The Force also had two central defenders drafted. The University of Kansas’ Estelle Johnson went to Los Angeles in the third round, and Nebraska standout Carly Peetz was taken in the sixth round by Boston.

Taryn Hemmings, a standout forward-midfielder from the University of Denver, the Real Colorado Cougars and Greeley West High School, was selected by Boston in the seventh round (a real steal that late in the draft, I might add).

Marshall’s selection marks the first time a CU player has been a first-round draft pick. She was one of seven players invited to attend the draft in person (Click here to see a photo of all the invitees; Marshall is second from right, wearing a red Washington Freedom scarf).

Washington Freedom coach Jim Gabarra said it was Marshall’s personality that was the deciding factor in drafting the Buffaloes’ leader.

“We were looking for someone that will help us defensively but also a versatile player,” Gabarra said. “We were prepared to pick between her and one other player, both of (whom) we knew would be available. But she was the one we have had targeted for the past four to six weeks.”

“She deserves it,” CU coach Bill Hempen said. “Somebody did their homework and found out the package she brings to a program. She’s one of the best.”

The Freedom went 8-7-5 in 2009. Washington is one of the WPS teams held over from the previous top-flight women’s pro league, the WUSA.

“I want to make an impact on this league and on this team,” Marshall said in a press release. “I cannot be more elated to play with Cat Whitehill and Abby Wambach.”

Marshall, from Mead, is the most decorated women’s soccer player in CU history. For three consecutive years she was named first-team NSCAA All-Central Region, while earning second-team All-Central Region honors during her freshman year at CU. Marshall owns four first-team All-Big 12 honors and was named CU athlete of the week six times and Big 12 player of the week on three occasions. She is CU’s all-time leader in scoring, with 93 points and 42 goals.

Marshall has spent considerable time playing internationally as a member of the U.S. national team’s U-20 and U-23 programs. She last played for the U.S. in February on the U-23 side, when the Americans won three straight matches and the championship of the Four Nations Tournament in La Serena, Chile, with victories over England, Norway and Chile. In December 2009 she helped the U.S. win a U-20 World Cup and was named MVP of the final against North Korea. She played every minute of every game in the World Cup.

“I think when she got the taste of a higher level, it made her more determined to go as far as she possibly could,” Hempen said. “It’s something she’s worked for. A top 10 draft pick in the WPS, that’s a pretty big deal for Nikki and for our program and certainly lets people know we have something going on at Colorado.”

Johnson, from Fort Collins, has been a mainstay for the Jayhawks defense, earning all-region honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and Soccer Buzz. She was a member of the Big 12 all-tournament team in 2008 in addition to receiving other defensive and academic honors from the conference. She was a four-year letter winner at Rocky Mountain High School and was named all-state as a junior and senior.

Colorado Force coach Craig Deacon said he became certain of L.A.’s interest in Johnson when team representatives called him on Friday and asked him to break down everything he knows about her.

“Estelle is quality,” Deacon said. “I spoke numerous times with L.A. GM Charlie Naimo on her behalf, encouraging him to take a look and that she’s the real deal. It is great to see her have this opportunity.”

Peetz, a Lincoln, Nebraska native, has received several all-Big 12 accolades in addition to defensive awards and being on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll six times. She was a charasmatic leader on and off the pitch for the Huskers who started every game in her Nebraska career.

“Peetz is another player who have been in the U-20 national team player pool, like Nikki,” Deacon said. “She was solid for us and has been in several environments which have helped her get to the professional level.”

Force owner Amy Snider was thrilled by the news.

“What an honor for our program to have three of our core players get drafted to the WPS,” said. “I am extremely proud of our players and our head coach for their accomplishments. We’re excited to follow their progress over the next few months and keep Force fans updated as they make their marks as professional athletes.”

Deacon agreed.

“We’ve got three players going on to the level they deserve to be playing on,” Deacon said. “Those guys in the Big 12 have done well. All the teams know about them. Those are three massive players that we lose, but this is what the W-League is about: to give players an opportunity. We lose three good players, but we’re very excited and wish them the best.”

Hemmings was sensational for the Pioneers. During her senior season, 2008, she was named the team’s comeback player of the year, Sun Belt player of the year, Sun Belt tournament MVP, Soccer Buzz All-Central Region first team, NSCAA/adidas all-region second team, All-SBC first team, Sun Belt all-tournament team, CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District 7 University Division First Team and Academic All-America University Division second team. She ended her career as Denver’s second all-time career scoring leader, with 112 points on 42 goals and 28 assists. She tied program record for career goals and ranked third in career assists.

Oddly, Hemmings’ selection marks the second time in two days that a DU player was selected with the final pick in a professional soccer league’s draft. Pioneers defender Kris Banghart was taken by Real Salt Lake with the final pick in Thursday’s Major League Soccer draft. Both were excellent picks.

Here is a list of all the picks in the WPS draft:

FIRST ROUND
Atlanta – Tobin Heath, North Carolina
Boston – Lauren Cheney, UCLA (Pali Blues)
FC Gold Pride – Kelley O’Hara, Stanford
Chicago – Whitney Engen, North Carolina
Los Angeles – Nikki Washington, North Carolina
New York – Brittany Taylor, Connecticut
Washington – NIKKI MARSHALL, Colorado
Los Angeles – Casey Nogueira, North Carolina
Los Angeles – Kiersten Dallstream, Washington State
FC Gold Pride – Ali Riley, Stanford
Boston – Alyssa Naeher, Penn State

SECOND ROUND
FC Gold Pride – Becky Edwards, Florida State
Philadelphia – Malorie Rutledge, LSU
Los Angeles – Michelle Enyeart, Portland
Chicago – Jessica McDonald, UNC
Boston – Jordan Angeli, Santa Clara
St. Louis – Kristina Larsen, UCLA
Washington – Carly Dobratz, Washington State
St. Louis – Ashlyn Harris, UNC
FC Gold Pride – Kaley Fountain, Wake Forest

THIRD ROUND
Atlanta – Blakely Mattern, South Carolina
Los Angeles – Kiki Bosio, Santa Clara
Atlanta – Shameka Gordon, West Florida
Chicago – Kelsey Davis, Portland
Los Angeles – ESTELLE JOHNSON, Kansas (and Colorado Force)
New York – Katie Schoepfer, Penn State
Washington – Beverly Goebel, Miami
St. Louis – Amanda Poach, Santa Clara
New York – Melissa Clarke, LSU

FOURTH ROUND
Atlanta – Jill Hutchinson, Wake Forest
Philadelphia – Kelly Henderson, Boston College
FC Gold Pride – Erin Guthri, Rutgers
Chicago – Michele Weissenhofer, Notre Dame
Boston – Katherine Reynolds, Santa Clara
New York – Danielle Johnson, Mississippi
Washington – Kristi Eveland, North Carolina
St. Louis – Veronica Perez, Washington
Los Angeles – Mary Casey, Maryland

FIFTH ROUND
Atlanta – Mallori Loften-Malachi, University of South Florida
Philadelphia – Carrie Patterson, University of Georgia
FC Gold Pride – Ashley Bowyer, Ohio State University
Chicago – Sophie Reiser, Columbia
Boston – Cynthia Morote-Ariza, Loyola-Chicago
New York – Meagan Snell, Santa Clara
Washington – Lauren Robertson, Ohio State
St. Louis – Carolyn Blank, West Virginia
Los Angeles – Lindsay Browne, Clemson

SIXTH ROUND
Atlanta – Kasey Langdon, Oklahoma State
Philadelphia – Jenifer Anzivino, Rutgers
FC Gold Pride – Elizabeth Harkin, Arizona State University
Chicago – Fiona O’Sullivan, San Francisco
Boston – CARLY PEETZ, Nebraska (Colorado Force)
New York – Kelly Isleib, Utah
Washington – Mara Osher, Boston University
St. Louis – Sarah Teegarden, Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Boston – Gina DiMartino, Boston College

SEVENTH ROUND
Atlanta – Shaneka Gordon, West Florida
Philadelphia – Caitlin Farrell, Wake Forest
FC Gold Pride – Lauren Wilmoth, UCLA
Chicago – Jackie Santacaterina, Illinois
Boston – Casey Brown, Boston University
Philadelphia – Danielle Collins, William & Mary
Washington – Caitlin Miskel, Virginia
St. Louis – Elisabeth Redmond, Duke
Boston – TARYN HEMMINGS, Denver (Real Colorado Cougars)

I was very thankful in 2009 to see many excellent college soccer teams and players on the field in Division I and II. And while watching them, I can’t help but be amazed at their skill and quality.

It was during the spring, when the W-League was in full swing, that I got the idea to put together a list of the best 11 players that we covered in that league. So when the college season started, the idea was still fresh in my mind. And today we present the final results for all the teams that play women’s college soccer in this state.

I have to admit that we didn’t get to cover every team in the state this fall. We made a valiant effort, but we fell short of covering every men’s and every women’s college team.

Sometimes our choices of what games to cover were influenced by trying to see as many teams as possible.

Sometimes our choices were based on the expected quality of a particular match. For example, after watching a Metro State women’s game, we opted to leave Auraria Field, where the Roadrunners men’s team was about to play, so we could cover Fort Lewis at Mines. We never got back to see the Metro men, and that was disappointing. But on that day, it was the right choice.

Sometimes our coverage was influenced by the weather, and our coverage always was limited by how many places I physically needed to be on a given week.

So, with that in mind, ColoradoSoccerNow.com is proud to announce its 2009 All-Colorado women’s team, as chosen by me with input from photographers Tom Auclair and Jonathan Ingraham. We’ve chosen to go with a 4-4-2.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kayla Mitchell, Colorado School of Mines: This could’ve gone any of four ways. Colorado’s Nikki Marshall is probably the best player in the state. One Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference coach told me Metropolitan State College’s Becca Mays is the best player in the nation in Division II. Metro’s Kat Gosztyla is probably the best defender in the state. But Mitchell lit up the scoreboard in being chosen the RMAC player of the year, and her Orediggers advanced farther in the NCAA tournament than anyone expected. Farther than any team sport at Mines ever has. And even though her nickname is Pocket (is that for Pocket Rocket or Pocket Hercules?), Mitchell was huge. We’ll get into her stats a little later, but the Mines co-captain was one of the biggest reasons the Orediggers did so well in a storybook season.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Frank Kohlenstein, Colorado School of Mines: Kohlenstein coaches Mines’ women’s team AND its men’s team. If that’s not enough to win this award on its own, consider this: The women finished 19-5-1 overall and were second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference at 13-3. They advanced to the Division II quarterfinals. Had they not been matched up against eventual champion Grand Valley State, who knows how far they might’ve gone. The men finished 15-3-4 overall and were 11-2-1 in conference play, and the only losses came against national champion Fort Lewis College. 2009 was an amazing year for this humble and wise teacher of the game.

ALL-COLORADO 2009
DEFENSE
Kathryn Gosztyla, Metro State: She’s a beast, a big, fast, strong, aggressive beast. She was the Roadrunners’ co-captain. Even as a center back, she finds a way to push forward. The best defender in the state. If I were a Women’s Professional Soccer scout, I’d be learning how to spell Gosztyla.

Nichole Kluk, Fort Lewis College: The RMAC defender of the year. Helped limit Mitchell to only one assist in the conference tournament as FLC knocked off No. 2 seed Mines.

Courtney Ryan, Metro State: Left back uses excellent field vision to move well, pass well and defend well. Good with the ball at her feet or at her opponent’s feet. Moves forward aggressively, recovers quickly.

Kalley Mahaffey, Regis: Oddly, we’re going with another left back. There are Division I teams in this state that would love to have a left back this dynamic in their lineup. She’s fast, good in the air, moves forward with passion and has defensive instincts that will frustrate a player trying to hold the ball.

MIDFIELD
Becca Mays, Metro State: She can beat a defender with a one-touch turn. She enlivens the game with a dramatic run forward. And, it’s a cliche, but she improves the quality of the players around her just by being on the pitch. She often played up top, but we’re penciling her in at midfield, where she could have a greater influence.

Nikki Marshall, CU: She played defense and striker for the Buffaloes, but we saw her in the midfield quite a bit with the Colorado Force in the spring. She is a force wherever she lines up, and we’ll put her here. And we hope to see her someday in Women’s Professional Soccer.

Mariah Johnston, University of Denver: Mo finished the season strong and was a big reason the Pioneers got better as the year went on. She was the Pioneers’ second-leading scorer (21 points), and she led the team with 13 assists. She had three winning goals.

Jamie MacArthur, Fort Lewis College: A fine playmaker for an excellent team. Creative, steady, consistent, unflappable. Despite all the talent around her, MacArthur stood out on the field. Knows when a move forward, backward or sideways is the best option.

FORWARDS
Kayla Mitchell, Mines: Mitchell became the first women’s soccer player at Mines to earn All-America honors. She was named a Daktronics first-team All-American, the 2009 Daktronics Central Region player of the year and the RMAC player of the year. A unanimous first-team All-RMAC pick, she led the RMAC in goals (30), points (69) and game-winning goals (14) and was tied for fourth in assists (9). During the conference season, Mitchell was the RMAC offensive player of the week four times and was selected as the RMAC women’s athlete for the month of October. She was a Daktronics and NSCAA first-team All-Central Region pick. She had five hat trick, including a four-goal performance against CSU-Pueblo in which she established Mines single-game records for points (8) and goals. For her efforts in the classroom, Mitchell earned CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine second-team Academic All-American honors and was selected as the 2009 RMAC women’s soccer academic player of the year. Mitchell also earned CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine first-team academic All-District and first-team academic All-RMAC honors. Un-freaking-believable.

Kaitlin Bast, DU: She started 23 of 24 games and was the Pioneers’ leading scorer with 12 goals and 31 points. Her seven assists were second on the team. The freshman wasn’t shy about shooting: She led the team with 80 shots, 25 more than Bria Beardsley, who was second. She will be a joy to watch for the next three seasons.

GOALKEEPER
Lara Campbell, University of Denver: Athletic and unbelievably composed for a freshman. When we interviewed her just moments after giving up a goal to Nikki Marshall in an overtime loss to CU in early September, she had been a collegiate soccer player for a very short time. Despite a heartbreaking finish against an in-state rival just moments earlier, she was as poised and comfortable during the interview as she was for nearly 110 minutes in goal that day. She started all 21 games in which she played, allowing 18 goals for a GAA of 0.88. She made 84 saves, had nine shutouts and finished with a 15-4-1 record.

HONORABLE MENTION
GOALKEEPER: Christine Schmelzle, Fort Lewis; Briana Schulze, Colorado School of Mines; Liana Signorile, Colorado Christian.

DEFENSE: Laurel Reinhardt, Fort Lewis; Nicole Renko, Metro State; Laura Wayland, Northern Colorado.

MIDFIELD: Amy Barczuk, CU; Kelly Butler, CU; Kassidy Fitzpatrick, CU; Katie Horn, Regis; Brittney Lyman, Colorado College; Madison McQuilliams, Metro State; Liz Oba, Mines; Megan Woodworth, Mines.

FORWARD: Tiffany Brown, Colorado College; Hayley Hollenga, Fort Lewis; Stephanie Patterson, Air Force.

And now, courtesy of CU, here is a massive list of facts about the Buffs, the Longhorns and the Big 12 tournament:

• This is CU’s second time as the #3 seed at the Big 12 championships.

• CU has been seeded in every position from first to seventh but has never been seeded eighth.

• Colorado has faced seven of the 11 Big 12 teams in tourney history before this year.

• This will be CU’s sixth match against Texas in the postseason.

• CU is 8-8-4 in the Big 12 tourney.

• Only two Buffaloes on this year’s squad have netted goals in the Big 12 tournament: Nikki Marshall (2) and Kelly Butler.

• CU coach Bill Hempen has a record of 6-5-4 in the Big 12 tournament.

• CU has had nine players selected to the All-Tournament Team: Katie Griffin, Kat Grandinetti and Darci Smerchek in 2005; Alex Cousins, Brittany Dornseif, Nikki Marshall and Nikki Keller in 2006; and Kirstin Radlinski and Michelle Wenino in 2008.

• The Buffs have made it to the championship game three times in the past four years.

• CU lost 1-0 to Missouri in the 2008 final.

• Colorado has never won the Big 12 tournament.

• Colorado trails the all-time record with the Longhorns 4-11-3.

• Texas finished 4-3-3 in Big 12 play, good for sixth place.

• CU is 1-2-2 in the last five meetings with the Longhorns.

• Colorado dropped a 1-0 double-overtime decision to the Longhorns 10 days ago in Austin.

• Texas’ leading scorer is Kylie Doniak, who has five goals and two assists for 12 points. Alexa Gaul has been the Texas netminder with a 1.24 GAA and three shutouts, posting a record of 7-6-3 on the season.

• Hempen owns a record of 4-5-3 against Texas.

• The last time the Buffs faced Texas in the opening round of the Big 12 championships was in 2007. Texas advanced on penalty kicks.

• Fans can watch the match live on the Big 12 Conference Web site, big12sports.com. Each game leading up to the final will be available for free (registration is required).

• Colorado finished the conference season allowing the fewest amount of goals (seven) and the lowest goals against average (0.68) in Big 12 play.

• Marshall finished in the top five in goals scored (five) in Big 12 play. Marshall leads the Buffs in scoring with eight goals and one assist for 17 points overall.

• CU senior goalkeeper Kara Linder held the best GAA (0.69) and save percentage (.851) and the most shutouts (five) in conference play.

• CU’s seniors: Ally Goodman, Linder, Marshall, Kelly Menachof, Tobie Rippy and Mary White.

Colorado finishes the regular season 9-9, 6-4-0 in the Big 12, while the Red Raiders fall to 8-8-3 overall and 3-4-3 in conference.

Senior Nikki Marshall notched the 18th winning goal of her college career. After a scoreless first half, she wasted little time in putting the Buffs on the scoreboard. Freshman Erin Bricker sent a pass to Marshall at the top of the box and Marshall got around the defender and placed her shot in the upper left corner of the goal for a 1-0 CU lead in the 53rd minute.

The goal gives Marshall 42 career goals, 93 points and 18 game-winners, adding to all three of the CU career records that she holds.

The Buffs struck again five minutes later; this time Bricker would find the back of the net. Bricker took a pass from sophomore Kate Russell, took one touch around the Tech defense and placed her shot inside the left goal post.

“The best move we made today was putting Kate Russell in at outside-midfielder,” CU coach Bill Hempen said. “Kate opened up our game a lot. And as soon as she switched positions, we were getting excellent opportunities on crosses, through-balls and corners. She really helped us establish our offense in the second half.”

The shutout was CU’s fifth this season at home. Texas Tech outshot the Buffs 21-16, but senior goalkeeper Kara Linder recorded her sixth shutout of the year.

Colorado, which finished the regular season 6-1 in Boulder, will travel to San Antonio for the first round of the Big 12 championships on Wednesday.

WOMEN
Metro State 2, Adams State 0: The No. 4 Roadrunners held a 36-2 advantage in shot attempts in their the 16th consecutive win. Metro State received all the scoring it would need just 94 seconds into the match: Freshman defender Hayley Renko scored her first career goal after the Grizzlies could not fully clear a corner kick. Ashley Nemmers then scored her seventh goal of the season with just 2:30 left in the first half as Metro improved to 18-1 overall and to 15-0 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. The Grizzlies finished their season with a 6-12-2 overall mark, just one win shy of the school record.  Adams State finished 4-10-2 in RMAC play as senior Ashley Sales  and redshirt junior Ashley Grover, who has decided to forgo her final season of eligibility while graduating early, played for the final time in a Grizzly uniform. Grizzlies sophomore goalkeeper Kirsten Dorsey made nine saves, and teammate Amber Drumm blocked a shot on a Becca Mays breakaway. Nemmers, who scored a header goal off a nice Aleah DeGeneres pass, led the Roadrunners with 11 shots, and Mays had 10. Metro goalkeeper Becca Maloney recorded her ninth shutout of the season. The Roadrunners are  14-0 all-time against the Grizzlies and had outscored the Grizzlies 38-2 in the previous five meetings.

Colorado College 5, UTEP 2: Fueled by freshman Brittney Lyman’s five goals in the second half, the Colorado College women’s soccer team refused to be denied its most important game of the season on Friday night. CC thoroughly dominated but needed to come from behind twice in the team’s regular-season finale at Washburn Field. With one of their biggest victories since joining Conference USA as an affiliate member in 2006, the Tigers overtook the University of Memphis for second place in the final standings and earned a bye in the opening round of the Conference USA playoffs next week. Lyman, a 2009 graduate of Arvada West High School, wiped out 1-0 and 2-1 deficits with her first two tallies of the match before adding a natural hat trick. Colorado College will play in the semifinals of the league tournament in Dallas next Friday against the winner of one of Wednesday’s opening-round matches.

Northern Colorado 4, Northern Arizona 0: In Greeley, senior Marcie Johnson had two goals and an assist in the final game of her college career. Johnson got the game going with an unassisted goal in the 19th minute. Less than 10 minutes into the second half, Ariel Cook received a pass from the corner from junior Olivia Deadmond and made a short shot to put the Bears up 2-0. Cook increased the lead to 3-0 with a shot seven minutes later, taking the assist from Johnson and making the shot from only three yards out. Johnson sealed the deal for Northern Colorado with her second unassisted goal of the night after a breakaway from 10 yards out. The match was also the final one for UNC senior Sydney VanderVelde. “Marcie played a great game and played with a lot of confidence tonight,” Coach Tim Barrera said. “Sydney and Marcie played really well. We are all really happy with how the team played tonight.” The Bears finished 2-5 in Big Sky play, 6-10-1 overall.

Colorado-Colorado Springs 5, Nebraska-Kearney 0: UCCS kept itself relevant in the RMAC playoff picture at Mountain Lion Stadium. Five players scored for the Mountain Lions: Jessica Escobedo, Julia Saenz, Lauren Hall, Krista Mirabelli and Brianna Guzzardo. Seniors Hall and Mirabelli were playing the final home game of their collegiate careers. UCCS improved to 7-8-1 overall and 6-8-1 in RMAC play with the win, good for 19 points (three for each conference win and one for the tie). UCCS is now in sixth place in the conference, two points ahead of Colorado Christian. Six teams advance to the playoffs. The five goals was a school record for the Mountain Lions’ second-year program.

MEN
CSU-Pueblo 1, Mesa State 0: Dylan Cook scored an unassisted goal in the 75th minute as the Thunderwolves won at home. Mesa State dropped to 2-14-2 (2-10-1 RMAC), and CSU-Pueblo raised its record to 8-10-0 (4-9-0 RMAC). Pueblo’s Jacob Blum made two saves in recording the shutout. Josh Tinaglia made seven saves for Mesa.

Fort Lewis 3, Colorado-Colorado Springs 0: Joe Barnd scored twice for the third-ranked Skyhawks at Mountain Lion Stadium. Fort Lewis improved to 16-0, 13-0 in the RMAC. Barnd now has seven goals in 10 matches this season. Abdel Becerra opened the scoring with a skillful goal in the 34th minute. He dribbled toward the goal, and when UCCS goalkeeper Adam Liszewski came out to cut off the angle, Becerra chipped it over his head and into the net. Barnd’s first goal came in the 59th minute, when he headed in a crossing pass by Dimo Krymanidis. Barnd converted a far-post shot from the left side with less than three minutes remaining. Liszewski made seven saves in the losing effort for UCCS (7-10-1, 4-8-1 RMAC).

The University of Colorado soccer team will host Texas Tech at 3 p.m. Friday in its final regular-season match.

The Buffaloes (8-9, 5-4 Big 12) will celebrate Senior Day and honor Ally Goodman, Kara Linder, Nikki Marshall, Kelly Menachof, Tobie Rippy and Mary White with a post-game celebration. The game is set to air live at 3 p.m. on FSN with an approximate 3:08 p.m. kickoff. Marc Stout will handle the play-by-play duties, and Marcelo Balboa will provide the analysis.

The Buffaloes are coming off a pair of Big 12 road games last weekend in which they dropped a 2-0 decision to No. 20 Texas A&M on Friday and fell 1-0 in double overtime to Texas on Sunday.

Texas Tech (8-7-3, 3-3-3 Big 12) enters the weekend after back-to-back ties with Texas on Friday and Texas A&M on Sunday. Tech had an early 2-0 second-half lead over Texas, but the Longhorns fought back in the last 20 minutes. Two days later against Texas A&M, Tech held the nationally ranked squad scoreless in 110 minutes of play. The Red Raiders are led by Dawn Ward with 13 goals and one assist and Taylor Lytle with four goals and 11 assists. Colorado owns the overall series with Texas Tech by a decisive 10-2-1 margin, and CU is 5-1 when facing the Red Raiders at home.

Colorado’s senior class came to campus in a few waves, starting in the fall of 2006. Goodman, Linder, Marshall and White arrived as freshmen, Rippy as a sophomore and Menachof as a junior. The class has helped lead the Buffs to three NCAA tournament appearances, including three 10-plus win seasons.

Colorado is fourth in the latest Big 12 Conference standings with 15 points. With just one conference match remaining, CU is guaranteed to make its eighth-straight appearance in the Big 12 championships. The top eight teams based on points at the end of the season qualify. In league play, three points are awarded for a win, one for a tie and zero for a loss.

Colorado is 6-1-0 at Prentup Field this season, and four of the six wins have been 1-0 shutouts. The Buffs have outscored opponents 12-4 in Boulder.

Marshall leads the Buffs in scoring with seven goals and one assist. Sophomore Kelly Butler follows Marshall with four goals and two assists for 10 points, along with eight other Buffs who have found the back of the net. Freshman Erin Bricker leads the team with three assists, and Linder owns a 1.15 goals-against average, including five shutouts.

Already CU’s all-time leading goal scorer, Marshall became the all-time points leader in a win over Oklahoma. She shattered former All-American and Fran Munnelly’s record (84). Marshall has 91 points and at least two games still to play.

KICK OR TREAT: Kids and adults are invited to wear costumes and trick-or-treat with other student-athletes before kickoff on Friday. Those dressed in a costume will have a chance to win prizes. Kick or Treat activities will start at 2 p.m. The first 100 fans will also receive a free poster autographed by CU’s seniors. At halftime, Top Chef New York winner Hosea Rosenberg will appear. Admission and parking for all CU soccer games are free.

The Orediggers have shut out seven of their past eight opponents.

Mitchell gave Mines a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute, when Liz Oba chipped a ball over the CSU-Pueblo defense. Mitchell controlled the ball and beat the goalkeeper to the far post for her 12th winning goal of the season. The assist was Oba’s fourth.

Mitchell struck again in the 14th minute. Megan Woodworth controlled the ball at the top of the box, finding Allison Heeg open on her left near the edge of the box. Mitchell made an overlapping run, and Heeg played the ball to Mitchell, who placed the ball high toward the far post. The assist was Heeg’s first of the season.

In the 34th minute, Mitchell completed the hat trick, receiving the ball in the box from Becca Morales and turning inside to score once again.

Woodworth and Mitchell connected in the 70th minute. Woodworth found Mitchell in the box with a short pass and collected her sixth assist of the season.

Mitchell’s four-goal performance established Mines records for goals and points in a match. The hat trick was Mitchell’s fifth of the season and the eighth of her career.

Briana Schulze earned her sixth shutout, registering six saves.

The Orediggers (15-3, 11-3 RMAC) will travel to Las Vegas, N.M., on Sunday to take on New Mexico Highlands.

WOMEN
Fort Lewis 2, UCCS 1: In Colorado Springs, Erika Shisler punched in a loose ball with less than 14 minutes remaining as the No. 13 Skyhawks escaped Mountain Lion Stadium. Just 15:39 into the contest, the Mountain Lions managed something that only four other teams have done this season: They scored against the Skyhawks. Fort Lewis, led by a disciplined defense and the impenetrable Christine Schmelzle in goal, has logged an RMAC-best 11 shutouts, including six of its previous seven matches and three straight. Lauren Hall ended that streak with a highlight-reel goal. Following a UCCS corner kick, Jessica Escobedo sent a low crossing pass to Hall, who was standing in the middle of the field, 10 yards from goal. The problem was that the junior from Fruita had her back to the goal and two defenders in the way. Instead of turning, Hall flicked the ball backward over her head, a maneuver that took Schmelzle – and everyone else – by surprise. The ball sailed over the stunned defenders and into the net. Fort Lewis evened the match in the 28th minute when Sam Smith converted a crossing pass by Nichole Kluk. The tie endured all the way to the 86:04 mark, when Shisler’s goal ended UCCS’ hopes of an upset. Freshman goalkeeper Kayla Millar made 11 saves for the Mountain Lions, some of which were jaw-dropping. Twice, she thwarted one-on-ones and on a third shot she threw herself at the feet of a Skyhawk who had a point-blank shot. Schmelzle had six saves for Fort Lewis, which improved to 15-2-1, 11-2-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and held onto second place in the conference standings. The top two teams in the regular season get first-round byes in the RMAC playoffs. UCCS dropped to 6-8, 5-8 in RMAC play.

Denver 2, Western Kentucky 0: Kelsey Quinn scored her first goal of the season, while Mariah Johnston had a goal, her third of the year, and an assist. Johnston scored in the 25th minute of the game with a chip shot into the top right corner off of an assist from Kaitlin Bast. DU’s second goal came in the 60th minute from Quinn. The Pioneers improved to 12-5-1 overall and 7-2-0 in the Sun Belt Conference. The loss drops Western Kentucky to 12-4-1 and 7-2-0 in conference. Freshman goalkeeper Lara Campbell ended the night with five saves. The Pioneers continue their weekend on the road as they take on Middle Tennessee on Sunday.

Texas A&M 2, CU 0: The Buffs continued to struggle on the road. No. 20 Texas A&M (11-5-1, 5-2-1 Big 12) collected its 17th victory over Colorado in 19 tries, and the Buffs fell to 8-8 overall and 5-3 in Big 12 play. The Aggies, who have historically proven to be a difficult opponent for the Buffs, got off to an early start by scoring the first goal of the match less than three minutes in. Alyssa Mautz took a pass from Katie Hamilton at the top of the box and fired a hard shot into the upper left corner of the goal, beyond the reach of CU goalkeeper Kara Linder. Senior Nikki Marshall nearly got on the board for the Buffs in the 13th minute, when she found herself in a one-on-one situation with Aggie goalkeeper Kelly Dyer. Marshall went for a chip over the keeper’s head but missed wide right. The Aggies would strike again in the 34th minute. Hamilton received a pass from Chelsea Jones just inside the 18. She needed just one touch, took a sliding shot and buried the ball inside the left goal post. Colorado nearly converted a Marshall-to-Marshall goal in the 80th minute as Nikki Marshall dished a pass out to unmarked sister Shaye Marshall in front of the goal, but her shot was blocked and sent back into play by a Texas A&M defender. Colorado will now head west to Austin and face the University of Texas at noon on Sunday.

New Mexico Highlands 2, Adams State 1: The Grizzlies’ hopes of qualifying for the RMAC tournament for the first time since 2006 took a major blow in Las Vegas, N.M. The Cowgirls, who had been shut out in each of their previous eight games, received goals in the 13th and 29th minutes from Yolanda Elias and Krista Mashak, respectively, as they improved to 3-15 overall and to 3-11 in RMAC action. The Grizzlies (6-11-1 overall and 4-9-1 in the RMAC) have dropped six straight games on Highlands’ narrow sports-turf field, which has been a place of horrors for the Grizzlies since they claimed their only road win over the Cowgirls in 2003. ASC dominated the Cowgirls at home in a 3-0 win just nine days ago.

Rice 0, Colorado College 0: Once Erin Scott hit the goalpost for Rice early in the match at Stewart Field in Colorado Springs, the excitement was pretty much over. The visiting Owls and CC played 110 scoreless minutes in a 0-0 tie that prevented CC from clinching a berth in the Conference USA playoffs, less than two weeks away. The Tigers finished with a 20-15 edge in shots, but other than Scott’s point-blank rocket from just inside the left side of the box that ricocheted high off the far post, neither team generated a quality chance in the offensive end. CC, now 10-5-2 overall and 6-2-1 in conference play, returns to action against Houston at noon Sunday in Colorado Springs. Goalkeeper Meghan Erkel finished with six saves for Rice, now 4-10-3 overall and 2-6-1 in Conference USA. Caitlin Hulyo made four stops in net for the Tigers, who blanked their third consecutive opponent.

Northern Colorado 4, Eastern Washington 0: After four straight Big Sky Conference losses, UNC came to life at Jackson Stadium. Kimmie Feidler, Ariel Cook, Marcie Johnson and JJ Wykstra scored for the Bears, who improved to 5-9-1 overall and 1-4-0 in conference. The Eagles fell to 6-7-1 and 3-1-1. In the 33rd minute, Feidler took a pass from Cook and opened the scoring. Feidler made one touch before striking a high shot just out of reach of Eastern Washington goalkeeper Lisa Demak. UNC increased its lead to 2-0 less than a minute into the second half with a goal from Johnson. Freshman Danielle Birdsall’s previous shot hit the crossbar, and Johnson found the back of the net from eight yards out. After a goalkeeper change for the Eagles, the Bears added a goal from Wykstra. Feidler made a quick pass in front of the goal to Wykstra, who put the Bears up 3-0 in the 66th minute. Cook rounded out the scoring. Sydney VanderVelde attempted a cross that was deflected by goalkeeper Jacki Gillis, but Cook took possession of the ball behind the keeper and found an open path to the goal for a 4-0 advantage. UNC’s total of four goals was its highest this season, and it came against an Eagles team that entered the match allowing an average of 1.64 goals per game. The Bears host Montana at noon Sunday at Jackson Stadium.

Colorado Christian 1, Mesa State 0: Cougars goalkeeper Liana Signorile made three saves en route to her eighth shutout of the season. Jessica Smith scored in the 69th minute after a long pass from Nicole Gill. Colorado Christian improved to 8-6-3, 5-6-2 in the RMAC, while Mesa State dropped to 8-9, 5-8.

Metro State 4, Nebraska-Kearney 0: The No. 6 Roadrunners outshot Nebraska-Kearney 29-5 in Kearney, Neb. Madison McQuilliams tallied a career-high three assists and Becca Mays scored twice as the Roadrunners recorded their 15th straight win.

MEN
Air Force 1, New Mexico 0: Kevin Rosser connected on a penalty kick with 4:42 remaining at Cadet Soccer Stadium. Air Force was awarded the PK when New Mexico was called for a hand ball in the box after an Air Force corner kick. Rosser placed the shot in the upper right corner, past Lobo goalie Justin Fite. It was Air Force’s first win over New Mexico since 2003, snapping a seven-game losing streak and 11-game winless streak to the Lobos. Air Force improved to 6-5-1 overall and 1-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while New Mexico fell to 8-5 and 2-1 in league play. New Mexico dominated the statistical categories, outshooting the Falcons 15-7 and taking six corner kicks to Air Force’s two. Rosser’s goal was Air Force’s only shot on goa, while the Lobos placed six on freshman goalie Mike Mauro, who made several outstanding saves, including one on a breakaway by UNM’s Justin Davis in the 52nd minute. Mauro collected the second shutout of his career. “Mauro played a great game for us tonight,” Air Force head coach Doug Hill said. “He certainly kept us in it throughout, and Eric Wilson did an outstanding job for us in the backfield. It’s always nice to beat a very good team and know that we can play with anyone in the country.” Rosser had four of Air Force’s seven shots, while seniors Josh Rhynard and Jared Gomez and freshman Zane Dydasco each had one. Air Force hosts Nevada-Las Vegas at 1 p.m. Sunday.

UNLV 2, Denver 2: Sophomore midfielder Jarod Stigall rallied the Pioneers with two goals in the final 15 minutes at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. The Pioneers (3-7-3, 0-2-1 MPSF) got on the board in the 76th minute, when senior midfielder Collin Audley passed to Stigall, who fired a shot from the left corner of the box inside the opposite post. Stigall tied the game with less than six minutes remaining after a rebound of a shot by Audley and a tip pass from freshman forward Nathan Sackeyfio. The Rebels jumped on the board first as junior midfielder Stephen Sifuentes headed in a cross from senior defender Peter Rodriguez in the third minute of the game. With just over six minutes left in the first half, Sifuentes scored his second goal of the night, assisted by freshman forward Zach Kupfer.

Mines 5, UCCS 1: In Colorado Springs, Jeff Nelson scored two goals, and Jacob Juett, Chike Sullivan and Ted Decker also scored for No. 16 Mines (12-2-3, 8-2-1 RMAC). Alex Nass and Cale Haas got assists. Matt Friesen scored his seventh goal of the season for the Mountain Lions (6-9-1, 3-7-1 RMAC). Nelson’s two scores came in the closing minutes. On the first, he converted a crossing pass by Haas that UCCS goalkeeper Adam Liszewski failed to intercept in the 79th minute. The second was the result of a mis-hit by Liszewski, who was trying to clear an ill-advised pass back to the keeper in the 86th minute. Liszewski made eight saves, and Mines goalkeeper Manville Strand had five.

Fort Lewis 1, Metro State 0: Euan Purcell deflected a pass by Barden for the only goal of the match in Durango. The Skyhawks improved to 14-1 overall and 11-0 in conference. Metro State slipped to 9-5-2, 6-3-2 in RMAC play. Fort Lewis outshot the Roadrunners 14-4, and Metro goalkeeper Dominique Griffith made six saves.

Regis 1, Mesa State 0: In Grand Junction, Regis collected its third consecutive victory as Jordan Brandel scored in the 65th minute. The Rangers improved to 6-1-4 in RMAC play, 8-3-4 overall. Next, the Rangers face Fort Lewis College at 1 p.m. Sunday in Durango.

CSU-Pueblo 5, Colorado Christian 1: Sam Henritze scored three goals, and Sean Fitzgerald and Robert Kinsey each added one as the Thunderwolves rolled at home. Kinsey had an assist on one of Henritze’s goals, and the others were unassisted. Jodah Hankins scored in the 85th minute for Colorado Christian, which fell to 2-13-2 overall and 0-10-1 in conference. The Thunderwolves are 7-8 overall, 3-7 in conference.

The University of Colorado soccer team will wrap up the regular season with three games in eight days, beginning with a road trip to the Lone Star State.

The Buffs, coming off a bye week with an overall record of 8-7 (5-2 in the Big 12), travel to Texas A&M on Friday and the University of Texas on Sunday. CU ends the season Oct. 30 at home against Texas Tech; game time is 3 p.m.

Prior to the bye, Colorado went 1-1 against Missouri and Kansas. The Buffs faced Missouri on Friday, Oct. 9 and dropped a 1-0 overtime decision to the Tigers. Colorado rebounded on Sunday against Kansas with a 1-0 win, thanks to freshman Erin Bricker’s first career goal. The win proved to be CU’s first true road win of the season, but the loss at Missouri helped the Tigers take over the top spot in the Big 12 standings.

Texas A&M (10-5-1, 4-2-1 Big 12) enters the weekend after a 1-0 win over Iowa State and a 2-1 loss to Nebraska last week. Nebraska used two goals from freshman Morgan Marlborough to hand the Aggies their second conference loss of the season.

The Aggies are led by Rachel Shipley, who has five goals and seven assists, while Whitney Hooper leads the team in goals scored, with seven. Historically, Texas A&M has proven to be a difficult matchup for the Buffs, owning a 1-16-1 all-time record against CU. Colorado is 0-6 in College Station, and the Buffs’ lone win over the Aggies came in 2006 in the second round of the Big 12 championships, thanks to a Nikki Marshall overtime goal. Texas A&M is just two points behind second-place Colorado in the Big 12 standings.

Texas (7-7-2, 3-2-2 Big 12) did the exact opposite of Texas A&M last weekend, beating Nebraska on Friday and losing to Iowa State on Sunday. Texas will face Texas Tech on Friday. The Longhorns are led by Kylie Doniak, who has netted five goals and dished out two assists. Texas has bounced back from a 3-5 start to a 4-2-2 record in the second half of the season. In its first nine matches, Texas allowed 15 goals, but the defense has since allowed only six. Texas owns the overall series over the Buffaloes 9-4-2, and CU’s only win in the past five meetings was a 1-0 thriller last year in Boulder.

With just three matches left to play, the Buffs are still in the hunt for their second regular-season title ever. CU is also looking to make its eighth-straight appearance in the Big 12 championships; only the top eight teams, based on points at the end of the season, qualify for conference tournament. In league play, three points are awarded for a win, one for a tie and none for a loss.

Marshall leads the Buffs in scoring with seven goals and one assist. Sophomore Kelly Butler follows Marshall, with four goals and two assists. Bricker leads the team with three assists, and senior goalkeeper Kara Linder owns a 1.15 goals-against average and five shutouts.

Colorado’s return to Boulder will be televised on FSN. CU will celebrate Senior Day and Kick or Treat at Prentup Field before the match. Kids and adults are invited to wear costumes and trick-or-treat with other student-athletes before the match. Everyone wearing a costume will have a chance to win prizes starting at 2 p.m., and the match will kick off at 3. The first 100 fans will receive a free poster autographed by the team’s five seniors.

BOULDER — After a couple of weeks of getting pushed around by the big dogs, it was nice to push back. The University of Colorado soccer team ended a losing streak against three national powerhouses with a 1-0 victory over Big 12 rival Nebraska on Friday at Prentup Field. Kassidy Fitzpatrick scored her third goal of the season, in the 68th minute after a scramble in front of the Cornhuskers’ goal.

Freshman Quinn Krier, starting her first game for injured Kate Russell, played a long ball in to Nikki Marshall inside Nebraska’s penalty area. Marshall headed the ball past goalkeeper Tara Macdonald, and the ball dropped for CU’s Amanda Foulk.

Defender Carly Peetz dumped Foulk to the turf, but the ball squirted free and found the left boot of Fitzpatrick, who approached the melee from the right side. She fired the ball into the netting with authority.

“Quinn Krier had a great ball in to our forward, Nikki, at the time, and Amanda also is in a great position,” Fitzpatrick said. “They’re holding off the defenders, and luckily it bounced out. It was a good opportunity to spank it in there with the left. Even if it was a scramble, I’m really proud of how we positioned ourselves. It was a good mixup right there.

“You need to make those defenders think, “Oh, my gosh, where’s the ball?” They’ll lose sight of it, and that’s where you get that opportunity.”

The victory lifts the Buffs to 2-0 in conference and 5-5 overall, following a stretch of uneven results against powerhouse teams. In road losses against Florida, Stanford and Santa Clara in the past 13 days, CU allowed eight goals and scored only one.

Buffaloes coach Bill Hempen said he didn’t think returning home to face Nebraska would be the cure.

“If I had to pick a game to try to get out of a slump, this wouldn’t have been the one — because they were going to come at us maybe not with the same level of player, but certainly with the same level of intensity,” he said. “They knocked us around. And from my kids’ standpoint, we hung in there and started to push back a little bit, for the first time all year. And if you do that then you get the respect of your opponent.”

And perhaps the victory.

The Buffs turned the game around at halftime. Nebraska began the match with intensity, but CU turned the tide after 45 minutes of play and after some coaching moves by Hempen.

First, he moved up Kelly Butler to play forward with Marshall, and the pair of strikers forced the Huskers to behave on defense.

“When you had one up there, it was up to her. With two, I could get the second one in behind,” Hempen said. “It made them a little more honest in the back because they were getting forward a little bit, a little bit more than we would’ve liked.”

Second, Hempen challenged his players to be more decisive with the ball and to do so more quickly.

In the first half, the Huskers feasted on turnovers that they created with pressure from all across the pitch, forwards, midfielders, defenders. Fitzpatrick said that Hempen told his squad to make shorter passes and make them faster.

“Every time you take a touch you have to realize they’re getting closer to you,” Fitzpatrick said. “We needed to play quicker. Just listening to our coaches helped, because they told us they’re going to be tackling out there really hard. He was mostly concerned that we play shorter balls quicker. Don’t always look for the long ball. Just find the quickest pass possible because they’re right there all the time. You need to play quick. Find the open player. Don’t find a player who’s going to be pressured so close.”

And it worked. CU controlled play in the second half, setting up the goal with some enterprise from the offense and relieving the pressure in its own end. The frustrated Nebraska attack withered, and the challenges dwindled.

The Cornhuskers lost only their second game of the season, and it came in their Big 12 opener. Before Friday, Nebraska had outscored its opponents 36-9. CU goalkeeper Kara Linder made five saves as the Buffs held the Huskers scoreless for the first time this year.

It was Linder’s third shutout of the year and fifth victory.

SALTING AWAY THE VICTORY: The final minute was a barometer of how far the game had turned. Linder drained 15 seconds off the clock during a goal kick, one in which she stopped for a drink from her water bottle before addressing the ball. And a head’s-up play by Erin Bricker ate up most of the final 20 seconds. After a Nebraska defender played the ball back to Macdonald, Bricker rushed at her and blocked her kick. The ball went sailing back across the end line, but Macdonald had to track it down, place it at the six-yard box, back up and kick again. Bricker’s alert decision took away all the time Nebraska had to make one last run down the field.

MISSING: The victory was more impressive when considering that the Buffs played without field general Russell, who sprained her ankle last week against Stanford, and central defender Taryn Vitacca, who pulled a hamstring in practice on Tuesday. “Not having Kate, that’s a big deal,” Hempen said. Krier filled in for Russell on Friday.

WOMAN OF THE MATCH: Many candidates: There’s Fitzpatrick, who scored the winning goal. There’s Nebraska forward Molly Thomas, who missed wide a couple of times and hit the crossbar in the first half. There’s Linder, who just happens to be a Lincoln native. There’s Marshall, Kelly Ross and Amy Barczuk, who played center back in the absence of Vitacca. The CU defense was able to keep super-freshman Morgan Marlborough under wraps. Marlborough scored 232 goals in high school (that’s not a typo), and the 6-foot striker from Missouri leads Nebraska with 14 goals in nine games. Barczuk was able to keep her quiet with a combination of positioning, muscle and dominance in the air. Ross was there as the Nebraska forwards shifted and swirled. And Marshall played center back at the beginning of the game and at the end. I’ll go with the goal scorer. Let’s give this one to the goal scorer, Fitzpatrick.

UP NEXT: Colorado continues its Big 12 weekend when it faces Iowa State at 1 p.m. Sunday at home. As always, admission and parking are free at Prentup Field. CU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is teaming up with Coats For Colorado and will collect gently used and new coats on Sunday to donate to individuals and families in need in Colorado.

University of Denver goalkeeper Lara Campbell played a spotless game for nearly 109 minutes on Friday in Boulder. Then CU’s Nikki Marshall ended it. Marshall scored with 1 minute, 5 seconds remaining in the second overtime period to clinch a 1-0 victory for Colorado, capping a match of frustrating offensive dominance for the Buffs and exhausting defensive stands for the Pioneers.

With the Buffs pressing for nearly all of the two overtimes, CU earned a corner kick late in the second OT when the DU defense blocked a shot by Marshall.

The corner, coming from the right flag, flew over the fray in front of the DU goal but wound up with the Buffs on the left wing. Midfielder Kate Russell chipped the ball back toward Marshall, who fought off a defender and found the ball at her feet. Marshall shot into the lower left side, giving Campbell no chance to make a save.

“That’s one of those goals where you’re in the right place at the right time and you’ve just got to put it away,” Marshall said. “I think that’s what happened.”

Campbell agreed, saying the ball dropped just right for Marshall after deflecting off DU’s Katy Van Lieshout.

“Basically Nikki came up behind our defender, Katy. The ball went into Katy’s stomach, Nikki hit it from behind, got the ball and snuck it under me,” she said. “It’s tough because they were so close, but I guess I could’ve got out a little earlier, a little more.”

The goal came after a prolonged stretch in which DU was fighting simply to stay alive. CU put six shots on goal in the second half and played nearly all of the overtimes in DU’s end of the pitch, but the Buffs could not get the ball past Campbell.

The freshman goalkeeper from Alaska sparkled. Her finest moments were many: a save on a header by Marshall in the 49th minute; a spectacular leaping save on a looping ball from the right wing in the 53rd minute; another clutch save four minutes later; a difficult stop on a hard, low liner by Marshall with less than 13 minute in regulation; a sliding collision with Marshall in the box with two minutes left.

Russell, Kelly Butler and Kassidy Fitzpatrick began to assert themselves in the second half and took over completely in OT. DU could not maintain possession and could not get forward, but Colorado could not finish – until the last few moments.

“We got a little bit tired toward the end,” DU coach Jeff Hooker said. “We defended too much in overtime. When you defend that much you’re maybe hoping to get out with a tie. But we just defended so much that something bad was going to happen.”

That something was Marshall. The preseason All-America selection began the game at center back but moved to striker about 20 minutes into the game. The CU offense began to stir, then it played downhill toward the DU goal in the second half, keeping Campbell busy.

Surprisingly, the freshman from Alaska was upbeat after the game and said all the pressure the Buffs brought was not a bad thing, from her perspective.

“It’s not exactly comfortable because you’re always on your toes; you’ve always got to be ready for that shot,” Campbell said. “But it’s fun. It’s actually a lot of fun. It hard work, but I like doing it. That’s why I’m a goalie. … When you’re not playing a lot or getting a lot of shots, it’s obviously not that fun because you’re not involved. But when you’re giving it all you’ve got and making those saves it’s a lot of fun.

“It just sucks when you lose.”

THE END-GAME CELEBRATION: After Marshall scored, she was swamped by teammates, but she fell to the ground. The Buffs were careful not to pile on top of her. “Well, my calf was cramping,” Marshall said. “My calf cramps all the time, and that was the last shot for me. And I’m glad it went in because I don’t know if it would’ve gone five more minutes. I just fell down and was trying to stretch my calf out.”

WOMAN OF THE MATCH: Marshall, clearly. In addition to the goal, she made a few spectacular runs up the right wing. When she had the ball at her feet, the crowd buzzed, the Pioneers stiffened and offensive possibilities came to life. But she’s not the only player worth mentioning. If Marshall was the bullet in the Buffaloes’ chamber, then Butler was the trigger. During the second half and the overtimes, CU played get-the-ball-to-Nikki, and the player who excelled at that game was Butler.

CU’S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Once Marshall moved forward, junior defender Taryn Vitacca took over the back line. She showed excellent footwork and positioning and was a physical presence. But, most impressively, she accepted the responsibility of running the defense. Her leadership at the back was unmistakable. Buffs goalkeeper Tara Linder made three saves in recording her second shutout of the season.

DU’S FINEST: On defense, Campbell was busy and often spectacular. On offense, Kaitlin Bast and Kalie Vaughn were DU’s main offensive contributors.

THE CU TOURNAMENT’S EARLY GAME: Oregon outshot Colgate 36-3 but had to wait until the 82nd minute for senior defender Danielle Sweeney to score the equalizer as the Ducks tied Colgate 1-1. Oregon’s total nearly broke the school mark of 39 shots. Colgate’s Jamie Herrmann scored an unassisted goal in the 54th minute.

THE PEANUT GALLERY: After Marshall’s winning goal in the 109th minute, one of the players in the early game said, “Well, that was impressive.”

AND SPEAKING OF POSTGAME COMMENTS: After the game, a reporter asked Marshall, “Your dad says you’re not quite as technically sound as you are fast. Do you think you’re getting better?” Now Marshall’s father might have said that, but for a reporter to bring it up was insulting. Marshall, being in a professional setting and surrounded by at least half a dozen members of the media, either didn’t recognize the slight or ignored it. Either way, good for her. It was a bush-league comment to make in public. Basically this: You’re not so much a good player as you are fast. Would this same journalist ask Dikembe Mutombo if he’s a good player or simply tall? I doubt it. If his point was to say that, despite all the accolades Marshall has received, she might still be getting better as a player, then just ask her that. But if that was the point, let me answer the question: Yes, of course she’s getting better. A soccer player does not peak in her early 20s. There. That was simple.

PRENTUP PACKED: CU listed the official attendance at 2,711, which would mark the second-largest crowd at Prentup Field.

DU STARTERS: Campbell, Bast, Vaughn, Rogers, Van Lieshout, Stewart, Beardsley, Johnston, Carlson, Storslett, Briedenbach.

CU STARTERS: Linder, Menachof, Ross, Barczuk, Lowry, Fitzpatrick, Bricker, Butler, Russell, Vitacca, Marshall.

UP NEXT: Colgate faces Denver at 11 a.m. Sunday at Prentup, and CU meets Oregon at 2 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Here’s a link to our directions to Prentup Field.

George Tanner is a former writer and editor for the Rocky Mountain News; the Greeley Tribune; The Daily Independent of Ridgecrest, Calif.; the Durango Herald; and the Boulder Daily Camera. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado and an affiliate professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver. E-mail him at ColoradoSoccerNow@gmail.com.

To advertise on Colorado Soccer Now, e-mail George at ColoradoSoccerNow@gmail.com.

PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE: Regis University men’s soccer coach Tony McCall and his wife, Jennifer, have an 8-month-old daughter named Kenleigh who has Down syndrome. The McCalls are asking folks for financial support for “Kenleigh’s Kause,” helping find a cure for Down syndrome. The family will participate in the Step Up for Down Syndrome walk at 9 a.m. Sept. 27 at City Park in Denver, or you can go directly to the Kenleigh’s Kause team page to make a donation. Here’s the link to the Step Up for Down Syndrome page, and here’s a link to Kenleigh’s Kause. Down syndrome is a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops mentally and physically. It affects about one in every 800 babies.

REGIS VS. RAPIDS: Facundo Diz scored twice as the Rapids reserves topped Regis University 4-0 Tuesday afternoon at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Ross Schunk and guest player Luke Williams also scored for the Rapids. Both of Diz’s goals came in the second half. The reserve team’s lineup consisted of Preston Burpo, Rob Valentino, Ty Harden, Mike Holody, Ross Smith, Greg Dalby, Pat Noonan, Eric Denton, Williams, Diz and Schunk. Read more about the exhibition here.

CONOR CASEY’S TEETH: ESPN reports that Rapids striker Conor Casey had not joined the U.S. camp in Utah as of Wednesday evening because he had his wisdom teeth removed Monday in Denver. ESPN’s Steve Davis writes that although Casey’s “hold-up play in the same stadium as an MLS All-Star was a highlight a month back against Everton,” he probably won’t be much more than insurance as the Nats take on El Salvador in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium. Read Davis’ whole story about the U.S. lineup here.

MY VOTES FOR MLS PLAYER OF THE MONTH: I voted for Columbus defender Chad Marshall, and Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer was my second choice. In August, Marshall helped the Crew to a 3-1-0 record while playing the full 90 minutes in each match. Each of his two goals in the month were game-winners, including a free kick strike against the Rapids on Aug. 1, and he had one assist. Hesmer went on to win the monthly award, voted on by the North American Soccer Reporters. New England’s Shalrie Joseph was the runner-up, and Rapids striker Omar Cummings was third.

GARY SMITH ON THE IHEMELU-MOOR TRADE: Rapids Head Coach Gary Smith spoke to MLSNet.com’s Owen Perkins about the trade that sent Ugo Ihemelu to Dallas for Drew Moor, a draft pick and allocation money.  “In Ugo you’ve got a pristine athlete with lots of pace, and a terrific kid at that as well. But I think with Drew you’ve got maybe a little bit more of a cultured defender. A little bit more capable on the ball. And hopefully as versatile at right back and at center back.” Smith said the Rapids’ late second-half collapse against Chicago had something to do with the deal. “That’s not to say that the move that was made with Ugo was solely based on that, but it did play a part in it. … ” Read Perkins’ whole story here.

SUPER CLASSICO REVIEW: Henry Schultz, an occasional contributor to ColoradoSoccerNow.com and our departed friend FC Rocky, had this to say about last weekend’s Chivas USA-Galaxy match: “It was just awful. Errant passes, big, bouncy first touches resulting in loss of possession, etc. There were a couple of flashes from Beckham, like when he reached behind for an unexpected bounce and hooked a perfect pass forward with the back of his heel. Overall, a dull exhibition, however much the commentators tried to hype the ‘rivalry’ between the teams.” Hank is working on a book review for us that we’ll publish in the coming months.

OREDIGGERS IN THE RANKINGS: The Colorado School of Mines women’s soccer team is tied for fourth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America rankings for the central tegion. The women posted victories last week at home against  Washburn University and Nebraska-Omaha. The Mines men are ranked third in the central region. The men beat Northwest Nazarene 5-1 on Aug. 27 and the University of Mary 3-0 on Monday.

REMEMBER WHEN CELTIC WAS IN TOWN? ESPN reports that Hull City has signed Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who was released by Celtic at the end of the Scottish Premier League season, on a two-year deal. Vennegoor of Hesselink was a member of the Celtic team that met the MLS All-Star Team in 2007 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Read the whole story here.

CU AWARD: University of Colorado senior Nikki Marshall was named CU’s Athlete of the Week for Aug. 24-30. She has won the award seven times, more than any other Buffalo. Marshall scored the first two goals Sunday in Colorado’s 8-1 win over St. Mary’s in record fashion. Marshall scored her first goal 23 seconds into the game, setting a school record for the fastest goal in program history. Just two minutes later, she scored the winning goal.