Soccer Set for Senior Day Sunday at Prentup
BOULDER - The University of Colorado women's soccer team will wrap up the home portion of their 2006 schedule tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 22 when they take on the Baylor University Bears at 1 p.m. at Prentup Field. Colorado will also say farewell to a trio of seniors, each of whom has had their own significant impact on the Buff program. Sunday will be the last chance for Buff fans to see them in Boulder.s
Two of the three arrived in the Fall of 2003, and their impact was immediate. Katie Griffin and Laura Munnelly were significant contributors to Colorado's first Big 12 Championship team during their freshman year.
Griffin led the Buffaloes in scoring with 10 goals on the season and was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Munnelly led the Buffs in minutes, playing every second for Bill Hempen's Buffs, while leading CU to an 8-1-1 record in Big 12 play. Griffin scored the gamewinning goal in CU's 3-1 win over Nebraska in the final regular season home game on Oct. 31 of that season, giving the Buffs their first championship trophy.
Allie True would join Griffin and Munnelly a year later, transferring to CU from UCLA. A native of Alamo, Calif., True hadn't found what she was looking for in the Bruin program and came to Boulder hoping to find a new home with the Buffs. She started 22 of 23 CU games her first season, scoring three goals in those contests. Again Griffin would be a big contributor offensively with five goals and five assists, while Munnelly would again lead CU in minutes played.
As juniors, not much would change. True was coming off an ACL tear suffered in the spring, but she saw action in all of CU's Big 12 games before reinjuring her knee in the Big 12 Tournament. Griffin was just the fourth leading scorer as a sophomore, a finish she would atone for in her third season in Boulder, setting a school record with 12 goals and 25 points on the season. Munnelly again anchored a stalwart Buff defense, and had to step up her play when senior goalkeeper Jessie Keller broke her ankle and freshman Kirstin Radlinski was called upon to netmind with literally no backup. The Buffs took second in the Big 12 and advanced to the conference championship game, where they fell to Texas A&M 2-1 in double overtime. They also made the second round of the NCAA Tournament in CU's third trip to the championship.
This season has been one that's tested their resolve and their leadership. True arrived to campus in the fall quite fit after a second surgery to repair her ACL. Griffin spent the summer with the U 21 National Team, but suffered a severely sprained ankle in CU's lone exhibition game, an injury that has hampered her for literally her entire senior year. Munnelly has again anchored a Buff defense that has seen four different players start around her, including four different freshmen.
The trio has responded, leading Colorado to back-to-back wins in their last two outings and putting the Buffs back in the NCAA Tournament picture. Griffin scored her second goal of the season on Friday against Texas Tech on an assist from True, and is now just one goal back of Fran Munnelly, Laura's older sister, for CU's all time career goals record of 30. Munnelly was again the only Buff to play all 90 minutes in the game and is CU's all time leader in the category going away, with over 7,000 minutes played in her career. True has been a stalwart all season in Colorado's central midfield and her captaincy and leadership has been a major factor in CU's nine wins on the season.
Fans can show their appreciation for the senior class Sunday at Prentup Field against Baylor (6-9-1, 3-5-0 Big 12). The Buffaloes are coming off a 3-0 victory over Texas Tech on Friday. Freshmen Jess Quador and Nikki Marshall and senior Katie Griffin each netted a goal in the shutout victory that moved the Buffs into fifth place in the conference. Baylor lost on Friday 1-0 at Kansas. The teams tied 0-0 in Waco a year ago in a match that was marred by high winds.
The game will kickoff at 1 p.m., and the trio will be recognized by Colorado head coach Bill Hempen and their teammates and families following the conclusion of the contest. Prentup Field is located at 33rd Street and Colorado Avenue. There will be a random drawing for an autographed jersey at the game, as well as other halftime games and contests. As always there is a kids soccer area behind the bleachers, and parking and admission are free.