Posts tagged BYU
CU Soccer honors roll in
Dec 21st
BOULDER – Though the University of Colorado soccer team ended its historic season in November with a run to the NCAA Sweet 16, it continues to receive national attention.
The Buffaloes, who finished the 2013 campaign with a 14-7-2 overall, 4-5-2 Pac-12 Conference record, were one of three Pac-12 teams to earn a spot on the Top Draw Soccer Postseason Top 25. CU rounded out the group at the 25th spot, while two teams the Buffs defeated during the season, BYU and Colorado College, finished in the top 23.
The Buffs also received votes in the final postseason NSCAA/Continental Tire Women’s Poll. The team received votes in 10 of the final 11 regular season NSCAA polls, including being one vote shy of cracking into the top 25 in the 10th Poll.
Colorado excelled in the NCAA RPI rankings throughout the season. Their performance and strength of schedule helped them to the 22nd spot in the final rankings. CU was one of four Pac-12 teams in the top 25, and as with the Top Drawer Soccer rankings, CU grabbed two wins over teams in the top 25.
Beyond their success on the pitch, the team also had great success in the classroom. Colorado earned the NSCAA Team Academic Award for the 2012-13 academic year for posting a team grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
Lizzy Herzl, a defender from Littleton, Colo., was recently named to the NSCAA Women’s Scholar All-America Third Team. Herzl, who holds a 3.47 GPA, is the first Buff to receive NSCAA Scholar All-America honors and one of seven Pac-12 student-athletes to earn a spot on this year’s first, second or third teams.
In her senior season, Herzl started all 23 games and played a team-high 2,115 minutes (which also ranks ninth-best all-time in a single season at CU). Herzl’s strong defensive presence earned her a spot on the Omni Hotels Colorado Women’s Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team during the non-conference portion of the season and the NSCAA/Continental Tire All-Pacific Region and the College Sports Madness All-Pac-12 Second Teams and an All-Pac-12 honorable mention honor in the postseason.
Ten soccer Buffs were named to Pac-12 Conference All-Academics teams.
Hayley Hughes, the senior defender and co-captain from Highlands Ranch, Colo., was selected as first-team Pac-12 All-Academic for the third consecutive year. Hughes, who majors in finance in the CU Leeds School of Business, with a minor in economics and certificate in quantitative finance, holds a 3.93 cumulative GPA. She was also named second-team Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District VII. On the pitch, Hughes was part of the Buffs’ strong backline, and also scored the game-winning goal against Oregon to help the Buffs to their first ever back-to-back Pac-12 home wins.
Nine Buffs were selected as Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention: Carly Bolyard (Jr., speech, language and hearing sciences), Annie Brunner (Sr., management), Lizzy Herzl (Sr., communication), Darcy Jerman (Jr., communication), Bianca Jones (Jr., management and finance), Madison Krauser (So., studio art), Olivia Pappalardo (So., psychology and sociology), Anne Stuller (Sr., philosophy) and Heather Ward (So., sociology).
Seniors Anne Stuller and Annie Brunner truly stood out both on the team and in the national rankings.
Stuller, a forward from Boulder, ranked 57th in the nation with eight assists. She also ranked in the top 100 with 26 points.
In 2013, Stuller set single season records at CU with 93 shots and 53 shots on goal. With 36 shots on goal last season, Stuller is the only Buff to rank in the top six of that category twice. In her senior season, she racked up just three fewer points than she did in her first three seasons combined.
Her assist total ties the CU single season record, while her point total ranks second and her nine goals tie for fifth. She also holds the all-time records for points, assists and shots by a senior at CU, and ties for first in goals by a senior. Stuller concluded the regular season ranking in the Pac-12’s top seven in shots, points, assists and goals. Stuller was an integral part of the Buffs’ run to the NCAA Sweet 16, netting the game-winning goal against No. 15 Denver in the first round, and contributing an assist in the Round of 32 against No. 19 BYU. Stuller was rewarded for her record-breaking season with spots on the All-Pac-12, the NSCAA/Continental Tire All-Pacific Region and College Sports Madness All-Pac-12 Second Teams.
Brunner, the 2013 co-captain and a goalkeeper from Arvada, Colo., finished the season ranked in the nation’s top 100 in saves (87) and helped the team to the 82nd best shutout percentage (.409). Brunner had the best season of her four-year career in 2013, posting career-best figures in saves, saves per game (3.78), wins (14) and shutouts (nine) – which all rank in CU’s single season top nine. Her 1.11 goals-against average also ranks 11th. Brunner earned her second Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week title when she and the Buffs’ defense held No. 9 California (who at the time had only fallen once) scoreless for over 89 minutes before the squads tied 1-1 through two overtimes.
Brunner and 2003 Big 12 Championship team member Jessica Keller are the only Buffs to have at least nine shutouts in a single season and record at least seven in back-to-back seasons. Brunner is also one of just three CU keepers to record at least 14 wins in a single season. Brunner’s hard work also ranks her second all-time at CU in saves, wins, ties and shutouts. Her GAA and minutes played rank fifth, while her games started and played also rank in CU’s top 15 all-time. With 6,957 minutes spent in the net, Brunner played the fifth most minutes of any active keeper in the nation.
CU seniors weren’t the only ones to earn conference and national attention. From her first collegiate game, freshman forward Brie Hooks, a Maple Valley, Wash. native, had already made a name for herself. In the season opener, Hooks helped the Buffs to a 3-0 shutout of Northern Colorado behind a two-goal performance. Hooks is the first Buff in program history to score multiple goals in her CU debut. An important part of the Buffs’ attack throughout the season, her strengths continued to shine in postseason play. In the first round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship, Hooks drew the foul that set up the game-winning goal and helped the Buffs to a 1-0 upset over host No. 15 Denver.
In CU’s freshman offensive record books, Hooks concluded the season ranked third with eight goals and fourth with 18 points. Her 42 shots tie for eighth. Her eight goals also tie for eighth most in a single season at CU. Her four game-winning goals tie for fourth best in a single season at CU and tie for fourth best in regular season conference play.
After the Buffs’ season ended in the Sweet 16, Hooks was called into the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team training camp. Hooks joins the likes of CU greats Amy Barczuk and Nikki Marshall as the only Buffs to get the call to a National Team camp. Hooks was also selected to the All-Pac-12 Freshman team and was Top Drawer Soccer’s 74th ranked freshman in the nation this season.
Fellow freshman Alex Huynh, a defender from Sadleir, New South Wales, Australia, also earned national attention from TDS. The site selected Huynh for the 86th spot on their Freshman Top 100. Huynh was the only CU freshman to start all 23 games, totaling 1,814 minutes. In that time, she contributed three assists, which ranks in the top nine all-time among CU freshmen.
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Marlee Horn
Graduate Assistant SID
University of Colorado
CU soccer heads to Sweet 16
Nov 21st
Colorado improves to 14-6-2 overall. The Buffs are now 9-0-1 when scoring at least two goals. CU is also 2-3-2 against ranked opponents, picking up back-to-back wins over ranked opponents for the first time since 2010 when the Buffs beat No. 12 UCLA and No. 6 Texas A&M in back-to-back games. BYU’s eight game unbeaten streak and season both come to an end. The Cougars gave up two goals for just the fourth time this season (only one other time did that result in a loss). BYU ends its season with a 15-5-1 record.
Though the Cougars edged the Buffs in shots (17 to 11) and shots on goal (seven to five), CU netted the shots that mattered most, and keeper Annie Brunner grabbed six saves. Though the Cougars entered the game holding the nation’s 19th best goals-against average and 29th best shutout percentage, the CU attack was too much for West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year Erica Owens.
“We defended like warriors; BYU was putting so much pressure on us near the end of the game and we were just smart going forward,” Sanchez said. “We had a couple of chances to make it a 3-1 game, but I’m just real proud of this team because I don’t think these players understand what this means to the University of Colorado, what it means to the alumni and former players. It’s just big for our players now and whether it’s soccer, basketball or football we are just really pleased to represent a great institution at this level.” BYU seemed primed to make some big moves in the beginning of the game, taking the first four shots. In the sixth minute, after a long Alex Huynh free kick found its way to the front of the Cougar net, CU couldn’t retain possession. BYU rushed back, and Paige Hunt sent a ball wide off a corner kick. While the Cougars were dominating the pace, the CU defense remained solid. In the eighth minute, Marissa Nimmer sent the ball toward the net for an easy save by Brunner. Cloee Colohan continued the offensive pressure, first getting stopped by a big-time block by Lizzy Herzl and then, despite creating some space in front of the net, hitting the ball wide right. The Buffs got their moment in the 15 and 16th minutes, when Darcy Jerman and Anne Stuller both hit their shots just high, helping the squad gain momentum. The Cougars once again got back into Buffalo territory, but this time, it was Niki Fernandes who rushed her shot wide. CU responded with a big attack. In the 21st minute, Anne Stuller sent her corner kick to the near post. The ball got to Emily Paxton, who shot to the far post. The ball deflected off a BYU player to fall into the net and put the Buffs up 1-0. “It was a great build up,” Paxton said. “It was also a great through ball from Madi to earn the corner and it was a near post ball. It felt like the longest two seconds that I’ve had before they came after me and luckily it went in.” The Buffs continued to press, taking two more corner kicks in the 25th and 26th minutes. The first was finger-tipped away by Owens at the net, but the second couldn’t stay in the Buffs’ possession. The Cougars looked to even the score, taking three consecutive shots. First, Nimmer sent a field goal of a kick to the net. Jaiden Thornock matched her pace, rushing in in an attempt to beat several CU defenders. Huynh came in for the tackle and Brunner was ready for the ensuing save. Brunner picked up another save in the 30th minute, after Ella Johnson booted the ball her way. BYU’s attack wouldn’t last for long, as CU extended its lead to 2-0 in the 34th minute. From 18 yards out, Carly Bolyard took a beautiful shot that reached Owens, who wasn’t able to hold onto the ball and could only watch as the ball slid into the net.
Madison Krauser provided the assist from the far post. The goal was Bolyard’s first since she netted a goal and contributed an assist in the Buffs’ 5-0 win over Colorado College in the 2011 Colorado Cup. “It feels amazing, that moment in unforgettable and it’s just nice to finally get one,” Bolyard said of her goal. Stuller and Brooke Rice would both take shots for CU in the final 10 minutes of the half as the Cougars were forced to play defense. Though the game became more physical in the final six minutes, CU’s 2-0 lead would hold at the break. The Buffs picked up right where they left off to start the second half. In the 52nd minute, Mikaela Kraus sent a shot wide. Less than a minute later, Paxton forced Owens to grab her first save of the game. However, the momentum would quickly turn in BYU’s favor. In the 58th minute, Fernandes got one-on-one with Hayley Hughes in the right edge of the box. Fernandes found her opportunity and shot the ball high to the far post. The Cougars continued to push the CU defense and got their scoring opportunity in the 59th minute. Brunner got faked out and fell to the far post as Fernandes snuck in a goal from 10 yards out. Rachel Manning was credited with the assist as the Cougars narrowed the Buffs’ lead to 2-1.
Both hungry to keep their season alive, CU and BYU combined for five shots in an eight minute span, with the Cougars grabbing a three to two edge. Fernandes and Hughes were once again head-to-head, with Fernandes getting the advantage and forcing a save. The Buffs and Cougars battled back and forth for possession and offensive dominance, but it was BYU who would find their stride on the attack. With 20 minutes remaining, Fernandes took her fourth consecutive shot, getting blocked to set up a corner, where Manning would head the ball wide.
CU was able to respond, with Paxton continuing her strength in front of the net, taking a shot from the right edge to force another save. In the 77th minute, Jerman took the Buffs’ final shot of the game, hitting the ball wide past the far post. In the closing minutes, BYU sent everyone forward, causing a close call in the 83rd minute. Following a corner kick, a group of Cougars fought to even the score. First, Johnson used her head to force a save. Then, Colohan got the ball, knocking one into the crossbar. Hughes and Fernandes met one final time, with Brunner meeting her blocked shot to close out the game. The Buffs will face the winner of the Mississippi/Florida State matchup. Kick-off of the Sweet 16 game is at 1 p.m. ET (11 a.m. MT) on Saturday, Nov. 23. at Florida State Soccer Stadium. “It’s just awesome, I told (coach) that he can’t get rid of us yet,” Hughes said. “I think as seniors we just want to keep going because we aren’t ready to be done. I think that it’s just awesome and it means a lot to us and there are also a lot of people that are following us. I have teachers and just old teammates that are just so invested in this and it just means a lot to us and this is a great experience and we just want to keep going.”
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Marlee Horn Graduate Assistant SID University of Colorado
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CU soccer moves to Sweet 16, defeating BYU
Nov 21st
Behind first-half goals by sophomore Emily Paxton and junior Carly Bolyard, the Buffaloes took down the Cougars to advance the Sweet 16. This is CU’s second trip to the third round of NCAAs – the Buffs advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2006 to post the program’s best NCAA finish.
“I think first and foremost to beat a team of BYU’s quality is a tremendous testament to how we have grown as a program throughout the year,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said. “We have struggled at the end of the season and never lost focus; we have never lost any fight, I’m just real proud on how they just kept working. As far as the game today, we knew that BYU would bring a lot of pressure and Emily got that early goal which gave us a lot of confidence and then Carly got the second. You know what they say a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous lead, which I disagree because if it was 1-0 and would have been tied, but there is always a tendency to relax a little bit and I think that they caught us and made it 2-1 with about 30 minutes to go, but I feel after that we played very well.”
Colorado improves to 14-6-2 overall. The Buffs are now 9-0-1 when scoring at least two goals. CU is also 2-3-2 against ranked opponents, picking up back-to-back wins over ranked opponents for the first time since 2010 when the Buffs beat No. 12 UCLA and No. 6 Texas A&M in back-to-back games.
BYU’s eight game unbeaten streak and season both come to an end. The Cougars gave up two goals for just the fourth time this season (only one other time did that result in a loss). BYU ends its season with a 15-5-1 record.
Though the Cougars edged the Buffs in shots (17 to 11) and shots on goal (seven to five), CU netted the shots that mattered most, and keeper Annie Brunner grabbed six saves. Though the Cougars entered the game holding the nation’s 19th best goals-against average and 29th best shutout percentage, the CU attack was too much for West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year Erica Owens.
“We defended like warriors; BYU was putting so much pressure on us near the end of the game and we were just smart going forward,” Sanchez said. “We had a couple of chances to make it a 3-1 game, but I’m just real proud of this team because I don’t think these players understand what this means to the University of Colorado, what it means to the alumni and former players. It’s just big for our players now and whether it’s soccer, basketball or football we are just really pleased to represent a great institution at this level.”
BYU seemed primed to make some big moves in the beginning of the game, taking the first four shots. In the sixth minute, after a long Alex Huynh free kick found its way to the front of the Cougar net, CU couldn’t retain possession. BYU rushed back, and Paige Hunt sent a ball wide off a corner kick.
While the Cougars were dominating the pace, the CU defense remained solid. In the eighth minute, Marissa Nimmer sent the ball toward the net for an easy save by Brunner. Cloee Colohan continued the offensive pressure, first getting stopped by a big-time block by Lizzy Herzl and then, despite creating some space in front of the net, hitting the ball wide right.
The Buffs got their moment in the 15 and 16th minutes, when Darcy Jerman and Anne Stuller both hit their shots just high, helping the squad gain momentum. The Cougars once again got back into Buffalo territory, but this time, it was Niki Fernandes who rushed her shot wide.
CU responded with a big attack. In the 21st minute, Anne Stuller sent her corner kick to the near post. The ball got to Emily Paxton, who shot to the far post. The ball deflected off a BYU player to fall into the net and put the Buffs up 1-0.
“It was a great build up,” Paxton said. “It was also a great through ball from Madi to earn the corner and it was a near post ball. It felt like the longest two seconds that I’ve had before they came after me and luckily it went in.”
The Buffs continued to press, taking two more corner kicks in the 25th and 26th minutes. The first was finger-tipped away by Owens at the net, but the second couldn’t stay in the Buffs’ possession.
The Cougars looked to even the score, taking three consecutive shots. First, Nimmer sent a field goal of a kick to the net. Jaiden Thornock matched her pace, rushing in in an attempt to beat several CU defenders. Huynh came in for the tackle and Brunner was ready for the ensuing save. Brunner picked up another save in the 30th minute, after Ella Johnson booted the ball her way.
BYU’s attack wouldn’t last for long, as CU extended its lead to 2-0 in the 34th minute. From 18 yards out, Carly Bolyard took a beautiful shot that reached Owens, who wasn’t able to hold onto the ball and could only watch as the ball slid into the net. Madison Krauser provided the assist from the far post.
The goal was Bolyard’s first since she netted a goal and contributed an assist in the Buffs’ 5-0 win over Colorado College in the 2011 Colorado Cup. “It feels amazing, that moment in unforgettable and it’s just nice to finally get one,” Bolyard said of her goal.
Stuller and Brooke Rice would both take shots for CU in the final 10 minutes of the half as the Cougars were forced to play defense. Though the game became more physical in the final six minutes, CU’s 2-0 lead would hold at the break.
The Buffs picked up right where they left off to start the second half. In the 52nd minute, Mikaela Kraus sent a shot wide. Less than a minute later, Paxton forced Owens to grab her first save of the game. However, the momentum would quickly turn in BYU’s favor. In the 58th minute, Fernandes got one-on-one with Hayley Hughes in the right edge of the box. Fernandes found her opportunity and shot the ball high to the far post.
The Cougars continued to push the CU defense and got their scoring opportunity in the 59th minute. Brunner got faked out and fell to the far post as Fernandes snuck in a goal from 10 yards out. Rachel Manning was credited with the assist as the Cougars narrowed the Buffs’ lead to 2-1.
Both hungry to keep their season alive, CU and BYU combined for five shots in an eight minute span, with the Cougars grabbing a three to two edge. Fernandes and Hughes were once again head-to-head, with Fernandes getting the advantage and forcing a save. The Buffs and Cougars battled back and forth for possession and offensive dominance, but it was BYU who would find their stride on the attack. With 20 minutes remaining, Fernandes took her fourth consecutive shot, getting blocked to set up a corner, where Manning would head the ball wide.
CU was able to respond, with Paxton continuing her strength in front of the net, taking a shot from the right edge to force another save. In the 77th minute, Jerman took the Buffs’ final shot of the game, hitting the ball wide past the far post.
In the closing minutes, BYU sent everyone forward, causing a close call in the 83rd minute. Following a corner kick, a group of Cougars fought to even the score. First, Johnson used her head to force a save. Then, Colohan got the ball, knocking one into the crossbar. Hughes and Fernandes met one final time, with Brunner meeting her blocked shot to close out the game.
The Buffs will face the winner of the Mississippi/Florida State matchup. Kick-off of the Sweet 16 game is at 1 p.m. ET (11 a.m. MT) on Saturday, Nov. 23. at Florida State Soccer Stadium.
“It’s just awesome, I told (coach) that he can’t get rid of us yet,” Hughes said. “I think as seniors we just want to keep going because we aren’t ready to be done. I think that it’s just awesome and it means a lot to us and there are also a lot of people that are following us. I have teachers and just old teammates that are just so invested in this and it just means a lot to us and this is a great experience and we just want to keep going.”
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Marlee Horn Graduate Assistant SID University of Colorado
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