Buffs shine on defense, struggle offensively
The CU soccer team fell to Stanford on the first day of the Colorado Soccer Classic on Friday.
The Buffs made a strong defensive stand against the Cardinal, but ended the game with a score of 1-0.
“Something is missing. I’m not sure what it is. When we get the ball in the box, everyone thinks someone else is going to get it in,” junior midfielder Alex Cousins said.
The Buffs’ leading scorer, sophomore Nikki Marshall, played most of the game on the defensive side of the ball.
“It was really nice to have her back there with me, so either of us could go up if we needed to. She’s a really great defensive player,” junior defender Michelle Wenino said.
But Marshall moved back to her regular forward position with about 21 minutes left to play in the game in a final offensive effort.
“We had a lot of opportunities all day long. I had my opportunity and I didn’t finish. I have to finish next time,” Marshall said.
Although the defensive skills of the Buffs led to a scoreless first half, Stanford’s Marisa Abegg scored the only goal of the game early in the second off of a corner kick. CU tried to match Stanford’s goal, but were unable to get anything in the net.
Even with renewed energy in the last ten minutes of the game, the Buffs finished with only 4 shots on goal.
“Whenever you get scored on, it always changes the dynamic of the game,” junior goalkeeper Kirstin Radlinski said.
The team was clearly frustrated with its inability to finish their offensive drives.
“We have to work on finding some goals. It doesn’t have to be pretty, it just has to get in,” said Head Coach Bill Hempen.
The Buffs were able to keep up with the Cardinal, which is an achievement in itself. Stanford is currently No. 1, with Saturday’s win taking them to a record of 7-0. Stanford is the only undefeated team in the country, which did not phase the determined Buffs.
“I feel like we worked hard. We played with a lot of intensity. It was definitely a defensive game,” Radlinski said.
The game had some positives for the Buffs, who hope to bring the same intensity to Sunday’s game against Drake.
“You gain a lot of confidence playing that way against a No. 1 team. The momentum we had today will carry us into the next one,” Wenino said.
CU will play its next game against Drake on Sunday, Sept. 23 immediately following a game between Denver and Stanford. Drake played Denver in the first game of the Colorado Classic on Friday, tying the Pioneers with a final score of 1-1.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Amanda Walck at Amanda.walck@thecampuspress.com
