The University of Colorado women’s soccer team wanted to put together at least one memorable performance at Prentup Field during the final homestand of 2015.
Instead, on Friday afternoon the Buffaloes turned in an effort all too familiar during a winless streak that has ruined what had been high expectations for the 2015 campaign, squandering a two-goal lead with 30 minutes remaining in regulation before settling for a 3-3 tie against No. 21 Arizona.
While there were bright spots — the Buffs ended an extending scoring drought in the regular run of play while also snapping a four-game losing streak — the result nonetheless kept CU winless during its past eight matches (0-6-2), despite holding a 2-0 lead at halftime and a 3-1 lead early in the 61st minute.
“Let’s keep in mind this is the (14th) ranked RPI team in the country,” CU coach Danny Sanchez said. “To come out and get two good goals right off the bat was key. We talked about how in the second half we couldn’t let them get the next goal. Then once again they get two goals off corners, off scrums and nothing from the run of play. We knew that was going to be dangerous and I don’t think we dealt with that.”
It was perhaps the best start to a match the Buffs have put together during a winless October, getting the first career goal from freshman Sarah Kinzner and a Madi Krauser-to-Danica Evans goal early in the 17th minute to take a 2-0 lead that held through halftime.
Those goals marked the first the Buffs had recorded during the regular run of play since the team’s most recent win on Sept. 27 against Cal.
Arizona got on the board less than five minutes after the break, pulling within a goal on a score from Hannah Stevens. CU’s Brie Hooks reestablished a two-goal lead for the host Buffs in the 61st minute off an assist from Emily Paxton, but the Wildcats’ Paige Crouch answered just 2 minutes, 42 seconds later to keep Arizona within 3-2.
The Wildcats finally drew even in the 84th minute as Sheaffer Skadsen powered home a point-blank chance during a scramble following a corner kick.
Hooks created a chance in the opening seconds of the first overtime, but her shot sailed just wide. Arizona had an apparent winning goal waved off early in the second overtime after the referee called the Wildcats for goalie interference, even though CU goalie Kate Scheele seemingly never solidified complete control of the ball.
“(Arizona) is a tough team to deal with,” Sanchez said. “None of the other teams we’ve played are like this. We just had some lapses that gave them some goals. I thought the goals we scored were very good, though.”
The Buffs play their final home game at 2 p.m. Sunday against Arizona State before completing the regular season next week at Utah.
Pat Rooney: rooneyp@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/prooney07
Arizona 3, Colorado 3
At Prentup Field
Arizona (11-4-2, 5-3-1)
0
3
0
0
—
3
CU (7-8-3, 1-6-2)
2
1
0
0
—
3
Goals (assists) —
CU: Kinzner (Scheele), 15th minute; CU: Evans (Krauser), 17th minute; Arizona: Stevens (Crisler, Nelson), 55th minute; CU: Hooks (Paxton), 61st minute; Arizona: Crouch (Degracie, Gates), 63rd minute; Arizona: Sheaffer Skadsen(Lopez, Wong), 84th minute.
Goalies (Min-Goals allowed-Saves) —
Arizona: R. Estopare (110-3-2); CU: Scheele (110-3-6).
