Posts tagged Buff Brigade
CU soccer socks it to USC ladies of Troy
Oct 26th
BOULDER – In a hard-fought, aggressive game, the University of Colorado soccer team took down the Southern California Women of Troy 2-1 in this season’s penultimate game at Prentup Field.
In a game that saw 34 total fouls and five yellow cards, the Buffaloes came out the victor behind goals by two freshmen. Brie Hooks proved that sitting out for four games due to an injury wouldn’t slow her down. In the 66th minute, she netted her eighth goal of the season to give the Buffs a 1-0 lead. Hooks was at it again in the 72nd, assisting classmate Alyssa Herwatt to her first goal as a Buff.
“It was definitely tough not being able to play for a while, and just watching the games was kind of hard,” Hooks said. “But, then coming back in I was a little bit nervous just because it’s a knee injury and those are a little bit sketchy. Definitely as the game went on I started to get my confidence back, especially with that goal, it really helps to get my feet back on the field, so it was a good way to come back.”
With less than three minutes remaining in regulation, the Trojans found the back of the net, with Marlee Carrillo heading on in off her goalkeeper Caroline Stanley’s free kick, but it wouldn’t be enough to push the game to extra minutes.
“I think the first half was sluggish,” said CU head coach Danny Sanchez, who earned his 20th win with the Buffs on Friday. “I don’t think we were sharp in the attack, but we defended fine. I thought in the second half as the game started to get stretched, we created more opportunities. We’re happy with the win. USC – don’t be fooled by their record – is a very good team, but we know we have big challenges coming our way. We need to be sharper and play better.”
The win marks the first time the Buffs have gotten two wins over a single Pac-12 Conference opponent (the Buffs beat the Trojans 1-0 in double overtime in Los Angeles last season). The victory improved the Buffs’ record to 12-3-1 overall, 4-2-1 Pac-12. The Buffs have recorded 12 wins for the first time since 2008 and four conference victories for the first time since 2010 (when CU was a member of the Big 12). Goalkeeper Annie Brunner has now recorded 31 victories in the net for the Buffs, making her the second-most winningest keeper in program history.
USC falls to 6-8-2 overall, 1-5-1 Pac-12. The Trojans are looking to return to their unbeaten streak ways that saw them tying then-No. 8 California and defeating then-No. 5 Stanford.
The game began with a defensive battle. In the ninth minute, Katie Johnson, who tied for a team-high two shots and one on goal, got the Trojan offense going. She rushed the net and sent her shot at Brunner, who picked up her first and only save of the game.
Anne Stuller led the Buffs with six shots and four on goal. She dominated the offense in the opening 21 minutes. In the 12th minute, she edged up the left side and took a quick shot that hit the post. Two minutes later, she was in a similar spot, with Olivia Pappalardo close behind, sliding one at USC’s Stanley. The Buffs remained tight on offense, but a strong Trojan pressure made it hard for the Buffs to get a good look at the net.
In the 21st minute, the Buffs had their best opportunity of the half. Stuller once again approached the net from the left, causing Stanley to dive for another save. While the keeper was still down, Pappalardo swooped in but was unable to get her shot past Stanley. Despite some contact in the box, the Buffs were forced to get back on defense.
USC was finally able to respond in the 27th minute with Johnson hitting the ball wide this time. Multiple fouls on the Trojans helped the Buffs make the Trojans play from behind, despite the game remaining scoreless. Following two more shots by the Buffs, the Trojans were able to get their best look in the closing minutes of the half, with Tanya Smarzich beating Hayley Hughes in the backfield, but hitting the right post to close out the second half.
The game only got more physical in the second half. In the first minutes, USC made the Buffs’ defense work for stops. The Women of Troy got a corner kick in the 47th minute, and capitalized with back-to-back shots, though the first was blocked and the second went wide.
In the same span that the Buffs took two shots, the first a Pappalardo header that forced a save and the second a Stuller free kick that blasted just high, the Trojans got called for five fouls and received their first of four yellow cards. Despite their foul trouble, USC was able to answer with three consecutive corner kicks, though none would help them to a shot at the goal.
The Buffs were able to grab the upper-hand in the 66th minute. A free kick by Alex Huynh found Hooks near the net. From 10 yards out, she beat the keeper down low and shot to the far corner to give the Buffs the 1-0 lead.
“(Coach Sanchez) was definitely holding me off, and then I came in and he just wanted me to go in there with all the effort I had and help us get a good start to the second half,” Hooks said. “So, when I went in there all I was thinking about as the ball was coming over was just, ‘I need to finish this, and get the half going so we can hopefully get more goals after that.’”
USC was able to get a shot of its own in the 70th minute, with Carrillo hitting one wide, but the Trojans couldn’t control the ball for long. In the 72nd minute, the Buffs were hungry for more. Hooks connected with Herwatt, who from 25 yards out chipped the ball to the net. The ball bounced off the cross bar and fell in to give the Buffs’ a solid 2-0 lead.
“I was definitely scared I was offsides at first, that’s why I kind of hesitated, but I was just like, ‘why not take it,’” Herwatt said. “I’ve had a couple of opportunities throughout this season that haven’t gone in, so I was really excited this one finally got in. It felt great to have my first goal.”
With a goal and an assist in the game, Hooks continues to shine in the freshman offensive record books. She ranks third with eight goals and fourth with 18 points.
Following their goal, the Buffs were only able to get one more shot off, with Stuller hitting one at the keeper. USC managed just two shots in the final 20 minutes, but their last helped tighten the score. At 87:06, Carrillo netted her third of the season, heading the ball in off a free kick from her keeper.
“They’re a good team, (USC’s Marlee Carillo) had scored a couple goals late against Arizona as well,” Sanchez said. “So, it was a great ball and I don’t think there was anything cheap about it, we had numbers we just didn’t get it, but that’s why we had a two-goal lead. It made the last couple minutes a little antsy for us, but I was happy how we killed off the game after that.”
USC continued to press in the closing minutes, grabbing another yellow card. Though the Trojans continued to fight, the Buffs’ 2-1 lead was too much to overcome.
Next up for the Buffs is No. 2 UCLA. Stuller says playing in her final game at Prentup Field will be “surreal,” but she wants to leave the field on a good note.
“They’re a good team, definitely a favorite in the College Cup this year,” Stuller said. “But, I think the way we’ve been playing we can definitely hang with them and we’re going to try to get a win, we’re not going for anything less.”
Come out to Prentup to celebrate Senior Day on Sunday, Oct. 27 at noon with your CU soccer team. Make sure to stand in the Buff Brigade cheering section and cheer the Buffs to victory as they take on No. 2 UCLA in the last home game of the season!
—
Marlee Horn
Graduate Assistant SID
[includeme src=”http://c1n.tv/boulder/media/bouldersponsors.html” frameborder=”0″ width=”670″ height=”300″]
Jerman dominates Rebels in Omni Hotels championship
Sep 24th
BOULDER – Behind two goals by junior Darcy Jerman, the University of Colorado soccer team defeated UNLV 3-1 in the final game of the Omni Hotels Colorado Women’s Soccer Classic.
In front of 1,211 fans, the Buffaloes shined for a full 90 minutes in another record-breaker. Colorado concludes non-conference play with a stellar 8-1 record, with their only loss coming to then-ranked No. 16 Denver.
Darcy Jarmen
After starting the season a program-best perfect 6-0, the Buffs continue one of their best starts. Colorado won a record eight conference games this season, topping the previous bests of seven in 1998, 2003, ’04 and ’08. This is also only the third time in program history the Buffs have won at least eight of their first nine games.
“It’s awesome just because we’re starting Pac-12 next weekend, and I feel like we really hit a lot of momentum,” Jerman said. “We’re making good strides and we’re really working hard this season, so it’s good to win this last one and be 8-1 going into the Pac-12.”
A tie on Friday and a loss to the Buffs moves UNLV to a 5-3-2 record.
Colorado held UNLV to just six shots, all coming in the second half. For the fifth time this season, the Buffs took at least 20 shots, this time striking the ball 23 times, ranking in the top 20 at CU for most shots in a single game. The win is the Buffs’ sixth multiple goal game of the season.
Once again, the Buffs scored early and in the closing minutes. Darcy Jerman put the Buffs up 1-0 in just the third minute of the game, scoring off an assist from Brie Hooks. Defender Heather Ward helped give the Buffs some insurance before the break, heading one in off an Anne Stuller corner kick. UNLV’s Brittney Gideon, who led the Rebels with three shots, got her team on the board in the 77th minute to remain in contention. Colorado put the game away in the 82nd minute when Tori Cooper got fouled in the box. Darcy Jerman booted the ball in from a penalty kick to give the Buffs the 3-1 victory.
“Well, the first goal was a great run from Brie,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said. “She got to the end line and we’ve been talking a lot about when you get into dangerous spots, picking people out and she was able to pick out Darcy and it was good for Darcy to get that first goal. The second goal, and we had quite a few corner kicks in a row, we had some good service … So it was a very good finish on the corner. And the third goal was really just Tori Cooper’s work to get in the box and get pulled down and Darcy debarred the penalty kick. So, pretty good goals, maybe could have had a couple more. But at the end of the day three goals is a good performance.”
The Buffs were on an early attack all weekend. At 2:40, the Buffs not only took the first shot of the game, but netted the first goal. Hooks at the right found Jerman at the center of the net. From 18 yards out, Jerman had on open look and booted it in.
The goal was 12th fastest in program history. After scoring at the 2:15 mark against Stony Brook on Friday, the Buffs have now scored two goals in the first three minutes of the game twice this season. The only other times the Buffs have accomplished that feat was in 2007 and 2009. (Nikki Marshall scored at the 23 second and 2:36 marks against St. Mary’s College in the Buffs’ 8-1 blowout in ’09.)
“It felt really good just because I’ve been having chances earlier this season, it just hasn’t come together,” Jerman said. “Brie had a beautiful cross in there and I was just there and shot and it was awesome. It feels good to get one under my belt, well two now.”
The Buffs kept dominating the offense, taking four more consecutive shots in four minutes. Stuller was blocked in 11th minute, and Olivia Pappalardo got her head on the ball following a corner, but Kylie Wassell grabbed the save. Wassell had to work again just one minute later, when Madison Krauser had a great look in front of the net.
In the 25th minute, the Buffs had another chance, with Krauser closing in on the net and finding her ball saved at the left corner. Stuller was ready for the quick rebound, but Colorado was called offsides.
With less than 14 minutes left in the first half, Hayley Hughes rushed from deep to close to the net, up against two defenders, she shot the ball wide left. The Buffs kept the pressure, but the Rebels grabbed three consecutive saves.
Despite the defensive pressure, the Buffs kept the pace, with back-to-back corners. On the second, Stuller set up a great ball to Ward at the far post. Ward headed the ball in low to give the Buffs the 2-0 lead with six minutes remaining before halftime. Ward, who has shine as one of the starting four in the backline, has taken just four shots in two seasons with the Buffs, with three on goal.
“It was a great ball from Anne,” Ward said. “It was kind of outside the box and she just chipped it in to the back post and I was able to get up and get my head on it.”
The Rebels looked to even the score early in the second half. In the 48th minute, A UNLV corner kept the ball on the left side of the net. After some solid pressure by the Buffs, Susie Bernal took the Rebel’s first shot of the game from close range. Annie Brunner hopped on the ball for the save. Though the ball got loose, Hooks swooped by the left side of the net to clear the ball and keep the Buffs out of danger.
UNLV had another great opportunity in the in the 54th, but Brittney Gideon just missed the net with a hard shot at the crossbar. The Buffs quickly responded, with Tori Cooper taking her second straight shot. She got the ball from Krauser at the left, and with few defenders took a close range shot, but sent the ball high. Colorado was at it again in the 62nd. Stuller approached from the left, and edged the net at the right post. With the keeper out of the net, Stuller had an open look but knocked the crossbar.
Both teams kept up pressure, with the Rebels forcing Brunner to work for a save in the 65th minute. The Buffs then went on a 5-0 shooting run in a seven minute span, but couldn’t reach the back of the net. A Rebel line change helped give the squad some momentum. Less than a minute after the substitutions, UNLV got on the board. The Rebels created some space, and Gideon was able to get a look from 18 yards to score in the 77th minute. Gaby Vasquez and Jenn Wolfe were credited with the assists.
“We were winning 2-0, and that’s a dangerous lead in soccer,” Jerman said. “We might have relaxed for a minute and I think that their goal sparked us back up again, and we came back strong.”
Gideon went for it again at 80:39, but shot the ball just high. The Buffs got back on the attack, and with less than nine minutes remaining in regulation, Cooper drew a foul in the box to set up a penalty kick. Jerman took the shot in the 82nd minute, hitting the ball to the left corner and just past the keeper.
Jerman scored her first goals of the season and had her first multiple goal game of her career in the victory. She is the third player this season to have a multi-goal performance, joining Hooks and Stuller. This is just the fifth time in program history that at least three players have had a multi-goal game in a single season.
The Buffs are pleased with the win and hope to keep their momentum going, but know that a big challenge awaits them next weekend as Pac-12 Conference play begins against No. 2 Stanford.
“I feel like we’re ready,” Jerman said. “We’re at a way better spot than we were last year, and I’m just ready to prove a point in the Pac-12 because we have everything to prove and nothing to lose.”
Stand Shoulder to Shoulder with your CU soccer team as they play 2012 NCAA runner-up Stanford in the first Pac-12 match of the season! The first 500 fans to the match will receive a FREE pair of CU sunglasses. Make sure to sit in the Buff Brigade cheering section and help give CU soccer a real home field advantage!
UNC (4-3-2) took down Stony Brook (5-3-1) in Sunday’s opener. The 1-0 victory helped the Bears to a runner-up performance at the Classic.
CU women’s soccer team beat up UT-Martin
Sep 9th
DENVER – Anne Stuller’s hat trick and Olivia Pappalardo’s first collegiate goal gave the Buffs’ a 4-1 victory over the University of Tennessee Martin.
In their two games at the DU Invitational at CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium, the Buffaloes took a chart-topping 69 shots, including 38 on goal. The Buffs took 30 shots against the Skyhawks on Sunday afternoon, including an impressive 20 shots in the first half alone. After Friday’s record-breaking performance, Sunday’s game ties for the third most shots taken in a single game. The Skyhawks only got six shots past the solid CU defense, including three on goal.
CU keeper Annie Brunner has allowed just one goal this season, giving her an amazing 0.17 goals-against average through the first six games. She recorded three saves in the win, and is just two wins away from her season records from both 2010 and 2012, which both tie for sixth on the all-time season list. Brunner credits consistency and execution from the backfield and assistant coach Don Trentham’s focus on the details on the team’s defensive success.
“It’s just been nice having a lot of consistency,” Brunner said. “We’ve had Heather (Ward) and Lizzy (Herzl) in there who have just been solid. We haven’t had any injuries, so from the spring to now, having the same back four has been crucial. With Lizzy in there just demanding it and winning all the set balls, making huge clearances, making huge blocked shots. I give it up to those back four.”
Though their five-game shutout streak was put to bed, the Buffs extend their winning streak to a program best 6-0 record. The six game unbeaten streak ties for fifth best in program history. UT Martin falls to 1-4-1 after a tough weekend against Colorado competition.
Just 49 seconds into the game, the Buffs were already on the attack, with Brie Hooks shooting from the right, where Mariah Klenke grabbed the save. The Buffs got two more shots off before the Skyhawks took their first in the eighth minute, but the CU defense was ready for the block. CU would take four more shots over a six minute span, seemingly dominating the offense until UT Martin gained momentum off back-to-back Buffalo fouls.
With Colorado trying to clear the ball away from their net, Hooks fouled the opposition just behind the left corner of the box to set up a free kick. Hannah McGowen shot over the defense, with the ball sliding just right of Brunner to give the Skyhawks the 1-0 lead at the 20:24 mark.
Though the Skyhawks would hit a header high 17 seconds after their first goal, the Buffs wouldn’t allow another shot for the remainder of the first half. CU wasn’t content to play from behind for long, taking under three minutes to even the score and then under two more to take the lead.
“I think we were putting some good pressure on them, so I think the goal was a little against the run of play a bit,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez. “I think we just paid attention and kept doing what we were doing. We knew the chances would come, and fortunately for us, it kind of took the pressure of getting a couple right away. If you leave it too late, you keep yourself under pressure.”
After the UT Martin goal, Hooks took another shot from the right, but was blocked. Stuller got the rebound and was fouled in the box, setting up the Buffs’ first penalty kick of the season. Her PK went just left of center near the keeper. The ball got loose, and Stuller grabbed her own rebound, this time moving a bit right to shoot the ball in.
“I took the PK so I went up and tried to put it in the back of the net, and that’s not what happened, but thankfully it came right back to me and I volleyed it in,” Stuller said.
Just minutes after coming in as a substitution, Pappalardo was ready to make her presence felt. From the midfield, Madison Krauser sent the ball to the left side of the box, where Stuller got a touch before finding Pappalardo near the net to beat the goalie on the inside post. After being down a goal for just three minutes, the Buffs claimed the lead at 25:05.
“Madi passed it to Stu and I was just right on the top of the 18 by myself and I yelled for Stu to kind of leave it,” Pappalardo said. “She took a touch and then passed it right to me and I was wide open. I just one touched it to the goal because I think the goalie was thinking that Stu was going to try to shoot it, so she was in a bad spot. I just hit it in.”
Pappalardo has been a stellar midfielder, having two assists already this season to add to her two from last season, but had yet to score a goal. She said she’s happy to have her first goal in the books after being so close many times this season. She feels she’s finally calmed her nerves and hopes that more will come after this.
The Buffs would take nine more shots in the final 20 minutes of the first half, but would head into halftime with a 2-1 lead.
Both teams were on the attack early in the second half. The Skyhawks would take two early shots, but Stuller and the Buffs were hungry for more goals. In the 65th minute, Krauser passed into the box to Stuller who shot to the far post to help increase the lead to 3-1. Under three minutes later, the duo was at it again, this time with Stuller beating a defender one-on-one to score from 10 yards out, giving the Buffs a 4-1 lead that would hold through regulation.
The multiple goal performance was the sixth of Stuller’s career and her first hat trick. It was just the second hat trick in program history (Jen Thais versus Texas Tech in 2004) and just the fourth time a Buff scored three or more goals in a single game. Stuller is now one multi-goal game away from tying the program record set by both Nikki Marshall and Katie Griffin.
“I’m stoked,” Stuller said. “It’s my first hat trick. There were two great balls from Madi and the PK. It feels good. Brie’s scoring goals; we’re spreading out the offense this year. Madi’s lethal; everybody knows that. Liv got a great goal and she’s always dangerous. And I’m just trying to do my job too … It’s always in your mind when you have two goals because you’re one away and the hat trick is such a coveted thing in soccer. I just wanted to get the win and keep up the pressure.”
Krauser’s three assists were also a record-setter. She is only the second Buff to contribute three assists in a single game, joining Jen Thais (vs. Oklahoma in 2004) at the top of the record books.
The win also marked the 23rd time the Buffs have come back for a win after a 1-0 deficit.
Colorado continues to look impressive through their first six games, but they know they face stiff competition in the coming weeks. The Buffs conclude the non-conference portion of the season next Sunday against in-state rival Denver. The Buffs will take on the nationally ranked team after having competed in two tournaments with the Pioneers this season.
“Denver’s a great team,” Sanchez said. “They’re a top 20 team. They’ve got a great coaching staff and a couple really, really special players. We know it’s going to be a big challenge, but we also know that at the end of the day, it’s a big game, but then next weekend we have two more big games. We want to play well. We want to continue to improve. We’re really excited. We really want to get a big crowd out to Prentup next Sunday at 1 p.m. It’s going to be a great game with a lot of local players and a lot of energy. Both teams only have one game on the weekend, so everyone will be fresh. I think it’s going to be a great game.”
Stand Shoulder to Shoulder with head coach Danny Sanchez and the CU soccer team as they take on the No. 20 ranked Denver Pioneers at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 15. To celebrate this big game, the first 500 fans to the match will receive a FREE CU soccer T-shirt. Be sure to sit in the Buff Brigade cheering section to show your loud and spirited CU pride!
—
Marlee Horn Graduate Assistant SID University of Colorado [includeme src="http://c1n.tv/boulder/media/bouldersponsors.html" frameborder="0" width="670" height="300"]
