Colorado State Defense Dominating in 10-4 Win Over Buffaloes

Despite Buffalo goalie Chris Bluse’s 22 saves, Colorado State was able to rely on its defense to shut down the Colorado attack in an important RMILL
league victory Saturday afternoon. Midfielder Jared Katz and attackman Nick
Stanitz-Harper both recorded hat tricks on the game as the Rams moved their
record to 9-4 overall and 2-1 in the RMILL. Colorado falls into a tie with
Utah for third in the league. Those teams play on Sunday to decide the final seeds for Provo.

Colorado took an early lead on a man-up rip by Ted Harries (3 goals) at
13:34. That would be the last time the Buffaloes scored in the first half
as an aggressive Colorado State defense led by Jeff Schmid Nick Tabacchi and
Mark Plonkey rose to the occasion. Bluse made eight saves in the first for
the Buffs, who led 1-0 at the end of the first.

Harper and Katz each scored twice in the second for the Rams who built up a
5-1 half-time lead. Plonkey controlled almost every draw in the period and
the Buffaloes could not get much generated on the offensive end of things.
Alex Smith (14 saves, 4 goals against) made the saves he was supposed to
behind one of the most solid team defensive efforts from the Rams all season.

With the Buffalo long sticks doing a good job containing the Colorado State
attack, midfielders Mike Hamm (2g), Katz, John Naab (1g) and Jim Hasson (1g)
picked up the slack offensively. By the time Colorado scored again, they
had been held without a goal in 40:00 minutes of game time.

Box Score:
1 2 3 4 T
CU: 1 0 1 2 4
CSU: 0 5 3 2 10

Goals:
Colorado: Harries (3), Fiske
Colorado State: Katz and Stanitz-Harper (3), Hamm (2), Hasson, Naab

Assists:
Colorado: Bok
Colorado State: Napolilli (3), Nelson, Robinson

Goalies:
Colorado: Bluse (60:00 minutes, 22 saves, 10 goals against)
Colorado State: Smith (60:00 minutes, 14 saves, 4 goals against)

Penalties:
Colorado: 5/4:30
Colorado State: 4/4:00

Man-up:
Colorado: 2/4
Colorado State: 0/4