Plenty of highlights in this one 📽#SideBeforeSelf // #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/o74I0eYnRi— Colorado Buffaloes Soccer (@CUBuffsSoccer) August 19, 2022
Nothing I witnessed in CU’s 5-0 win Thursday changed my mind about this Buff side. They have the most depth of any team I can remember and will be much better than last season’s team in terms of goal production. After an anemic start to the match the Buffs put in a number of second teamers. This group immediately put their energy to effect by putting more into the attack. Rachel Rosen who was a starter last season at forward is now playing left back. On her first corner kick she bent the ball directly into the net with her left foot. This is a very rare feet and is known as an “olimpico.” Weber State’s keeper protested that she was interfered with but the center official didn’t buy it. As has been the case during the Sanchez era - as best as I can remember - CU came out in a 4-3-3. The starting back line from left to right: Laswon Willis (JR) - Phoenix Miranda (SO) - Hannah Sharts (SR) - Hannah Cardenas - (SR) This was Cardenas’ first fully healthy match since her freshman season. She played without a knee brace and looked very comfortable on the ball. From her outside back spot she didn’t push forward as much as Willis, but I would guess she will in the future. Weber State produced a few shots on goal in the first half, but all were from distance and none tested Dani Hansen. CU’s starting midfield was from back to front: Jade Babcock-Chi (SR) Juliauna Hayward (FR) Amaya Gonzalez (SR) Gonzalez played the holding midfield role with a lot of energy and passion. She looked to disrupt Weber State’s attack and when she won the ball moved it wisely. Freshman Mallory Allen was her backup and played the role very well. Babcock-Chi as she has been the case entire career is wise with the ball and will continually look to set up teammates. Hayward looked nervous in the first half but was going full throttle in the second. She consistently made runs from deep that got her in position to score. On the third big chance she created she found the back of the net. This won’t be the only goal she scores this season. Once she gets more comfortable at the college level and with her teammates she is gonna be a consistent pest. Coming off the bench, junior Hannah Duguid continued to impress with her ability to hold and advance the ball into dangerous areas under pressure. Keep in mind with the midfield that Jenny Beyer wasn’t available for this match and Ellen Jones played outside back in this match. Again, this goes to a tremendous amount of depth. Up top the starters were: Kayleigh Webb (SR) - Shyra James (JR) - Civana Kuhlmann (SR) Kuhlmann was able to create some chances for herself and with time will be a continuous threat. She is coming off an injury and playing with a new team. James continues to get into positions to score and follows through. In this match her first goal came off a centering pass from Babcock-Chi and the second was a free header from a corner from Gonzalez. Off the bench freshmen Emerson Layne and Leila Lister were frequently threatening. They were making smart runs with and without the ball. Layne was rewarded when she drew a penalty kick and converted. Lister will break through soon. Weber State will be solid in their conference (Big Sky), but wouldn’t be competitive in the Pac 12. Regardless, the Buffs talent and depth will be a factor in every match this season. ‘ Up next for CU is San Diego who lost at DU 0-1 on Thursday night. Weber State is at DU on Sunday.
This is my fourth season away from Boulder, I moved to Grand Junction in far western Colorado in May 2019 and am now a devoted fan of the Division 2 Colorado Mesa Mavericks. I think there's one CU player who might remember who I am. That said, once a Buffalo, always a Buffalo (just a fan, I'm really a Bronco and an Aztec, Santa Clara and San Diego State) and I really miss CU soccer even though I have no idea who most of them are. It is therefore time that I stop being a stranger. Birthday #76 is August 29 and if I can get my airline miles to cooperate, I want to celebrate it in Moldova. Long story. If I can't pull that off, the Buffs are in Provo, Utah playing some outfit called the Cougars who knocked my Broncos out of the NCAA playoffs in the semifinal. So yeah, Happy Birthday to Me. Go Buffs !!
Saw both opening games. 5-0 and 5-1. They physically dominated both teams, but the skill level is the best I’ve seen from the Buffs. One goal today was a strong header from the 18; a second goal on a diving one-timer off a cross. I think this team has a chance to make some noise in the PAC12. Deep enough to absorb inevitable injuries, too.
Totally agree. The Buffs were physically dominant and have a ton of talent. I made the comment to a parent during the match that there are many players coming off the bench who in past seasons would have been a starters, but this season they have to really fight for minutes. CU is still a work in progress despite all the goals. They will become even more dangerous as they get used to playing together, etc.
Kornieck gets another call up to the national team. Hopefully she can get on the pitch and continue to prove herself in the run up to next summer's World Cup. Yeeeeaaaaahhhhh!!!@taylorkornieck https://t.co/iJNiO45b20— Colorado Buffaloes Soccer (@CUBuffsSoccer) August 22, 2022
Set pieces are us. CU scored on a corner kick in the second minute when Civana Kuhlmann buried a corner kick from Amaya Gonzalez. All three of CU’s goals in the second half came from corners as well. Kuhlmann also scored CU’s only non-set piece goal of the game off a technically challenging volley from a cross. A bit like Thursday’s game, CU struggled to gain possession in the first half. There was a lot of space between the back line and the midfield which San Diego exploited to move the ball into the attacking third. Still SD created five quality opportunities as CU generally closed space in the box. In the second half CU did a bit better in terms of closing space when the Toreros attempted to advance the ball beyond midfield. Ironically, SD’s goal came in the second half on a broken play when CU couldn’t clear the ball and SD and Dani Hasnen had to protect for both a shot and an open player. The only change to the starting lineup from Thursday was Rachel Rosen at left back for Hannah Cardenas. And like Thursday, CU used a lot of players in the game with most of the players coming off the bench playing well once again. Speaking of depth, CU has played two matches this season and seven different players have scored at least one goal and seven have at least one assist for the ten total goals. Twenty-six players have played with Jenny Beyer getting her first minutes yesterday after returning from national team duty for Germany. In other news, word out of the soccer ball is that CU will have lights at Prentup next season. It’s about time. CU’s first opponent, Weber State lost 0-2 at Denver on Sunday. Friday CU hosts Valparaiso on Friday afternoon. Valpo drew in the first match of the season at E Illinois 0-0 and defeated Youngstown State 1-0 at home Sunday.
Moving on 🆙#SideBeforeSelf // #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/HePVfod8B4— Colorado Buffaloes Soccer (@CUBuffsSoccer) August 23, 2022
CU plays #3 BYU in Provo on Monday. We'll see what they are all about then. Hopefully it will be streamed. (I see it isn't scheduled for Pac-12 network.)
A lot to cover in the lastest TWICS#SideBeforeSelf // #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/hEG5sbXk8z— Colorado Buffaloes Soccer (@CUBuffsSoccer) August 24, 2022
.@__shyyra, you dropped this 👑James is one of only two players in D1 women’s @NCAASoccer to have an active streak of six consecutive games played with a goal scored. pic.twitter.com/eMlo4eTuSd— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) August 24, 2022
From The Farm to the Flatirons, @civanak is making a flawless transition back to her home state 🦬#SideBeforeSelf // #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/hSa75lNXOK— Colorado Buffaloes Soccer (@CUBuffsSoccer) August 25, 2022
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸📺 @Pac12Network🕓 4:00pm MT📍 Prentup Field📊 https://t.co/NeZPpxqabs#SideBeforeSelf // #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/U7Es1vMLJI— Colorado Buffaloes Soccer (@CUBuffsSoccer) August 26, 2022
CU wins 3-0. Buffs didn't seem to have the energy they did in the previous two wins, but still it was no contest.
All the excitement from today's win ⬇#SideBeforeSelf // #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/RpBTFaJbNF— Colorado Buffaloes Soccer (@CUBuffsSoccer) August 27, 2022
I don't have TV cable so I couldn't watch it, but perhaps scoring two goals so quickly may have removed some of the urgency. Or maybe looking ahead a bit to BYU?
I HATE THIS SPORT (sometimes) ... Last Sunday, shots 20-3, on goal 8-0, corner kicks 10-1, all Santa Clara. Score? UC Davis 1, Santa Clara 0. Today (Friday), shots 28-8, on goal 13-4, corner kicks 13-2, all Colorado Mesa. Score? St. Martin's 3, Colorado Mesa 1. Whine. But this is supposed to be about the Colorado Buffaloes, and I can't wait for Monday at BYU because that is my birthday present to me. Florida State was on my birthday last year but that was #75 and there was a big party near Aspen where my son and family live. For the #76 party I'm on my own, and I live closer to Provo than to Boulder. And Utah has In-N-Out burgers.
Their website says it will be on the BYUtv app and BYU radio. The Cougars lost an exhibition game 2-0 at North Carolina and it doesn't sound like the game was that close. They then won at Cal State Fullerton 1-0 (shots 27-5) and at Ohio State 2-0 (shots 42-6). That's forty-two. Monday is their home opener.
Is anybody planning on being at the BYU game and have any idea where we will be sitting? General admission is in the end zone, I'd rather be on the side somewhere but I'd more rather be not by myself surrounded by a gazillion BYU fans.
A shower fit for a king 👑 #SideBeforeSelf // #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/8br18eHVT6— Colorado Buffaloes Soccer (@CUBuffsSoccer) August 27, 2022 115 Ws makes Danny Sanchez the 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩 coach in @CUBuffsSoccer history. Congrats, Coach 👏#GoBuffs 🦬 pic.twitter.com/OGDV4wtrFg— Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) August 27, 2022
Happy Birthday! Enjoy the In-N-Out burgers. That should be a fun game. BYU is always athletic and very attack minded.
In a match that featured a fair number of yellow cards (by college standards) and a boisterous group of Valparaiso fans, the Buffs won 3-0 to improve to 3-0 on the season. There were a couple of changes to the starting line up from the previous match, the most notable being Jenny Beyer in the midfield. Beyer had only been back with the Buffs for a few days following her time with the German national team at the U-20 World Championship. And she made a quick impact by scoring off a free kick in the eleventh minute. The other change was on the back line with Jayden Newkirk starting on the outside which moved Hannah Cardenas inside to pair with Hannah Sharts at CB. Lawson Willis was the other outside back. This meant Phoenix Miranda began on the bench. For much of the first half CU was on the front foot putting a lot of pressure on Valparaiso recording 8 shots on goal. Two of them made it into the net, goal first being Beyer’s which was actually a left footed service into the box off a free kick. Valparaiso’s keeper was caught watching the run into the box and when no contact was made the ball skipped past her. Although the CU’s second goal didn’t come directly from a set piece, it was an indirect result as Shyra James was able to collect a ball that had ping ponged and slam it home. It was her fourth goal of the season. While CU had 8 shots on goal in the half, Valparaiso had one. That would change in the second half as CU seemed to be satisfied with the score line while Valpo was able to create a couple of solid chances. Still the outcome didn’t ever seem to be in doubt. And when Civana Kuhlmann buried a shot from the top of the box it truly sealed the outcome. This was head coach Danny Sanchez’s 115 win at CU, which is a program record. Monday afternoon the CU faces what could be their biggest challenge of the non-conference schedule when they travel to BYU. Game time is 3pm MT.
No. 25 Buffs Set to Face No. 9 BYUhttps://t.co/lKRDE5oI0z— Colorado Buffaloes Soccer (@CUBuffsSoccer) August 28, 2022