CU Men’s Lacrosse Prepares to Face CSU in Rocky Mountain Showdown

BOULDER, Colo. - The No.9 University of Colorado Men’s Lacrosse team is preparing to face off against the No. 4 Colorado State University Rams at 6 p.m. on April 21^st at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

 The Buffaloes have had a history of a fierce rivalry with the Rams, contributing to their dismal 8-1 record against CSU going into the contest.

Colorado is looking to rewrite the story this upcoming Saturday against the Rams. The Buffs are currently 7-5 this season and are hoping their pivotal wins against Brigham Young University and Arizona State University will give them the confidence they need to beat out the Rams this Saturday.

“I’m really excited to play CSU next weekend, this will be my first time playing them in the regular season and I think it’s going to be a great game and a battle for sure,” said freshman Jace Gan “As long as we play our game I think we'll come on top with the win”

For the seniors this is their last regular season chance to face off against the Rams and they are determined to make it count.

“I'm really excited about our upcoming game against CSU. As a fourth year senior I am one of the few people on the team who has beat CSU during my time here and I would really enjoy beating them in my last regular season game,” said senior Ryan Emerson. “Our conference is always one of the best in the nation so the CU vs. CSU game is always very important as we get close to the post season and it has definitely been a game we have been looking forward to all year long.”

This season has had a lot of ups and downs for the young team. Junior Alex Puldy provides some insight to where the team is at, going into this important game.

“The only thing different from this game and previous games is that we play our rivals to the north. Besides that, it's another game against a top tier team. They always show up to play and play very physical and fast paced lacrosse,” said Puldy. “Our team has grown tremendously throughout the course of the season and playing CSU will truly give us the opportunity to see the culmination of all our hard work we've put in since last fall.

The Rams are 10-2, one of those losses to BYU whom Colorado won against on April 5^th. The only other loss CSU has faced was to Cal Poly, whom Colorado has yet to play. The Buffs recent shift into a top ten ranking has given this game more importance than it already held.

“This is the biggest game of the year; we all knew that before the season had even begun. We are really starting to hit our stride and dictate our style of play in games,” said junior Casey Bush. “The team learned how to be the underdog in the BYU game and we should be able to bring that same hardnosed mentality to CSU. If we play our game we will really be a force to reckon with. 

This is the last game of the Buffs regular season before the RMLC Playoffs in Grand Junction, Colo. May 4^th-5^th. Tickets are available for $10 through redhotbuffs.com. There is also a ticket plus bus ride combo available to students also through redhotbuffs.com.

---CULax.org---

CU Comes Out On Top 7-5, Beating Utah

BOULDER, Colo. (04/15/2012) - The University of Colorado Men’s Lacrosse team competed against the University of Utah, winning 7-5. The win put Colorado’s record at seven win’s and five losses.

On Thursday, April 5 Colorado had an impressive 11-9 win against the No. 3 Bringham Young University.

CU players Alex Puldy, Riley Seidel, Riley Kulm and Jace Gan scored pulling Colorado into the lead against Utah. Mitch Erickson and Greg Kelsic picked up the assists.

The game began slowly for CU with Utah taking possession and preceding to score the first goal of the contest. As Colorado stole the ball back, Puldy hit the back of the net with help from teammate, Erickson. Keeping the competition tight, Utah scored an additional goal, putting them back in the lead. Colorado’s Ryan Emerson received a penalty for the Buffs, putting them man down for one-minute. Seidel didn’t give up but preceded to score a goal for Colorado in the last 3:09 of the first, tying up the game 2-2.

Going into the second quarter, Utah won possession off of the faceoff. CU forced the turnover and took ownership of the ball. Kulm scored his first goal of the game putting Colorado in the lead, 3-2. Kulm and Hayden McClain received penalties, putting CU at a disadvantage for one-minute. After the penalties were released Utah hit the back of the net, tying up the game 3-3. Utah received their first penalty of the game putting CU man up for 30 seconds. Seidel took advantage of the power play opportunity and scored his second goal of the game. Utah scored right after, once again tying up the game. Utah received their second penalty and put Colorado man up for two-minutes. Gan scored his first goal of the game with 0:39 seconds remaining in the half. The first half ended with CU in the lead, 5-4.

The third period started with 58 seconds left on Utah’s penalty. Just as the penalty was released Seidel scored an impressive third goal in the contest keeping CU in the lead, 6-4. There was only one goal in the third quarter and no penalties. The period ended with a score of 6-4, CU at an advantage.

The final stanza of the game started off with a goal from Utah. The away team also received a penalty putting CU man up for 30 seconds. Ryan Haines had an incomplete shot for CU trying to score off of the power play. Seidel received the fourth penalty for CU putting them at a disadvantage for 30 seconds. During the 30 second power play Gan scored the final goal of the game with 3:58 seconds left on the clock. The game ended with a CU victory, 7-5.

“I thought Saturday nights game went well given the fact that we ran our offense differently then we normally do. When we scored, it was a testament to our coaching staff that they give us the tools we need to be successful,” said Gan, who scored two goals in the contest against Utah. “I scored my goals by calling for the ball, knowing that Kelsic would find me and pass the ball to me.”

“Despite winning the game, I think we played at the same level of intensity as Utah. We should have surpassed them and won by a larger margin than just two goals,” said Kulm, who scored one goal in the game. “My teammates made my goal easier for me by drawing the Utah defense to the opposite side leaving me a one on one from the backside of the goal.”

CU looks forward to the last game of the regular season against Colorado State University on April 21, located at the Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

“Looking ahead to the game against CSU I think we are confident with our 2-0 start in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference,” said Kulm. “We also know how much our team has improved since our game against them in the fall season when we lost, 5-2.”

Scoring Summary

First Period

            13:33 Utah – Mack Schwoebel, unassisted

8:16 CU – Alex Puldy, assisted by Mitch Erickson

            7:35 Utah – Mack Schwoebel, unassisted

3:09 CU – Riley Seidel, unassisted

Second Period

11:04 CU – Riley Kulm, unassisted

            7:20 Utah – Tyler Kunz, unassisted

6:49 CU – Riley Seidel, assisted by Greg Kelsic

            5:20 Utah – Quinn Kane, unassisted

0:39 CU – Jace Gan, assisted by Greg Kelsic

Third Period

8:17 CU – Riley Seidel, unassisted

Fourth Period

            14:06 Utah – Patrick Griffin, unassisted

3:58 CU – Jace Gan, assisted by Greg Kelsic

Shots On Goal

CU – 29

Utah – 28

Power Plays

0 - out of - 4 Utah

3 – out of – 3 CU

---CULax.org---

Colorado Hosts Utah Following Spring Football Matchup

BOULDER, Colo. (04/12/2012) —The University of Colorado Men’s Lacrosse team will take on the University of Utah Pioneers this week after the annual spring football game.

Last weekend, Colorado took down Brigham Young University with an 11-9 victory. This win improved on the Buffs record to 6-5. The Buffs hope to bring that same momentum to the field this weekend as they compete against the Pioneers.

Utah’s last matchup dropped their record on the 2011-12 season to 5-4 with a loss to the Arizona State University.

Colorado’s lacrosse matchup against the Pioneers will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Folsom Field immediately following the spring football game.

Before the lacrosse game make sure to come watch the annual spring football game. Kickoff is at 5 p.m.

Admission to both games is FREE and open to students and the general public.

Continue to follow men’s lacrosse as they battle the Colorado State Rams on Saturday, April 21 at 6 p.m. at Mile High Stadium for the Rocky Mountain Showdown. Tickets to the showdown are $10 and can be purchased online or are the stadium box office.

---CULax.org---

Colorado Lacrosse Prepares To Battle The Rams

BOULDER, Colo. —The University of Colorado Women’s Lacrosse team will take on in-state rival Colorado State University in what is sure to be a battle to the finish.

Last weekend, Colorado took down the University of California-Los Angeles with a 17-11 victory. This win improved the Buffs record on the 2011-12 season to 9-4.

“Colorado's team has truly evolved and matured over the past season. We have gone from being a strong team to one that can adapt, compete and challenge any team absolutely everywhere on the field,” said defenseman Audra Horton. “Our team has a deep bench and a truly competitive spirit, making us stiff competition for CSU on Saturday.”

The Buffs beat CSU in their last meeting of the 2010-11 season with a 12-10 victory. Colorado looks to defeat the Rams for a second consecutive year.

“I expect CSU to come out with a huge force right off the bat,” said attacker Avery Toothman. “We're going to have to be prepared to give our all right out of the starting gate so that we can hopefully gain the lead.”

Colorado’s victory last year has not gotten to their heads. The team is prepared for Colorado State to come full force and is ready for whatever they bring.

“CSU is a very competitive team that is sure to bring their A-game to Boulder on Saturday,” said Horton. “They are a fast team known for their aggressive defense, fast mid-field transitions and strong offense.”

Colorado will go head-to-head with Colorado State at 12 p.m. on Saturday at Kittredge field. Admission to the game is free and is open to students and the general public.

---Coloradoomenslacrosse.com---

CU Upsets BYU 11-9, Seidel Keeping CU In The Lead

BOULDER, Colo. (04/6/2012) – The University of Colorado Men’s Lacrosse team competed against the No. 3 Brigham Young University Cougars on Thursday evening, winning 11-9.

Top scoring player, Riley Seidel pushed CU into the lead scoring six of the 11 goals for Colorado.

"Our team came out tonight ready to play. We knew that we had a let down last weekend against the University of California Santa Barbara and we came out today to make a comeback,” said Seidel. “The seniors weren’t going to lose tonight. Everyone on the team had it in them to win and  it was a total team effort. Every person on the team busted their butts today and it paid off in this victory, which was huge."

Colorado began the game strong with a goal from Greg Kelsic. BYU scored immediately following, tying the score 1-1. CU received the first penalty of the game on Hayden Mcclain, putting the team man down for one-minute. After Colorado’s penalty was released, Matt White hit the back of the net to put CU in the lead. Colorado scored two more goals in the last minutes of the first quarter by Tyler Doughrety and Seidel, improving the Buffs lead to 4-1.

Going into the second quarter, Scott Stiehr picked up the ground ball off of the face off gaining possession for the Buffs. Mcclain received another penalty, putting Colorado man down for one minute. BYU quickly gained possession and hit the back of the net, taking full advantage of the power play opportunity. Ryan Emerson received the next penalty for the Buffs and BYU capitalized on the opportunity, scoring an additional goal. The Cougars picked up the last goal of the half with 6:56 left, tying the game 4-4.

"We played really well today,” said defenseman Steihr. “Our defense came out there tonight and we decided we were going to be a brick wall and stop everything. We knew BYU was going to be pushing us hard from both the midfield and the attack/”

BYU started off the third quarter with two back-to-back goals, putting them in the lead 4-6. Seidel didn’t let that stop him from scoring another goal with 8:37 left on the clock. Creating a ricochet for himself, Seidel gained momentum and scored the next three goals for Colorado putting the Buffs back in the lead, 8-6. CU received a fifth penalty putting Colorado man down for one-minute. BYU took advantage of the penalty and scored a goal with 3:14 remaining in the third. Seidel retaliated, scoring an additional goal for the Buffs, ending the period with a 9-7 lead over the Cougars.

Zach Pendleton took possession of the ball for the Buffs at the start of the fourth period. BYU stole the ball back and scored the first goal of the period keeping Colorado on their toes. Stiehr received the next penalty for the Buffs putting them man down. Taking advantage of the power play opportunity, BYU tied up the game 9-9. Motivated to take the lead Doughrety scored his second goal of the game. Seidel scored an impressive final goal with 4:10 remaining in the contest. Keeping possession of the ball the Buffs tried to make the scoring gap larger, but BYU stole the ball back and made an unfinished shot at the last second of the game. Colorado ended the contest with an 11-9 victory over Brigham Young.

“It was a fun game for the team. We kind of hit a lull in the second quarter, which was frustrating, but we came out in the second half and made a comeback,” said Doughrety. “It’s a great feeling to see our offense running the way it’s supposed to. Seidel played his butt off and that was amazing. It was fantastic to see him running around, scoring all of those goals."

Scoring Summary

First Period

10:56 CU – Greg Kelsic, unassisted

            10:13 BYU – Corey Gunderson, assisted by Patrick Matheson

5:27 CU – Matt White, unassisted

2:32 CU – Tyler Doughrety, assisted by Greg Kelsic

0:40 CU – Riley Seidel, unassisted

Second Period

            13:04 BYU – Jared Houghton, assisted by Andrew Harding

            10:56 BYU – Drew Shumway, unassisted

            6:56 BYU – Corey Gunderson, assisted by Andrew Harding

Third Period

14:43 BYU – Tyler Sabey, assisted by Ted Ferrin

13:28 BYU – Ted Ferrin, unassisted

8:37 CU – Riley Seidel, assisted by Greg Kelsic

8:15 CU – Riley Seidel, unassisted

6:19 CU – Riley Seidel, unassisted

4:54 CU – Riley Seidel, unassisted

            3:14 BYU – Corey Gunderson, assisted by Ted Ferrin

2:22 CU – Tyler Doughrety, assisted by Greg Kelsic

Fourth Period

9:39 BYU – Riley Hales, assisted by Patrick Matheson

            9:10 BYU – Ted Ferrin, assisted by Andrew Harding

5:59 CU – Tyler Doughrety, assisted by Greg Kelsic

4:10 CU – Riley Seidel, unassisted

Shots

CU – 27

BYU – 34

---CULax.org---