Posts tagged Alex Huynh
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!
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Marlee Horn
Graduate Assistant SID
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CU Women’s Soccer Ties Cal 1-1 In Double Overtime
Oct 19th
BERKELEY, Calif. – As the final minute of regulation ticked down at Goldman Field at Edwards Stadium, the University of Colorado soccer team looked primed to upset No. 9 California.
With 42 seconds remaining, Cal netted the equalizer, tying the game at 1-1, a score that would hold for two overtimes.
After a defensive battle in the first half, the Buffaloes grabbed the lead in the 67th minute. Madison Krauser, assisted by Anne Stuller, found the back of the net for her third goal of the game. In the final minute, following a Colorado foul, the Golden Bears tied the game up, with Emi Lawson heading one in off an Arianna Martinez assist. Cal outshot CU 6-1 in overtime play, but neither team could get their golden goal, giving the Buffs their first tie of the season.
“I think the first half was pretty tight,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said. “There weren’t a lot of chances to be had either way. In the second half, Madi scored a great goal with a nice feed from Anne Stuller that banged the back of the goal. At that point, Cal started sending everybody forward. We withstood a couple really dangerous opportunities and they got that one there at the end. I’m pleased with how we responded in overtime. The tendency is to get down, but we kept battling. When it’s all said and done, I think it’s a good result to get on the road against a top 10 team. I’m disappointed that they scored so late, but if you take a step back and look at it, it was probably a good result over 110 minutes.”
The last time the Buffs tied a ranked team was in the 2010 Big 12 Tournament, when CU pushed No. 6 Texas A&M to 0-0 double overtime draw. (That same season, the Buffs beat the No. 6 Aggies 2-1 in an overtime battle in College Station, Texas to record their first regular season victory over A&M – marking the Buffs’ last victory over a ranked opponent).
CU moves to 11-3-1 overall, 3-2-1 Pac-12 Conference. With its fifth tie of the season, Cal is now 9-1-5, 2-1-3 Pac-12. The Bears’ lone loss of the season was to No. 2 UCLA last weekend.
Cal has allowed just one first half goal this season, and that early defensive pressure showed on Friday. The Buffs were held to just two shots in the opening 45 minutes, but got opportunities off five corner kicks (Cal took zero corners in the first half).
In the eighth minute, Stuller took the Buffs’ first corner kick. Five minutes later, Emily Paxton took the first shot of the game, making Cal goalkeeper Emily Kruger grab a save.
Cal quickly responded, with Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick forcing Anne Brunner to grab a save of her own. Though the Buffs took two more corners, the Bears were back on the attack with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Samantha Witteman and Celeste Boureille both hit on target, with Brunner snatching two more saves.
In the final five minutes before the break, the Buffs hit two more corner kicks and Darcy Jerman got her shot blocked, keeping the game scoreless.
Both teams were ready to get on the board in the beginning of the second half, with Cal’s Mekenna DeBack hitting one wide, and Stuller responding with a shot for the Buffs. In the 58th minute, Carly Bolyard took a corner kick. The Buffs kept possession, and Paxton got another shot at the keeper.
In the 67th minute, the Buffs finally hit the back of the net, with Krauser dribbling into the center from the left past a Cal defender and putting the Buffs up 1-0. The Buffs remained on the attack, with Paxton forcing another Kruger save in the 69th minute.
Back-to-back corner kicks helped Cal get back on offense, with Arielle Ship hitting one wide. Though the Buffs responded with shots by Brooke Rice and Olivia Pappalardo, Cal dominated the final minutes of regulation. In the 86th minute, Fitzpatrick once again rushed the net and Brunner got the save.
As the clock wound down, the Buffs were seconds away from the upset. At 89:53, Alex Huynh received a yellow card, helping turn the tides for the Bears. With just 42 seconds remaining, Emi Lawson headed the ball in off an Arianna Martinez assist, sending the game into overtime.
“They had a lot of players going forward and they won a free kick in the corner,” Sanchez said. “It was a great service and a great header. I don’t think there’s anything we could about either one of them. If you’re going to get scored on, you want it to be a good goal like that one … It doesn’t matter when you score them; it’s just that you score them. That’s why Cal’s a good team. They got one late, but we responded well. To get that result in the Pac-12 on the road is good.”
In the first five minutes of overtime, Cal took three shots. Colorado was never able to find its offensive stride, but looked strong defensively. Though the Bears took two corner kicks in the final four minutes of the first overtime, the Buffs kept them from any good looks. The teams were in familiar territory in the 100th minute, as Cal’s Fitzpatrick received a yellow card, but 45 seconds wasn’t enough for the Buffs to put the game away.
Pappalardo hit the Buffs’ only shot in the extra minutes, which Kruger saved at the 102:01 mark. Cal’s leading scorer and 2012 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Ifeoma Onumonu took her first shot of the game in the final minute, but Brunner was ready one final time for the save.
“They were great,” Sanchez said of the Buffs’ defense. “Ifeoma is so dangerous, and I think we did a good job of pushing her wide and making her be the provider and not the finisher. I felt we did a pretty good job on her, but she’s just so dangerous over the full stretch of the match. Those are the type of forwards you face in the Pac-12, and our back four did enough to get us the result. We’re pleased with the result and we’re really pleased with what they did and what Brunner did.”
The Buffs return home next weekend for their final games at Prentup Field. The tough competition continues as the Buffs face USC and UCLA. Both games will be aired on the Pac-12 Networks.
“USC had a bit of a stumble at the beginning of Pac-12 play, but they’ve been hot,” Sanchez said. “They tied this same Cal team, and beat Stanford. They’re really playing well. UCLA, at this point, is the frontrunner to win the league. They’re still undefeated in the league. They’re a very good team and very deep with talent. We know the challenges. I think it will be great to be back home, especially with our last home games of the season and Senior Day on Sunday. We hope to get a big crowd out and to get some results. We have five games left in conference play, and we still have a lot of work to do.”
Stand Shoulder to Shoulder with your CU soccer team in the Breast Cancer Awareness game on Friday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. The first 500 fans to arrive will receive a FREE pink CU rally towel!
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Marlee Horn
Graduate Assistant SID
University of Colorado
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CU soccer team needs overtime to beat U of Washington
Oct 14th
SEATTLE – After a slow start at the Husky Soccer Complex, senior Anne Stuller gave the University of Colorado soccer team the upper-hand over Washington, netting the game-winner in the sixth minute of overtime.
The Pac-12 Conference leader in shots and corner kicks, the Buffs have had to fight against tough defensive pressure in their first true road trip of the season. Though they entered the game averaging 9.31 first half shots, the Huskies limited the Buffs to just one shot in the opening 45 minutes, marking just the fourth time this season the Buffs have taken fewer than five shots in the first half.
“Washington is great defensively and they have a very good goalkeeper,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said. “There just wasn’t a lot of chances to be had either way for us. I felt that defensively, we were really tight and we limited their opportunities. We knew that there wouldn’t be a lot of chances to be had, but fortunately for us, the one good chance we had, we took care of.”
With their first road victory of the season, Colorado improves to 11-3 overall, 3-2 Pac-12. The Buffs are now a perfect 2-0 in overtime matches in 2013. Despite taking only one shot in the first half, CU outshot UW 15-11, including a six to two differential on goal. Continuing to shine in the net, Annie Brunner has become just the third CU keeper to record at least 11 wins in a single season. The shutout was Brunner’s eighth of the season, topping her 2012 total of 7.1.
Previously undefeated in Pac-12 play, with wins over USC and Utah and a double-overtime tie against then No. 3 UCLA, Washington slips to 6-6-2, 2-1-2 Pac-12. Redshirt junior Kate Bennett led the Huskies with five shots, taking both of the team’s shots on goal.
“It was a hard fought Pac-12 match,” Sanchez said. “Washington’s on a great roll. They’re tough to score on. They hadn’t given up a goal in Pac-12 play, so we knew it’d take something special. Anne Stuller did something special to win it for us.”
The Buffs got an opportunity in the opening 15 minutes when Madison Krauser, who led the Buffs with six shots, got the ball deep in Washington territory. From the 18 yard line, defensive pressure forced her to make a move, but she couldn’t get enough power on the kick to take a shot. Washington was quick to respond, causing commotion near the Buffs’ net, but CU finally got a good clearance to send the ball back in the other direction.
It wasn’t until the 27th minute that the Huskies were able to take the first shot of the game. A cross found Bennett at the net, but her shot was blocked, and Brunner came out to meet it. Less than four minutes later, UW was back on the attack, but this time Bennett sent the ball wide from close range. The Huskies continued to press the net. Brooke Rice looked strong on the defensive side of the ball, blocking any looks at the net. Though UW got a corner kick, the shot went long and helped the Buffs take over on the offense.
CU got its best chance of the half in the 36th minute. From the middle of the box, Darcy Jerman crossed left to Krauser, who was stopped by her defender, setting up a corner kick. Alex Huynh got her head on the ball, but the Buffs’ sole shot of the half was blocked. The Buffs retained possession, but a CU foul finally allowed UW to get the ball.
In the final five minutes, Washington caused several close calls for the Buffs. Getting the ball from the right corner of the box, Jaclyn Softli got within 12 yards, but her header was blocked by a CU defender. Though the Buffs got back deep into UW territory, a final throw in got away from them, allowing the Huskies to rush to the Buffs’ net. Brunner came out of the net in anticipation, leaving an empty net for Softli. Softli slammed the ball just left of the post, keeping the game scoreless at the break.
After taking just one shot in the first 45 minutes, the Buffs opened the second half on an offensive stride, with Krauser taking two shots in the first nine minutes. The Buffs continued to press the net and dictate the tempo, getting another opportunity off back-to-back shots by Krauser and Stuller.
Washington couldn’t regroup on the offense until the 69th minute, with Bennett shooting at the keeper. Bennett was on it again at 70:20, this time getting blocked. Following a corner kick, the Huskies sent another shot wide. Unwilling to remain in a defensive fight, the Buffs attacked the UW net. Tori Cooper got to the net and shot from close range, striking at Megan Kufeld, who had come out of the net.
The Huskies responded with a great chance of their own in the 77th minute. Lindsay Elston got to the net, but Brunner punched the ball away, and the Huskies were unable to convert on the following corner kick.
The Buffs continued to dominate in the final 10 minutes of regulation. Bianca Jones sent a deep ball to the net, where several Buffs got touches, even forcing Kufeld out of the net for a moment, but couldn’t find a shot. Following a corner kick, Krauser took the ball behind the box, forcing a shot that got blocked. She found the rebound and hit the ball just high.
Though the Huskies would get another chance, forcing Brunner to grab another save, it was the Buffs who continued to shine offensively in the closing minutes, with Stuller and Jerman each taking two shots in the final five minutes of regulation.
CU didn’t slow down in just their second overtime match of the season, quickly taking over on the offense. In the first minute, Krauser got an open look, but her shot went just over the crossbar. The Huskies were able to respond with a shot of their own in the 95th minute, but their attack wouldn’t last long.
A Washington foul just outside the box helped set up the Buffs’ game-winner. From 22 yards out, Stuller booted a free kick to the near post to give the Buffs the 1-0 victory.
“She was from a bit of a wide angle, and she just had a great strike,” Sanchez said. “… We were starting to pressure and get the ball into deeper spots. I think the game-winning goal was a by-product of that.”
With eight goals this season, Stuller matches her total from last season, which ranks in the top eight for a single season at CU. Her 22 total points this season ties for the most by a CU senior.
The Buffs conclude their three game road trip in Berkeley, Calif. (the site of their first ever Pac-12 Conference win). CU takes on No. 8 California at 1:30 p.m. MT on Friday, Oct. 18 before returning to Prentup Field for their final two home games of the season.
“I told the team after the match, this is the Pac-12, and after the game on Friday, we had to bounce back,” Sanchez said. “Nobody’s feeling sorry for anybody and the games are going to be like this. We have to continue the momentum and play with confidence. They’re a top 10, top 15 team with one loss … We know the challenge of being on the road. Hopefully we’re a little more comfortable with it and we’ll come out and play.”
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Marlee Horn
Graduate Assistant SID
University of Colorado
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