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Buffaloes Prove To Be Too Much For Colorado State
By: Scott Cunningham; CU Lacrosse, Public Relations
Boulder, CO (4/25/09) - For ten years, Colorado State University has enjoyed a stranglehold on their intrastate rivalry with the Colorado Buffaloes. That was a span that saw the Rams go 15-0 against Colorado, including an 8-7 win in the 2006 national championship game. On Saturday,  under the lights of the biggest stage of the year thus far, it was clear that the #11 Buffs (11-5, 4-0 conf.) have had enough. Colorado won the opening faceoff and never looked back, riding near flawless offensive execution and inspired performances from the defense and goalie Kevin Moriarty (Seton Hall Prep/ Chatham, NJ) to beat #8 CSU (10-7,2-2 conf.) 11-4 at Folsom Field.
After spotting the Rams the first goal of the game, Colorado quickly took over a lead it would never relinquish off first quarter scores from Kyle Driver (Cherry Creek/ Centennial, CO) and Tyler Snyder (Arapahoe/ Centennial, CO). CSU would close the gap to one goal twice in the second quarter, but the veteran Moriarty proved too strong. On the other end, the Buffalo offense pounded Ram’s goalie Alex Jacques (Bainbridge Island/ Bainbridge, WA) for seven first half goals. CU took a 7-3 lead into the locker room.
AJ Blackburn (Hun School/ Princeton, NJ) opened second half scoring for the Buffaloes with one of his game high four goals to put CU on top 8-3. Colorado State would not answer until the fourth quarter when Will Cantwell netted the Ram’s only goal of the half. CJ Dinardi (Berkshire/ Millstone, NJ), Joel Packer (Stevenson School/ Monterey, CA) and Colin Rosenblum (Hun School/ Princeton Junction, NJ) added insurance goals for Colorado and the Buffs cruised to a convincing 11-4 victory.
 For Colorado seniors and a coaching staff that have never beaten their rivals, there is little doubt that this was the sweetest win of their careers. The team celebrated with family and fans in front of the still-lit Folsom Field scoreboard that documented their triumph.
In recent years the Ram’s dominance has had an effect on the Buffaloes’ mental preparation and hindered performance on the field as admitted by players and coaches. CU Head Coach John Galvin knew his team had the talent to win, but mental toughness would be the key to a victory Saturday.
 "If the players can bring poise, we'll be very successful,” Galvin stated earlier in the week. This statement would prove to be prophetic.
Colorado kept their emotions in check and completely out-executed Colorado State in a game that was never in doubt.
 “The team knew exactly what it was going to take to beat these guys coming out of the locker room," Galvin said after the game. "They had a focused attitude and were able to come away with a big win.”
A big win it was indeed for Colorado, as they have now locked up the number one seed going into the conference tournament as the regular season Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference winners.
The Buffs will face the University of Wyoming on Tuesday, April 28, at 6 PM on Franklin Field in the season finale before hosting the conference tournament beginning Friday, May 1st.
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