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Stuller brace not enough
Colorado nearly got its first Pac-12 Conference victory and nearly gave Arizona its first win of the season in an entertaining match at Prentup Field before 1,284 fans that ended in a 2-2 tie after two overtime periods.
Anne Stuller led the way for the Buffs with two goals as Colorado (3-5-2, 0-1-1 Pac-12) narrowly avoided giving the Wildcats (0-8-2, 0-2-1 Pac-12) their first victory of the season.
“It was just another game where effort certainly wasn’t the issue,” CU head coach Bill Hempen said. “From our standpoint, we have to accept our opponents are going to get opportunities, and we have to be better repelling them.”
In the 35th minute Arizona struck when Jessica Culver took the ball down the right sideline before dropping it back to Kristin Strother. Strother caught CU’s defense off guard with a quick cross to an open Susana Melendez in the box who headed the ball past Buffs ‘keeper Annie Brunner.
Colorado’s Stuller evened the game at 1-1 in the 49th minute of play when Arizona keeper Ashley Jett gave up a rebound and she was able to head the ball away.
“We switched the ball to the other side of the field, and I was playing right forward at the time. Storie [Ledger] played in the first ball to Carly [Bolyard], and Carly tried to shoot it and it was deflected. I was continuing my run and was able to head it in,” Stuller said.
CU was awarded a penalty kick after an Arizona defender took down a Buff in the box in the 74th minute. Amy Barczuk, who has scored on two previous attempts this season, took the kick. Jett made a save on Barczuk’s kick, but she gave the ball straight to a rushing Stuller who scored her second of the night, and gave the Buffs their first lead of the game.
Despite being outshot, Arizona didn’t back down and tied the game after a shot off the crossbar created a scramble in front of the net. Culver was able to find the ball and score to keep her team alive.
CU ended regular play having outshot the Wildcats 16-7. The Buffs came out charging in overtime and dominated play. In the first 20 seconds, Kate Russell put a hard shot on net, but Jett was able to make the save.
Next Up: The Buffs will have a chance to find their first conference win on Sunday when they take on Arizona State at 1 p.m. at Prentup.
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