The Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Showdown was a thriller, but Colorado came out on the losing end.
The Colorado Buffaloes men’s lacrosse team (7-6, 2-1 RMLC) lost to the Colorado State University Rams (11-2, 2-1 RMLC) 11-10 after 2 overtime periods at Sports Authority Field in Denver on Saturday night.
“We just have to finish,” Colorado head coach John Galvin said after the game. “That’s it, there’s no other words. Too many second chance opportunities, and some bad coaching decisions.”
CU midfielder Sean McCarthy attempts to outrun two CSU players in the 4th quarter of the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Buffs lost after two overtimes 11-10. (CU Independent/Andrew Kaczmarek)
Colorado State looked like the stronger team early into the match-up. The Buffs fell behind with turnovers and a lack of communication.
Almost against the run of play, the Buffs found a way into the net through sophomore Riley Seidel with 6:46 left to go in the first.
The Buffs doubled their advantage in the dying seconds of the quarter. After a big collision just in front of the CU goal, Brad Macnee found Mitch Erickson. Erickson sprinted down the field, and seeing that the Buffs had a 3-on-2 advantage, decided to take the shot and put the Buffs up 2-0.
With momentum on their side, the Buffs won the face-off to start the second quarter. After a minute of passing around the CSU net, freshman Harrison Mallen cracked the CSU defense, giving the Buffs a 3-0 advantage with 14:08 left in the second quarter.
CSU finally got on the scoreboard with 7:20 left in the half, as Austin Fisher finally broke through the CU defense.
Freshman Riley Kulm scored with 5:34 left before the break, restoring the Buffs’ three-goal advantage.
The Rams slowly began to gain momentum, holding possession around the CU net for long periods of time.
CSU finally broke through with 57 seconds left in the half. After a series of passes, Sean Smith finally found a hole in the Buffs’ defense and took advantage of it, cutting the Buffs lead to 4-2.
The momentum of the late goal worked in the Rams’ favor to start the second half. CSU won the face-off, and charged down the field. Junior Daniel Warfield took the shot, and scored just six seconds into the third quarter, cutting the Buff’s advantage to 4-3.
The Rams dominated possession, but the Buffs took advantage of the little possession they had. Sophomore Tyler Doughrety scored with 7:45 remaining, giving the Buffs some much needed breathing room at 5-3.
The Buffs only needed 32 seconds to stretch their advantage, as freshman Greg Keslic made his way into the CSU box, shot and scored; pushing the Buffs advantage to 6-3.
The third quarter score fest continued as sophomore Kacy Carter pulled one back for the Rams with 5:02 left in the quarter.
CU came right back at the Rams, as Doughrety scored again with 4:48. The Buffs scored another quick goal after a CSU penalty gave the Buffs a one-man advantage. Seidel scored his second of the night with 4:33 left in the third quarter.
The Buffs took an 8-4 advantage into the fourth quarter.
The Rams were the first to score in the fourth quarter, as freshman Mike Wolff received a pass right next to the CU net, and scored on a wrap around shot that Macnee had no chance of saving.
Kulm scored his second of the night with 11:04 left in the game, giving the Buffs a 9-5 lead.
CSU scored on a rare goal from long-stick midfielder Zach Miller, who picked up the ball in midfield and ran unchecked into a one-on-one with Macnee, and took advantage of the favorable situation, making the score 9-6 for the Buffs.
Seidel completed his hat trick with 6:18 left, after the CSU goalkeeper left the net open to cover the ball.
The Rams scored three successive goals, one from Carter and two from Smith, cutting the Buffs lead to 10-9 and putting a lot of pressure on the Buffs in the closing minutes.
CSU completed their comeback with 47 seconds left, as a Fisher goal made the score 10-10.
The score remained tied as time ran out, sending the game to sudden-death overtime.
The Rams laid siege to the Buffs’ defense in the first overtime, but couldn’t find a way through.
Colorado State found their winner, as Smith scored with 2:19 left in the second overtime.
CSU dominated possession for most of the game, and Galvin said it was the Buffs’ defensive style that allowed that to happen.
“When you run a zone, you’re going to be giving up the opportunities to posses the ball,” Galvin said. “It’s the way that we play, I just wish we would have gone to more man here and there.”
After the game the players and coaches were evidently frustrated, but there is work still to be done, and Galvin said his players have to put this loss behind them.
“You just tell them to come out to practice next week, and keep fighting,” Galvin said. “We’ll probably see these guys again in two weeks, and you can’t give in to the emotion now.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Mark McNeillie at Mark.mcneillie@colorado.edu.
