Behind five goals from sophomore Sadie Grozier, the No. 22 University of Colorado lacrosse team charged past No. 20 Stanford, recording a 16-9 decision in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals on Friday night at Pape Field. "We are excited obviously; we knew this was a game we had to come out and compete in," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "All our games with Stanford were tight and down to the wire [this year], so we just needed to focus on 60 minutes. I thought our players really played with a lot of heart and competed for a full 60 minutes." The Buffaloes finished second in the Pac-12 standings with an 8-2 mark and are now 10-6 overall with the win as they return to the Pac-12 championship game for the second time in as many years. They will face top-seeded Southern California, which defeated California earlier in the day. "This is a tough conference with USC, Stanford and us," Whidden said "I think it's always a battle right now and to be able to make it to the championship again, I'm just excited. I think we have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder going into this game knowing how it ended last year for us. We are excited to be back where we are, and I think it's going to take even more hard work on Sunday." Besides Grozier's five goals, the Buffs recorded four from Miranda Stinson and three from Samantha Nemirov, in addition to four more from three other players. WHAT HAPPENED: Stanford was issued a yellow card in the first couple of minutes, and the Buffaloes made SU pay as Stinson scored the first goal of the game at 27:16, just 20 seconds in the man-advantage. The Cardinal did not take long to respond, scoring twice within 30 seconds of CU's first goal. SU added another marker on a free-position attempt a short time later to take a 3-1 advantage. Colorado was able to cut the Cardinal lead to just one at 20:34 when Charlie Rudy tallied her 20th goal of the season. The Buffs recorded three of the next four goals with markers from Chloe Willard, Nemirov and Liz Phillips, which put the Buffs up 5-4 with 14:03 left in the half, causing Stanford to take a timeout. After the break, the Cardinal won the draw and was able to find the back of the net to even the game at 5-5. The Buffs took the lead back at 10:05 when Grozier scored her first of the game, and just over three minutes later, Nemirov scored her second of the game to put CU back up by two. Stanford cut CU's lead to one again with a goal from Ali Baiocco at 6:43, but then the Buffs rattled off another three straight goals to take a 10-6 lead. Stanford scored one more time before the clock expired in the half. The Cardinal struck first in the second half as Daniella McMahon scored at 28:28, but Stinson tallied her third of the game at 26:29 to put CU back up by three. Grozier earned a hat-trick on CU's next goal, scoring a man-up free-position goal with 23:37 (12-8). Stinson was able to convert on yet another man-advantage at 18:41, which gave the Buffs their largest lead of the game (13-8). CU earned its fourth man-up goal five minutes later, and this time, it was Nemirov who was able capitalize on the advantage. Grozier put the Buffs up by seven with just over five minutes left in the game (15-7) with her fourth goal of the evening. Colorado had held the Cardinal scoreless from close to 25 minutes in the second half until Stanford's Areta Buness recorded a marker at 3:01 to end the Buffs' 5-0 run. It was the last Stanford goal of the game, but not the final one as Grozier tied a career-high with her fifth goal of the contest with 94 seconds left (16-9). KEY STATISTICS: The Buffs recorded four man-up goals on five Stanford yellow cards…The Buffs also converted on six of 10 free-position attempts, while SU only made two of eight. NOTABLE: Samantha Nemirov extended her school record point scoring-streak to 36 games Miranda Stinson scored the 13th and 14th man-up goals of her career, which is the CU record With their goals on Friday, Nemirov and Stinson have combined for more than 100 goals this season Sadie Grozier earned her 30th goal of the season She also had her fifth career hat-trick, tying her career high with five goals in the game. This was the fourth neutral site game between the two teams. CU is 2-2 in those games. Stanford leads the all-time series 8-6 The win was the 10th for the Buffs, giving them their sixth straight season with 10 or more wins TEAM LEADERS: Colorado Points: 21 Goals: 16 Assists: 5 Draw Controls: 8 Ground Balls: 19 Saves: 12 Stanford Points: 13 Goals: 9 Assists: 4 Draw Controls: 19 Ground Balls: 16 Saves: 7 UP NEXT: The Buffaloes will face Southern California on Sunday, April 28 at 1 p.m. PT/2 p.m. MT, in the championship game of the Pac-12 Tournament. QUOTEABLE: Head Coach Ann Elliott Whidden General Statement We are excited obviously, we knew this was a game we had to come out and compete in. All our games with Stanford were tight and down to the wire, so just focus on 60 minutes. I thought our players really played with a lot of heart and competed for a full 60 minutes. On the importance of the four man-up goals We got some opportunities in man-up, I thought it was great. We were finally executing, sometimes we struggle a bit but, we did a good job on executing tonight and that something we will need to continue. If we can do a little bit better on the draws as I think it might help us as well in those situations where we had could have had another opportunity. On significance to the program of going to the championship game two years in a row I think we are really excited. I think this is a tough conference with USC and Stanford and us I think it's always a battle right now. To be able to make it to the championship again, I'm just excited. I think we have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder going into this game knowing how it ended last year for us. I think we are excited to be back where we are, and I think it's going to take even more hard work on Sunday. On takeaways from tonight's game going into Sunday I think for us again its 60 minutes for us and we have to compete the full 60 minutes. I think we have had some ups and downs against some tough teams, so we got to really focus on 60 minutes. We know the little things are going to make the difference and every position is going to count for us and defensively we are going up against talented teams so it's going to take a great effort like we did at the end here going down the stretch a little bit. On this time not letting up as opposed to the let-down after being up 11-7 and losing to Stanford in overtime. I think for our team we focus on playing 60 minutes, they know they don't forget the things and we don't forget, we have practiced them all along. So, I think just their fight and ability to respond and for us, it is focusing on what we can control and not getting distracted by things we can't control. You play good teams, these are the type of battles you want to be in, and it's that it's a battle. So, I thought we did a good job of responding when we needed to respond. Miranda Stinson Initial reactions from the win I'm just so excited to get a second chance in the championship game. I'm so proud of this team, we fought for 60 minutes and I'm just so proud. On Sadie's five goals and her four We were just dodging hard and they were playing a bit more of a man-to-man and we took advantage of the spaces that we saw. On meaning to the team going back to the championship game It means the world. We definitely didn't like the outcome of last year's game. So, this is a little bit of revenge and redemption for us. On takeaways from tonight to take into Sunday 60 minutes, we have to fight for the full 60 minutes, that's the only way we are going to win this game. Sadie Grozier On USC tendencies from last game that they will take into Sunday They are a great team. They are very aggressive, and they come out confident. So, we just have to match their same game and play a little better, we will do our game as well. On five-goal performance I think everyone on offense was being a threat, so there were a lot of open spaces to go and to dodge and when everyone is working hard it just makes it easier for you to finish your opportunity. On meaning to the program going back to the championship game It's a big deal for us. We have been talking about how April is our month for a long time, so we really want to win this. It hurt last year losing a lot, so we are excited to be back.