BOULDER (4/10/11) - In their final home game at Kittredge Field this season, the No. 9 University of Colorado men's lacrosse team defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders 18-1 on Sunday afternoon.
The Buffaloes end a two game losing streak with the win and improve their record to 8-3 on the season while Texas Tech loses their second contest in a row and ends their season with a 2-10 mark.
Eleven different Colorado players scored in the game as many of the Buffs third and fourth liners played most of the contest.
"It was a really good opportunity to get our backup guys in for the first time since probably the Kansas game," said Colorado head coach Mike Ryder. "We still wanted to run our systems, not play down to the other team's level and just execute and get a good win in our last home game at Kittredge Field."
Senior A.J. Blackburn led CU with three goals, all of which he scored in a 59 second time span late in the first quarter. Seniors Ben Johns, Ben Weisz and Witt Harlan, junior Thomas Appel and sophomore Alex Puldy each finished the game with two goals while James Kreidle, Matt White, Colin Rosenblum and Nick Wramage also scored for Colorado.
Starting goaltender Brad Macnee watched the game from the sidelines as he had the day off, allowing senior goalie Cody Novack to get his first start in net this season. Novak played the first half while freshman Mitch Fenton played the second.
Colorado will now prepare for one of their biggest games of the season against No. 2 Colorado State next Saturday in the 8th Annual Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Showdown at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver.
"It is going to be a big one. CSU always comes to play for us and we have to make sure that we are prepared, more than we ever have been before," Ryder said. "They are a good team, but we are confident on what we do on the field and come out and play the way that we want to play, which is Colorado Lacrosse.
"If we can turn it into a home atmosphere for us, I think the guys will come to play in a big stadium like that. It is not hard to get up and play at a place like INVESCO. The main thing is playing smart, not getting caught up in the moment and taking it out on CSU."
Saturday's CU-CSU game will begin at 6 p.m., following the University of Denver's game with Ohio State at 3 p.m., also at the stadium.
Tickets to both games are only $10 and can be bought online at www.ticketmaster.com or at www.culax.org. Tickets will be available on the day of the game for $12 at the INVESCO Field box office.
The HERD, the student arm of the Colorado Alumni Association, is offering a special deal to CU students for the game. For only $15, students will receive free transportation to and from the stadium, a tailgate prior to the game and tickets to see the biggest college lacrosse game in the state. Only 120 spots are available so sign up today at http://www.cuherd.org/2011/04/04/cu-lacrosse-game/.
For more information on the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Showdown, go to www.lacrosseshowdown.com.
To listen to the archived audio broadcast from Sunday's Colorado-Texas Tech game, go to http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cu-buffs-lacrosse.
