While their gridiron brethren got splattered by a future Pac-10 Conference mate, the CU women’s soccer team upset No. 10-ranked UCLA 1-0 on Sunday.

Lizzy Herzl scored a double-overtime goal to give the Buffs the win in the Omni Hotels Colorado Soccer Classic Sunday afternoon at Prentup Field.

Colorado’s win over UCLA was the first time CU had defeated a top-10 team since beating No. 10 Texas 1-0 on Oct. 10, 2008.

Colorado improved to 4-4 after giving UCLA (4-2-1) its second loss of the season.

“Most of our games this season there has been something going on that wasn’t working, but today, you couldn’t have asked anyone to give more because everyone worked their tail off,” said Kate Russell. “It was a team effort.”

Whatever seemed to be ‘going wrong’ earlier in the season must have stayed at home today as the Buffaloes battled the Bruins to a scoreless tie after 90 minutes of regulation and the first overtime.

Not only did the score prove that the teams were evenly matched, but after 100 minutes of play, UCLA had attempted 11 shots, and CU followed with 10. Bruins’ goalkeeper Chante’ Sandiford made four saves as Colorado’s Annie Brunner made five, and both teams registered 13 fouls each.

Head coach Bill Hempen decided to put Alex Dohm on the defensive end of the field to help stop one of UCLA’s key players, Sydney Leroux.

“He told me to stay on Leroux when she was on the field, and my role was to shut her down,” said Dohm.

“[Leroux] is an outstanding player, and if you can limit the touches and opportunities she gets then you have a good chance,” Hempen said. “Alex probably did as good a job on one of the best players in the country that anyone could possibly do.”

With one of his strategies working, Hempen got creative when he made another drastic switch in the second overtime period by putting Herzl in the game at forward, a position she had never played before in college.

After only seven minutes at the forward position, Herzl scored the golden-goal off assists from Kym Lowry and Russell. Russell chipped it to Lowry from the right sideline. Lowry sent the ball back to Herzl on a header who was charging toward the play, and Herzl volleyed the ball into the top left corner of UCLA’s goal.

“[Getting the game winning goal] and beating UCLA felt really good,” said Herzl.

Although Herzl was credited with the game-winner, she agreed with Russell that “it was definitely a team effort.”

Brunner recorded a season-high five saves and earned another shutout win bringing her total to three.

“That’s a Division I goalkeeper,” said Hempen after observing Brunner’s effort in goal. “She just grew up today on a big stage against one of the best teams in the country, and for her to keep us in the game when we needed a big save, she did it. And that’s what it takes for us to succeed.”

The Buffs travel to College Station, Texas, on Friday to take on the Aggies in their first Big 12 Conference match this season. On Sunday, the Buffs return home to Prentup Field and host the Texas Longhorns at 1 p.m.

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