Posts tagged Danny Sanchez
CU soccer rolls over the Ducks for 10th win
Oct 7th
BOULDER – Hayley Hughes lit a spark for the University of Colorado soccer team, pushing the Buffaloes past the Oregon Ducks 1-0 at Prentup Field on Sunday.
After a scoreless first half, the Buffs and Ducks fought to gain the upper hand. Having guarded one of Oregon’s best players, Bri Pugh, the majority of the game, Hughes shined both on defense and the attack. With freshman standout Brie Hooks, who has tied for a team high seven goals this season, out of the lineup, Hughes helped pick up the pace on the offensive side of the ball.
Hayley Hughes
Hughes led the team with four shots, all on goal. In the 63rd minute, Hughes got the ball from 40 yards out, and didn’t waste any time blasting the ball toward the net and into the right corner for her first goal of the season.
“Hayley spent half of the season last year as a striker so we know she’s dangerous going forward,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said. “It was just a great shot, their goal keeper Abby Steele is a great goal keeper. I feel she’s one of the top goal keepers in the league and to beat her today, we needed something special and that was a special shot from Hayley.”
With continued defensive pressure, the Buffs’ 1-0 lead would hold through regulation to give the Buffs their 10th win of the season. The win was the Buffs’ first over the Ducks in four meetings. The Buffs (10-2 overall, 1-1 Pac-12 Conference) have recorded back-to-back conference wins for the second time since joining the Pac-12, with the previous consecutive wins coming at USC and Arizona last season.
Oregon falls to 2-6-3, 0-2-1 Pac-12, with all of their defeats being determined by a single goal.
“All twelve teams (in the conference) are quality, and I think it’s maybe more of a situation where Oregon is desperate for result with where their season is going and that’s a dangerous team.” Sanchez said. “You can see the dangerous players that they have. I’m really pleased with how we came out, both halves. I felt the first twenty minutes of the game and the first twenty minutes of the second half were very good. And then at the end of the day … we defended great. They have dangerous players. So I’m just really pleased to get the result and to get a shut out.”
Though Oregon outshot Colorado 15-13 (including a nine to five differential in the second half), the Buffs were consistently more on target, hitting nine to Oregon’s four on goal.
The game was also a battle of two outstanding goal keepers, who combined for a total of 12 saves. Oregon’s Abby Steele leads the conference in saves and ranks in Oregon’s all-time top four in shutouts, wins and saves. Annie Brunner continues to have the best season of her career at Colorado. She currently ranks in the conference’s top five in shutouts and goals-against average.
With Sunday’s victory, Brunner becomes one of just four CU keepers to record at least 10 wins in a single season. For the second straight season, Brunner has shutout at least seven opponents (joining 2003 Big 12 Championship team member Jessica Keller as the only Buffs to have had back-to-back seasons with at least seven shutouts each year).
“I think at the end of the day it was just a good hard fought Pac-12 game,” Sanchez said. “I thought both goal keepers were very good. I thought Brunner was rock solid today dealing with those set pieces and a lot of corner kicks late when Oregon was pushing numbers. I thought it was a good hard fought game.”
The game began with Oregon keeping pressure in Buffs’ territory, but not being able to get any good looks at the net or retain possession for long.
Though Colorado and Oregon State had scored all three of their goals in the first 14 minutes on Friday, it wasn’t until the 14th minute on Sunday that a team was able to take a shot. A Bianca Jones free kick was sent over the wall, where Olivia Pappalardo was able to get her head on the ball, though she couldn’t get a shot. Darcy Jerman was ready for the rebound, but sent the ball just high. The Buffs continued on the attack, with Hughes, Jerman and Madison Krauser all making Steele work for saves in just over a one minute span.
Nineteen minutes into the first half, Oregon was finally able to get their first shot off, though Pugh was off her mark. The Buffs got back-to-back looks at the net in the following minutes, with Anne Stuller sending a free kick just over the post in the 22nd minute.
The Ducks responded with three consecutive shots of their own. Maryn Beutler and Lilly Archer were both blocked by the strong CU defense. Oregon continued to press the Buffs’ net, but Pugh once again shot wide.
The Buffs would only get one more opportunity before halftime. With under seven minutes remaining, they took a corner kick. Though no Buff got the first ball, Paxton was able to take it back and edge to the left side, but was blocked.
Oregon caused a stir in front of the net in the final three minutes of the first half. Ryann Davie got to the net, but shot the ball high. Following the Ducks’ corner kick, Riley Smith was right at the net, but got blocked, keeping the game scoreless at the break.
The opening of the second half was full of action. The Ducks and Buffs would trade off two shots apiece in the first nine minutes. For CU, Krauser was blocked in the 47th and Hughes sent a deep shot at Steele in the 51st. In the 48th and 54th minutes, Oregon’s Archer and Pugh both made Brunner work for saves.
In the 63rd minute, Hughes took an amazing shot from deep to put the Buffs up 1-0.
“The ball just kind of popped out, I was at the top of the box and it just happened to hit me,” Hughes said. “I chested it and it just fell perfectly to my feet and not I’m going to say I was aiming for the top corner, but you know, I kind of just got a good strike on it and it just bent kind of into that corner away from the keeper. I’m really pumped about it. It’s my first goal this season.”
The Buffs kept the pressure high following Hughes’ goal. CU and Oregon traded off shots in the following six minutes, with Alyssa Herwatt getting the ball from the right and taking a close range shot that Steele had to hop on for the save. The Buffs backline had a few close calls in the 71st minute. First, Beutler shot the ball to the far post, forcing Brunner to dive for the save. The ball was deflected off Brunner’s fingertips and Ashlee Schulz came in for the rebound at the left post, but hit the ball just wide.
“That’s a really athletic team,” Hughes said. “They’re good players. It’s great to get up 1-0, but then you know the attack is going to be after you. I think us four in the back, obviously just the whole team had to stay really compact and just work off each other and I think we had great coverage. I’m just really proud of everyone. We defended as a team.”
The Buffs continued to focus on defense, allowing just three more shots in the final 16 minutes.
“It‘s awesome,” Brunner said of the win. “I feel like we finally have the grit. We were in all these games last year, but we finally have the grit to get it through and win.”
The Buffs leave the Centennial State for the first time this season for a three game road trip. CU takes on Washington State at 2 p.m. MT on Friday, Oct. 11 and faces Washington at noon MT on Sunday, Oct. 13. The Buffs return to Berkeley, Calif. to take on California (where they earned their first victory in the Pac-12) at 1:30 p.m. MT on Friday, Oct. 18 before returning for their final two home games.
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Marlee Horn Graduate Assistant SID University of Colorado O: 303.492.7525 C: 719.821.0689 marlee.horn@colorado.edu CUBuffs.com
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CU Women’s Soccer Defeat Oregon State For First Pac-12 Home Victory
Oct 5th
OSU controlled the tempo early, taking the first shot in the first 48 seconds.
BOULDER – The season of firsts continues for the University of Colorado soccer team, as the Buffaloes defeated Oregon State 2-1 on Friday at Prentup Field.
The victory was the Buffs’ first home win in the Pac-12 since joining the conference in 2011, and their first win over OSU. The Buffs got revenge on Oregon State after the Beavers handed CU its biggest conference loss of 2012 when they downed the Buffs 2-0 at Prentup.
“I feel like we played, not to overstate it, like warriors today, especially the last 15 minutes of the game,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said. “We played tough today. I think we’ve hopefully turned a corner. We always talked about that first Pac-12 home win. But we’re only worried about this year. We’re 1-1 in Pac-12 play going into the game on Sunday against Oregon.”
Two goals in the first 14 minutes and a strong second-half defense gave the Buffs the win and helped extend their record to a stellar 9-2 (1-1 in Pac-12 play). Despite getting on the board just seconds after the Buffs’ second goal, Oregon State could never find the equalizer. After one of the nation’s most difficult non-conference schedules, Oregon State falls to 2-7-2 overall, 0-1-1 Pac-12.
Madison Krauser scored the first Buff goal
From the opening minute, Oregon State was on the attack, looking to pull itself out of last place in the conference in goals scored, having netted only eight entering the match. OSU controlled the tempo early, taking the first shot in the first 48 seconds.
The Buffs began to gain possession, though struggled to find the right shot; that is until the sixth minute, when the Buffs took their first shot and also made their first goal. Following an Oregon State foul, Alex Huynh sent a great free kick in front of the net. Anne Stuller got away from the group, passing back to Madison Krauser. From 18 yards out, Krauser had an open look and shot to the right corner to give the Buffs the early lead.
The assist was Stuller’s sixth of the season, tying for the most by a senior and tying for eighth all time.
Both teams battled back and forth, with OSU senior forward Jenna Richardson getting blocked in the eighth minute and Stuller nearly sliding one past the keeper in the 13th.
Less than a minute after her near goal, Stuller found the back of the net. At 13:19, Bianca Jones rushed from right edge, and found Stuller who took the close range shot to net her seventh goal of the season. With one goal and one assist in the game, Stuller ties for second most points by a senior, with 20 total points this season.
Just 38 seconds after the Buffs’ second goal, Oregon State tightened CU’s lead to 2-1. Richardson was at it again, this time getting the ball from Erin Uchacz at the left corner. Just one touch was all Richardson needed to get the goal.
“They always say the most dangerous lead in soccer is 2-0, which of course it’s not; it’s 1-0,” Sanchez said. “I think at 2-0, we relaxed. They scored their goal a minute after we scored that goal. We made it more difficult than we needed to. I think after that the game settled down.”
Though both teams continued to get looks in the remainder of the first half, neither was able to score again. In the 22nd minute, Stuller sent one right at OSU keeper Sammy Jo Prudhomme. It wasn’t until the 34th minute that the Beavers were able to respond, with Natalie Meiggs sending the ball high after a corner kick. Prudhomme had two close calls at the net in the final six minutes. Stuller sent a ball just right of the post in the 39th minute. After Alyssa Herwatt subbed in for Stuller, she also came close to scoring, hitting the ball just to the left this time.
After the Beavers narrowed the Buffs’ lead in the first half, CU came out defensively minded in the second half.
“I know from my perspective, it just makes me work,” Krauser said about giving up the goal. “We were up and we didn’t want them to get another goal in. It makes me work harder, and I think most of my teammates are the same way. It almost motivates us more because we want to get that win. It pushes us harder.”
Colorado and Oregon State both looked to score again in the beginning of the second half. In the 52nd minute, from the right, Jones sent the ball to the net, where Olivia Pappalardo created space to get an open look, but sent the ball just left of the net. Seventeen seconds later, Stuller got a shot at the middle of the box, but sent the ball right to Prudhomme. Richardson responded for OSU, but was blocked once more by Heather Ward.
Though Oregon State had the advantage on offensive possession and tempo in the second half, the Buffs’ backline limited the Beavers to just four second half shots. At the 64 minute mark, Sabrina Santarossa caused a stir in front of the Colorado net, but Annie Brunner stopped the ball for one of her three saves.
After a nearly 14 minute shooting drought, Richardson nearly snuck one in, but was once again stopped short, finding her shot blocked. One minute later, the Buffs claimed possession and rushed down the field with Darcy Jerman shooting one for the Buffs.
With just four minutes remaining in regulation, Richardson nearly tied things up. She dodged defenders to shoot the ball to the far post, but Brunner dived for the save. OSU was unable to get back to the net on their ensuing corner kick, helping the Buffs’ early 2-1 lead hold for the remainder.
Stand Shoulder to Shoulder with head coach Danny Sanchez and your CU Soccer team as they take on the Oregon Ducks on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 2 p.m.
“They’re athletic, and they had a good result against Washington State in their first (Pac-12) home game,” Sanchez said. “We’ll see how they do tonight. Utah’s tough to beat at home, especially if the weather’s icy there. We’re going to enjoy this for a few minutes, and tomorrow we’ll start thinking about Oregon.”
To celebrate family day on Sunday, we will be giving out FREE T-shirts to the first 500 fans and there will be a face painter at the game. Be sure to get to the game early to see Ralphie run. Also, celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the 2003 Big 12 Conference Champions as they are honored at halftime!
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Marlee Horn Graduate Assistant SID University of Colorado [includeme src="http://c1n.tv/boulder/media/bouldersponsors.html" frameborder="0" width="670" height="300"]
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!
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Marlee Horn Graduate Assistant SID University of Colorado [includeme src="http://c1n.tv/boulder/media/bouldersponsors.html" frameborder="0" width="670" height="300"]
