif’s tackle resulted in both players going down, setting up a direct free kick at the top of the box and McDonald’s shot with 11 ticks remaining went just inches over the crossbar forcing the second overtime session.

            Six Buffs played the entire 110 minutes, including Keller, Smerchek, Mihalcin, Laura and Fran Munnelly, Dornseif (who also made her first career start) and Thais.

            “We know we have a lot more depth.  It challenges the people that are playing a lot and that’s always good,” said Munnelly.

            Much like Friday’s 2-1 loss to Texas A&M which remains unbeaten in league play (7-0-0) with a 2-1 at Nebraska Sunday, the Buffs dominated the field, with 14 shots to Texas’ 8 (14-4 in regulation) while holding the 4-3 edge in corners taken.

            The Buffs return to the Pleasant View Soccer Complex next Friday and Sunday, Oct. 15 (3 p.m.) and 17 (11:30 a.m.) when they host Baylor and Texas Tech in the third and fourth contests of a five-game homestand.

            “They’re a tough team.  WE beat them last year and we wanted a win at home.  I can’t say that I’m happy about the tie, because we wanted the win,” said Smerchek.  “We need to keep up the same intensity and carry over the intensity from this weekend into next.”

COLORADO 1, TEXAS 1

22:27    UT        Kelsey Carpenter (Kelly McDonald)

58:57    CU       Fran Munnelly