Submitted by admin on Fri, 2005-10-07 08:00. ::
It has very little to do with cooler temperatures this week and nothing to do with the fact the Bears are closer to moving across campus to a field they can call their own -- Jackson Sports Complex -- next season.
"Yeah," UNC veteran head coach Tim Barrera said, "this is a Big 12 team coming to our campus to compete. The girls are preparing with a little more intensity."
Who wouldn't? A good performance against a formidable opponent like CU would boost the Bears' credibility as they prepare to join the Big Sky Conference next season.
The Buffs will be coming off a long road trip to Texas, where they'll face the Longhorns in a Friday night match before venturing to Greeley. They'll be attempting to forget a 2-1 overtime loss to Oklahoma last weekend when they outshot the Sooners 20-15, but couldn't seem to convert.
The 5-5-2 Buffs received votes in the national poll earlier this season, but have slipped to 2-2 in Big 12 action, landing them just off the radar screen of the Top 25 poll.
Barrera can take some of the credit for matching up his young team with a notable program like CU, which is making its first-ever soccer appearance in Greeley.
"We've had a pretty tough schedule the past few years, and most of those real good teams have faced us while we've been on the road," Barrera said, explaining the dues a team in transition has to play to earn respect at the Division I level.
"Our players understand the difference of playing a top-notch team," said Barrera, an eternal optimist who prides himself on mentally preparing his squad and keeping them level-headed.
"We really try to stay focused on what we're doing at the present time, but this game certainly has been one that we've kept looking at on the schedule," Barrera added. "It certainly carries a little more weight than some of our other games."
There's no question that UNC junior goalkeeper Chrissy Marvin will have her hands full with a disciplined CU offensive attack, led by senior midfielder Fran Munnelly, considered by most to be the best collegiate player in the state.
The Buffs will also present a challenge for UNC super freshman Jessica Zimmerman, who will have to keep her emotions in check to be effective as the Bears' most explosive midfielder.
Bellendir may be the UNC best prepared to step a level in competition, having competed on the Fort Collins Force last summer and personally knowing several CU players.
* VOLLEYBALL: The Bears will go on the road this weekend to face a pair of familiar foes in old North Central Conference opponents South Dakota State (9-10) and North Dakota State (1-19).
The Bears are coming off an impressive showing at the Long Island University Invitational with senior Amanda Wiggins and junior Lizzy Rohads being named to the all-tournament team.
Wiggins averaged 3.73 kills and 3.13 digs per game over the weekend while Rhoads was good for 3.2 kills, 1.47 blocks and a .404 hitting percentage.
* TIME OFF: The UNC football team is in the midst of back-to-back bye weeks after suffering two straight losses to Portland State University and Cal Poly.
The Bears are practicing Monday-Thursday at 3 p.m., this week and next week but will not practice on Friday. They will resume a normal practice schedule, staring Oct. 17 in preparation for their Oct. 22 road game at Southern Utah.
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