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Buffs fall in shootout
The CU women’s soccer season ended in dramatic fashion as Texas A&M University advanced to the semifinals of the 2010 Big 12 Conference tournament by edging the Buffaloes 5-4 in a shootout after 110 minutes of scoreless action.
Eighth-seeded Colorado ends its season at 8-9-3 overall while the top-seeded Aggies (15-3-2) advance to Friday’s semifinals to face fourth seed Oklahoma.
“I thought we played pretty well,” said head coach Bill Hempen. “We did everything we had to do. The kids stepped up and played with a passion and with an emotion and a never-say-die attitude, but we couldn’t score.”
Colorado forced its ninth overtime game of the season, and the second against the Aggies, a 1-0 Buffaloes win in College Station, Texas, on Sept. 24.
In the 20 minutes of overtime, Colorado showed it was eager to get on the board as the Buffaloes managed five corner kicks and outshot the Aggies 2-0, but were still unable to score.
Both teams entered a shootout where each team got five attempts. Texas A&M made a goalkeeper change, sending Kelly Dyer into the goal for the shootout session.
Kate Russell, Amy Barczuk, Hayley Hughes and Anne Stuller booted their shots past Dyer in the goal.
In dramatic fashion, the Aggies followed with four in a row from Mary Grace Schmidt, Rachel Shipley, Catalina Clavijo and Rachel Lenz.
Colorado’s final attempt from Taryn Vitacca was stopped by Dyer. Merritt Mathias then ended the game as she shot past Annie Brunner on the fifth and final shot.
“Annie was fantastic tonight,” said Hempen. “I can’t say enough about her growth (this season). I look at her, and I look at Lizzy Herzl and Sparky [Hayley Hughes], all freshmen stepping up in this kind of competition. I was pretty happy with them tonight.
“Overall the game was fantastic on our part, and at the end of the day it’s a tie. We just don’t advance.”
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