Buff Soccer
CU Buffs Women’s Soccer Faces Falcons, Gaels In Second Weekend
Aug 29th
QUICKLY: The University of Colorado soccer team looks to continue its hot start to the season against Air Force and St. Mary’s. The Buffs open the weekend against their third straight in-state opponent, taking on the Falcons at 5 p.m. on Friday. They conclude a three-game home-stand at 1 p.m. on Sunday against the Gaels. In the opening weekend, CU recorded back-to-back shutouts against Northern Colorado and Colorado College in the third annual Colorado Cup.
COLORADO VS. AIR FORCE: The Buffs hold a 4-1 lead over the Falcons. CU’s lone loss was a 1-0 defeat in the Buffs’ first season (1996). After an eight season series hiatus, the in-state opponents resumed play last season, with the Buffs winning 2-0. Three of the Buffs’ four wins over AFA have been shutouts.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS: The Falcons are off to a 1-0-1 start, tying Montana 1-1 and falling 2-1 to TCU at the Montana Kickoff Invitational. Air Force returns six starters from last year’s squad that scored 12 goals and went 5-9-3 (0-7 Mountain West). The Falcons lost Stephanie Patterson, who scored five goals in her final season, but welcome 12 newcomers. AFA’s two goals this season have come off of just three shots by freshman Noelle Heiser and junior Kylie Williamson.
COLORADO VS. ST. MARY’S: The Buffs and Gaels have met just once, in 2009. The 8-1 CU victory was a record breaker. Nikki Marshall scored four goals (tying her own record for most goals scored in a single game) and Kelly Butler scored two. The eight total goals are the most the Buffs have scored in a single game and the 19 total points ranks second. The 28 shots ties for fifth on the single game list. CU also scored off an own goal for only the second time in program history.
SCOUTING THE GAELS: The Gaels enter the weekend with a 1-1 record after defeating Grand Canyon 3-0 and falling to No. 11 San Diego State 1-0. SMC returns eight starters from last year’s squad, including All-West Coast Conference honorable mentions Melinda Madden and Vicki Shimkus (last year’s leading scorer) and Canada Word Cup U-19 member Caroline Beauline. The Gaels posted a 6-12-2 (1-7 WCC) record in 2012.
PEDAL TO PRENTUP: Make a healthy and environmentally friendly trip to Prentup Field on Friday, Aug. 30 to watch CU take on Air Force at 5 p.m. The first 200 fans who bike to Prentup will receive a free CU T-shirt. Admission is free, though fans can make a $5 donation to the Buff Club to show their support for the team, so grab your family and friends for a bike ride to Prentup Field.
FAMILIAR FACES: Santa Clara transfer Brooke Rice will face former West Coast Conference opponent Saint Mary’s on Sunday. Rice played in 26 games in two seasons at Santa Clara.
LAST WEEK: The Buffs opened the 2013 season with the third annual Colorado Cup. In the opening game against Northern Colorado, the Buffs shut out the Bears 3-0 for the third straight year. In seven meetings between the two teams, the Buffs have never lost, much less given up a goal. It took just over 33 minutes into the game for freshman Brie Hooks to score her first goal as a Buff, and then just another 45 to score again, this time off an assist from Darcy Jerman. The Buffs’ other goal came off an own goal, marking just the fifth own goal in program history. On Sunday, Hooks once again led the Buffs to victory, scoring off an Anne Stuller assist, to defeat Colorado College 1-0.
TIEBREAKER: Colorado and Denver both concluded the Colorado Cup with two wins and an equal goal differential. Though Denver allowed one goal and Colorado allowed zero, Denver took home the title by scoring one more goal than the Buffs. Despite losing the trophy, the Buffs have two titles under their belts and have remained undefeated through six games in three Cups.
HOOKS, LINE AND SINKER: In her first two games as a Buff, freshman Brie Hooks has already scored three goals. Against UNC, Hooks became the first player in program history to have a multi-goal performance in her Colorado debut. Other Buffs to reach similar milestones are Katie Griffin, who scored two goals in her second game at CU in 2003 and Nikki Marshall, who netted four in just her third game in 2006. Hooks followed up her fabulous introduction by hitting the lone goal and game-winner against CC. Her impressive opening weekend helped her to CU’s first Athlete of the Week honors of 2013.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: A record crowd showed their support for the Buffs in the home opener on Sunday. 1,364 fans were in attendance for the final games of the Colorado Cup, breaking into the 10th spot on CU’s all-time crowds at Prentup Field. This is the second Colorado Cup game to rank in the top 10. CU’s battle against Northern Colorado on August 21, 2011 in the inaugural Cup drew 1,911 fans, ranking fourth all time at Prentup.
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CU Shuts Out Colorado College 1-0 In Final Game of Colorado Cup
Aug 25th
Through six games in the three years of the Cup, CU has remained undefeated. For the third year running, CU defeated Northern Colorado 3-0, and this season marked the Buffaloes’ third straight shutout of the CC Tigers in as many Cups. The Buffs have not lost to the Tigers since 1997.
In the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader at Prentup Field, Denver defeated UNC 3-0. Denver beat CC 2-1 on Friday, making the Pioneers and Buffs tied in the weekend win column. Since both teams won two games, and had an equal goal differential (five goals forced and one allowed for Denver, four goals scored and zero allowed for Colorado), goals scored worked as the tiebreaker, giving the Pioneers their first Cup trophy.
“We’ll take the win any day of the week,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said. “I’m really pleased with how the players battled today. They got the result at the end of the day, so it was a good win for us for sure.”
Freshman Brie Hooks continued her stellar debut weekend, scoring off an Anne Stuller assist in the 53rd minute to lead the Buffs to victory. In the Buffs’ first two games of the season, Hooks has already scored three goals.
“It’s exciting,” Hooks said. “It’s not really something I expected, I guess, but to go out there and get three goals in the first two games is a good way to show that I can do what I can out there on the field. It was a good feeling.”
The Buffs dominated the offense from the opening minutes, outshooting the Tigers 21-5, though only sending five more on goal (8-3).
Colorado got a shot off early, with Darcy Jerman getting blocked in the fifth minute. Less than four minutes later, Anne Stuller, who led the Buffs with six shots, sent one wide. It took until the 10th minute for CC to take their first shot, sending one right at Annie Brunner.
The Buffs looked set to score in the 12th minute when Brooke Rice got the ball to Hayley Hughes who found Olivia Pappalardo at the net to drive one in, but the goal was called off due to an offsides ruling.
In just over a minute span, Stuller took two more shots, first forcing CC keeper Kate Scheele to come up with her first of seven saves, and then being stopped short by a block. Hayley Hughes kept the momentum going, sending one high in the 18th minute. Five minutes later, she came up big defensively, forcing a turnover, then taking it to the other side where she slammed one towards the net before being blocked.
From the 24th minute to the 34th, CU took five more shots, coming from Madison Krauser, Brie Hooks, Jerman and Bianca Jones. The Buffs were strong on the attack, but CC remained strong on defense, keeping the game scoreless at the half.
It took just two minutes into the second half for the Tigers to shoot, but the ball went high. Colorado responded by quickly taking over on an offensive drive. At the 52:50 mark, Hooks was hungry for more, sending one to the back of the net off a Stuller assist.
“Well we were going out, and the ball got wide, and honestly I wasn’t trying to shoot at all,” Hooks said. “I was trying to keep it in. I got my hips around it and it happened to go in. It worked out in my favor I guess … Everyone has the goals that they’re not trying to score, but in tight games like that it’s good to get an early one. It felt good.”
The Buffs continued to make Scheele work at the net. In the 58th minute, Emily Paxton sent one towards the goal. CU didn’t get its first corner kick until the 62nd minute, with Carly Bolyard shooting it towards the net. After several touches by the Buffs, Pappalardo made Scheele dive for the save. Less than a minute later, Paxton was at it again, making Scheele grab her third save in just five minutes.
Sarah Scheweiss was a force for the Tigers, leading the squad with three shots. In the 69th minute, she went on the run from the midfield, and approached the net with only a few defenders in her way, but Brunner was ready to claim the save.
In the final twenty minutes, Colorado remained strong at both ends of the ball. Krauser took two more of her three total shots, sending one wide, then high. Stuller kept the pressure, sending one at the keeper with under 10 remaining.
Colorado had a close call with just over six minutes remaining, with CC taking a free kick that got the ball to the net. After a few quick touches, Jessie Ayers got the ball, but fumbled and couldn’t get the shot. The Buffs reclaimed possession, playing tough until the closing seconds, with Stuller leading a drive in the 88th minute.
After 90 minutes, Hooks’ “dangerous,” but “fortunate” ball and the Buffs’ experienced backline were the determining factors in the win.
“Our defense – led by Lizzy (Herzl) and Heather (Ward) and Bianca (Jones), and Hayley (Hughes) also – all four of them were rock solid all day,” Sanchez said. “I’m pleased with that. We need to be better on the attack; we talked about that on Friday as well, but at the end of it, a good result for us.”
The Buffs continue their home-stand with more in-state competition, hosting Air Force on Friday.
“Air Force went out to a tournament this weekend and had a draw and then lost to a Big 12 team 2-1, so they’re much improved,” Sanchez said. “We know that when teams come to Prentup, they’re going to bring their ‘A’ game. Last year we won 2-0, but it didn’t feel like a 2-0 game. It was a bit scrappy. We need better quality. And obviously, St. Mary’s out of the West Coast Conference is a very good team. It’s a big weekend for us, but we’re glad to be home.”
Make a healthy and environmentally friendly trip to Prentup Field on Friday, Aug. 30 to watch CU soccer take on Air Force at 5 p.m. The first 200 fans who bike to Prentup will receive a free CU T-shirt. Admission is free, though fans can make a $5 donation to the Buff Club to show their support for the team, so grab your family and friends for a bike ride to Prentup Field.
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Marlee Horn Graduate Assistant SID University of Colorado
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CU Women’s Soccer Opens Season, Remain Undefeated Against Northern Colorado
Aug 24th
Two weather delays in the Cup’s opening game at CIBER Field at the University of Denver Stadium couldn’t damper the Buffaloes’ play. The Buffs outshot the Bears 16-5, including a 7-2 advantage in the second half. Colorado extends its perfect record against Northern Colorado, never losing a game or allowing a goal in seven meetings.
It took just over 33 minutes for freshman Brie Hooks to score her first goal as a Buff, and then just another 45 to score again. She is the first Buff in program history to score two goals in her Colorado debut.
“Scoring a couple goals is always a good debut,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said. “Obviously she’s dynamic, she’s good with the ball and she had a couple nice finishes. I think it was the product of pressure on the second one. The first one was a great ball from Darcy. It was a good debut for sure.”
Other CU newcomers also made their presence felt, with Santa Clara transfer Brooke Rice and freshman Alex Huynh both making starts in their Colorado debuts.
“It was good to get in all six field player freshmen,” Sanchez said. “They got some time and did well and showed some good things. Obviously Alex (Huynh) did well in the midfield and obviously Brie (Hooks) with a couple of goals, but the other ones – we put Hannah (Dearborn) in the back and she did well. Big picture, it was good to get them some minutes so that when they go in again, there’s not that jittery first game.”
For the third time in as many games at CIBER Field, the Buffs scored off an own goal, getting on the board in the 21st minute.
In the first six minutes, Colorado took two corner kicks, but couldn’t get a shot off until the 14th minute, when co-captain Hayley Hughes booted one high. Northern Colorado responded, with a corner kick by Makayla McBride that led to a high shot by Tassie Forst at the 20:09 mark.
CU picked up the pace on offense, pressing the DU goal. With just less than 25 minutes remaining, the Buffs caused a commotion in front of the net. With 2012 Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year Natalie D’Adamio out of the net, a UNC defender scrambled from the right of the box to keep the ball alive, but tapped the ball into the goal zone.
The goal was the third own goal in as many games that CU has played at CIBER Field. Of the five own goals in CU’s program history, four have happened at CIBER Field. Last season, CU had two own goals in the Denver Invitational. The own goal was the only point in CU’s 4-1 defeat to Denver and helped CU to a 2-1 victory over Cincinnati just two days later. Previously, CU scored off own goals in an 8-1 victory against St. Mary’s College on CIBER Field in 2009 and in a 2-1 win over Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C. at the Wake Forest/adidas Soccer Classic.
Intensity built as CU keeper and co-captain Annie Brunner came up with a big save off a Juliana Grover header in the 24th minute. In just over a one minute span, CU took three corner kicks, but couldn’t get anything near the net. Both teams fouled, culminating with a yellow card on Darcy Jerman in the 33rd minute. Less than a minute later, Jerman redeemed herself, hitting the ball up the right side to Brie Hooks, who got contact at the right corner of the box, dribbled it in closer and kicked a hard one into the lower left corner of the net.
Hooks called the assist a great set up, allowing her to get a touch and shoot. “I just wanted to go out there and prove myself in the first game, to show what I can do,” Hooks said. And prove herself she did.
The Buffs stayed tough on offense, with Madison Krauser shooting at the keeper, and Anne Stuller hitting one into the left post, but a lightning delay suspended the momentum, putting the game on pause for just under an hour with 9:21 remaining in the first half.
CU remained aggressive in the closing minutes of the half, with Carly Bolyard, Lizzy Herzl and Olivia Pappalardo all taking shots. Bolyard nearly netted one in the 41st minute, taking a near range shot that was saved by the right post.
Another lightning delay made for an extended halftime, but as Sanchez said, the Buffs came out well after, and began the second half unfazed.
In the 47th minute, Stuller was already attacking on both offense and defense, as she blocked the first of UNC’s two second-half shots.
Rain starting falling with 40 minutes remaining in the half, but it couldn’t cool down Stuller’s offensive fire. In just over a five minute span, Stuller took a short range header and a big slammer, but D’Adamio came up with the save both times.
After a lot of back-and-forth movement to begin the half, a Paxton header in the 66th minute helped spur the Buffs’ offense. In the 77th minute, Stuller was at it again, meeting the keeper at the edge of the box, but once again, D’Adamio was prepared for the save. Though the ball got loose, the Buffs weren’t able to keep possession.
Less than a minute later, Hooks grabbed the ball off a defensive deflection, striking from the left for her second goal of the night. She said after the game that for her second goal, she was working against a couple players, saw space and went for the shot.
With just 10 minutes remaining in the game, both teams were still on the attack. In the 81st minute, UNC’s McBride sent one right at Annie Brunner off a free kick. After a lot of ball movement by the Buffs, Jerman shot one from the right, but a defender at the net came in for the block, closing out the game.
“I think defensively we’re very good,” Sanchez said. “UNC’s got some players with a lot of pace. We didn’t give up a lot, and we created. I think we could have finished a little bit better, but having said that, we got a little bit of a fortunate goal in the first one. It usually evens out.”
Hooks says she hopes to take the momentum from the Buffs’ solid start throughout the season.
“It’s definitely a good way to start the season and get us on a good roll and hopefully carry us on the rest of the weekend,” Hooks said.
Stand Shoulder to Shoulder with head coach Danny Sanchez and the CU soccer team as they host Colorado College in the first Buffs athletic event of the year. In honor of the first home game of the season, we will be celebrating Student Appreciation Day, where there will be free Half Fast Subs and prizes for students that attend.
Make sure to sit in the Buff Brigade cheering section and help give CU soccer a real home field advantage. Located at the north end of Prentup Field, the Brigade will be loud and spirited as they cheer the Buffs to victory!
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Marlee Horn Graduate Assistant SID University of Colorado
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