Font Resize"The game was kind of the epitome of our season," said head coach Bill Hempen. "We played well to a certain point, but when it meant the most we were unable to execute and that was ultimately our downfall."
The Buffs finished with a 9-10-0 overall record while the Longhorns improved to 9-8-3 and advanced to the tournament semifinals.
The Texas offense got off to a quick start in the first half and the Longhorns had a pair of shots in the first 10 min-utes, highlighted by a Sophie Campise shot that soared inches over the crossbar and out of bounds.
In the 33rd minute of the half, Texas again nearly got on the board when Courtney Goodson went one-on-one with CU goalkeeper Kara Linder. The CU senior tried to cut her off but Goodson went to her left and just before she could take a shot on the open net, defender Kelly Ross sprinted into the play and was able to close the gap and force a weak shot that went wide and out of play.
The Colorado defense limited the Longhorns to just six shots in the half and the Buffs recorded seven of their own.
Colorado`s best opportunity in the second half came in the 72nd minute, when junior forward Amanda Foulk received a through ball in the box and fired a hard shot. UT goalkeeper Alexa Gaul came off her line and was able to make the save, keeping the Buffaloes out of the back of the net.
The last time the Buffs faced the Longhorns in Big 12 Championship action, the game was decided on penalty kicks after a 110-minute battle in the opening round in 2007.
After just one Colorado shot in the first overtime period, the game was sent into a second 10-minute overtime period.
Texas came out with an extra spark in the final period and Erica Campanelli headed a shot with 3:30 seconds left in the game that hit the crossbar and bounced back into play. Goodson was on the receiving end of the deflection and sent a square ball to Hannah Higgins in the CU box, who volleyed the ball over the head of Linder and CU`s defense and into the back of the net to end the game.
Colorado was outshot 23 to 15 in the match. Nikki Marshall and Kate Russell led the Buffs with four shots each.
Marshall finished her her CU career as the leader in all-time points (93), goals (42) and game-winning goals (18).
The 2009 season is the first time in seven seasons that Colorado has not advanced to the NCAA Tournament and it`s the first time since 2001 that CU did not tally at least 10 wins.
All-Big 12
CU placed three players on the All-Big 12 teams announced Wednesday.
Nikki Marshall earned first team honors for the fourth consecutive year, making her just the second Buffalo in program history to do so, joining former Buff Fran Munnelly (2002-05).
Freshman defender Amy Barczuk was named to the second team. Barczuk, the only freshman that has started every game for the Buffs, was also named to the All-Newcomer team, along with fellow freshman Erin Bricker. Bricker owns a pair of goals and a team-high four assists so far this year.
