Colorado University Athletics
Top 20 Soccer Moments: No. 6
October 12, 2016 | Soccer
BOULDER – When CU decided to switch conferences from the Big 12 to the Pac-12 in 2011, the Buffs made sure that they left behind a legacy of success. In the 15 seasons that CU spent in the Big 12 they appeared in three conference tournament final games. Those three appearances came in a four-year period in 2005, 2006, and 2008. The appearances and deep runs that CU made into the Big 12's Tournament solidified the Buffs as a program to be reckoned with on the Big 12 landscape.
CU won the regular season Big 12 title in 2003, but they fell short in the Big 12 Tournament, bowing out in the quarterfinals. But the foundation had been set and CU began a run to and in Big 12 Tournament's that Boulder hasn't easily forgotten.
In 2005 CU continued it success in the Big 12 finishing 6-3-1 in the conference after starting slow in non-conference play pulling their overall record up to 12-8-4 overall. So as the tournament came closer the Buffs were in top form, ready to make noise in the coming tournament.
CU, having received the No. 23 ranking going into the first round of the Big 12 tournament, rolled through the first two matches, beating Oklahoma 2-0. Followed by a win in overtime against Texas 3-2 to set up a top 25 matchup against No. 10 ranked Texas A & M in the final.
The match was a true battle, as both teams went back and forth each scoring a goal during regulation. But the Aggies were able to pull out the final goal, winning the match in double overtime 2-1 to snag the Big 12 Tournament title away from the Buffs.
But the seed of success had been planted, and CU took the lessons they learned playing some of the top teams in country within a week's time. And the next season, put all of those lessons to the test as the Buffs made another run at the Big 12 Tournament title.
The 2006 regular season didn't go as well for CU as they had hoped. The Buffs went 14-6-4 (5-4-1 Big 12) finishing fifth in the regular season standings for the Big 12. But the regular season means nothing when the postseason starts, and for CU the lessons they learned the previous season paid off big time in the 2006 Big 12 Tournament.
CU entered the tournament on a tear having won their last four matches to finish off their regular season schedule. So they were ready when they went to San Antonio for the first round of the tournament. Taking on a tough Kansas team, the Buffs needed to dig deep and began to tap into past experiences as the match was still tied after playing through two halves and two overtime periods. CU pulled away in the end, winning on penalty kicks, to set up their next battle.
Their next match was a familiar foe in Texas A & M, and unlike the previous seasons' match, the Buffs didn't let the Aggies get away with the win. And yet again the Buffs played too double overtime. Both teams scored twice during regulation, and it set up the double overtime showdown that CU was becoming accustomed to. This time CU came away victorious winning in the second overtime period with a goal, finishing off the Aggies 3-2 to move on to their second consecutive Big 12 tournament finals appearance.
Much like the previous season, the Big 12 tournament final went into double overtime. This time it was another school from the state of Texas that battled the Buffs to a shootout. The University of Texas Longhorns would unfortunately pull the win out in penalty kicks after the teams played to a 1-1 tie. But the Buffs had shown that they can make a run, and be in top form when it counts.
The Buffs bowed out in the first round of the 2007 Big Tournament, but they returned with a vengeance in 2008 making yet another run at the tournament title. After a 14-5-4 (6-2-2 Big 12) season, CU entered the Big 12 aiming for the top. And they took care of Nebraska in the first round with ease 1-0, setting up a match with the No. 8 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys.
What had become almost a normality for the Buffs in tournament games, happened again in their second round match up, as after two halves and two overtime periods the score remained tied at one all and it came down to penalty kicks. CU, yet again tapping into their past experiences, pulled out the win to set up yet another Big 12 Tournament finals match up.
Although the Buffs would yet again fall short of the Big 12 Tournament title, the fact that they had made it their again was historic in itself. During the three runs CU made they played in 11 overtime periods and had three matches go to penalty kicks. The Buffs were 2-1 in games decided by penalties during their runs, and the Buffs had shown that they have the fortitude to win close games. CU, with its deep runs in three Big 12 Tournaments in a four-year period, had solidified itself as one of the hardest teams to face on the Big 12 schedule, especially during tournament time.
The Top 20 Moments of Colorado soccer will be revealed throughout the season as 2016 marks the 20th Anniversary of the first year of the program. Two will be announced per week on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Top 20 Moments
1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. ???
5. ???
6. Big 12 Tournament finalists in 2005, 2006 and 2008
7. Snow Clasico 2 - CU beats BYU in the NCAA Tournament in a snowstorm
8. CU breaks attendance record against defending national champion North Carolina in 1998
9. Nikki Marshall's legacy beyond CU
10. Fran Munnelly earns Big 12 Player of the Year
11. Sloane Cox breaks Big 12 saves record
12. Shawn Kenyon scores first goal in school history
13. First Pac-12 win
14. First win over a ranked Pac-12 opponent
15. Buffs knock off No. 5 Texas A&M for win over highest-ranked opponent
16. CU moves into Prentup Field, a home for Buffs soccer
17. Nikki Marshall's success with the USWNT
18. CU's first Big 12 Tournament win in 2002
19. First NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003
20. Colorado announces the addition of women's soccer as a varsity sport on Aug. 14, 1993
CU won the regular season Big 12 title in 2003, but they fell short in the Big 12 Tournament, bowing out in the quarterfinals. But the foundation had been set and CU began a run to and in Big 12 Tournament's that Boulder hasn't easily forgotten.
In 2005 CU continued it success in the Big 12 finishing 6-3-1 in the conference after starting slow in non-conference play pulling their overall record up to 12-8-4 overall. So as the tournament came closer the Buffs were in top form, ready to make noise in the coming tournament.
CU, having received the No. 23 ranking going into the first round of the Big 12 tournament, rolled through the first two matches, beating Oklahoma 2-0. Followed by a win in overtime against Texas 3-2 to set up a top 25 matchup against No. 10 ranked Texas A & M in the final.
The match was a true battle, as both teams went back and forth each scoring a goal during regulation. But the Aggies were able to pull out the final goal, winning the match in double overtime 2-1 to snag the Big 12 Tournament title away from the Buffs.
But the seed of success had been planted, and CU took the lessons they learned playing some of the top teams in country within a week's time. And the next season, put all of those lessons to the test as the Buffs made another run at the Big 12 Tournament title.
The 2006 regular season didn't go as well for CU as they had hoped. The Buffs went 14-6-4 (5-4-1 Big 12) finishing fifth in the regular season standings for the Big 12. But the regular season means nothing when the postseason starts, and for CU the lessons they learned the previous season paid off big time in the 2006 Big 12 Tournament.
CU entered the tournament on a tear having won their last four matches to finish off their regular season schedule. So they were ready when they went to San Antonio for the first round of the tournament. Taking on a tough Kansas team, the Buffs needed to dig deep and began to tap into past experiences as the match was still tied after playing through two halves and two overtime periods. CU pulled away in the end, winning on penalty kicks, to set up their next battle.
Their next match was a familiar foe in Texas A & M, and unlike the previous seasons' match, the Buffs didn't let the Aggies get away with the win. And yet again the Buffs played too double overtime. Both teams scored twice during regulation, and it set up the double overtime showdown that CU was becoming accustomed to. This time CU came away victorious winning in the second overtime period with a goal, finishing off the Aggies 3-2 to move on to their second consecutive Big 12 tournament finals appearance.
Much like the previous season, the Big 12 tournament final went into double overtime. This time it was another school from the state of Texas that battled the Buffs to a shootout. The University of Texas Longhorns would unfortunately pull the win out in penalty kicks after the teams played to a 1-1 tie. But the Buffs had shown that they can make a run, and be in top form when it counts.
The Buffs bowed out in the first round of the 2007 Big Tournament, but they returned with a vengeance in 2008 making yet another run at the tournament title. After a 14-5-4 (6-2-2 Big 12) season, CU entered the Big 12 aiming for the top. And they took care of Nebraska in the first round with ease 1-0, setting up a match with the No. 8 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys.
What had become almost a normality for the Buffs in tournament games, happened again in their second round match up, as after two halves and two overtime periods the score remained tied at one all and it came down to penalty kicks. CU, yet again tapping into their past experiences, pulled out the win to set up yet another Big 12 Tournament finals match up.
Although the Buffs would yet again fall short of the Big 12 Tournament title, the fact that they had made it their again was historic in itself. During the three runs CU made they played in 11 overtime periods and had three matches go to penalty kicks. The Buffs were 2-1 in games decided by penalties during their runs, and the Buffs had shown that they have the fortitude to win close games. CU, with its deep runs in three Big 12 Tournaments in a four-year period, had solidified itself as one of the hardest teams to face on the Big 12 schedule, especially during tournament time.
The Top 20 Moments of Colorado soccer will be revealed throughout the season as 2016 marks the 20th Anniversary of the first year of the program. Two will be announced per week on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Top 20 Moments
1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. ???
5. ???
6. Big 12 Tournament finalists in 2005, 2006 and 2008
7. Snow Clasico 2 - CU beats BYU in the NCAA Tournament in a snowstorm
8. CU breaks attendance record against defending national champion North Carolina in 1998
9. Nikki Marshall's legacy beyond CU
10. Fran Munnelly earns Big 12 Player of the Year
11. Sloane Cox breaks Big 12 saves record
12. Shawn Kenyon scores first goal in school history
13. First Pac-12 win
14. First win over a ranked Pac-12 opponent
15. Buffs knock off No. 5 Texas A&M for win over highest-ranked opponent
16. CU moves into Prentup Field, a home for Buffs soccer
17. Nikki Marshall's success with the USWNT
18. CU's first Big 12 Tournament win in 2002
19. First NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003
20. Colorado announces the addition of women's soccer as a varsity sport on Aug. 14, 1993
Monday, April 06
Tuesday, November 25
Thursday, November 20
Thursday, November 20