Women’s soccer beats James Madison 4-0
The Colorado Buffaloes women’s soccer players are becoming the fishermen of NCAA soccer, netting everything that comes their way. Sunday’s game against the Dukes of James Madison proved no different as the Buffs ran away with a 4-0 victory.
Freshman Kelly Butler said the abundance of goals is no fluke either.
“Everyone that was playing out there was getting things done,” Butler said. “Everyone pushes each other to that next level, and I think we are there now.”
The Buffs’ tally of goals on Sunday started twelve minutes in, Butler was dragged to ground, setting up a penalty kick for senior Alex Cousins. Cousins braced back and drilled the ball into the top-left corner of the net, giving the Buffs a 1-0 lead.
Five minutes later, the Buffs visited the net again, when senior Amber Bettenhausen spun the ball left of the goalkeeper to give the Buffs a 2-0 advantage.
Bettenhausen said it was a goal that the Buffs would not have been able to execute two weeks ago.
“We have practiced a lot,” Bettenhausen said. “And now, we are a lot calmer around the goal than we were during the first few games.”
The Buffs would not stop there.
Two minutes later, Junior Nikki Marshall’s shot on goal was barley deflected away by the outstretched hand of a James Madison player. Unfortunately for the Dukes, the hand was not that of their goalkeeper.
The handball set up the Buffs for their second penalty-kick of the afternoon.
Transfer Kelly Menachof stepped in and powered the ball to the right side of the net, which left the Buffs with a comfortable 3-0 lead heading into the half.
The Buffs’ stellar play on defense all year long may be overshadowed by their offensive production, but nonetheless is proving to be the key for the team’s success. In the five games prior to Sunday’s matchup, the Buffs had only given up an average of one goal per game, including a shutout in an exhibition game at Air Force.
During the first half against the Dukes, the Buffs’ defense posted a shutout while only allowing two shots on goal.
Even with such an impressive performance, Buffs coach Bill Hempen said he still asked more out of his Buffs’ defense in the second-half.
“The most important thing I told them in the second half was to not give up a goal,” Hempen said. “They took the challenge and held up their end of the deal.”
The Buffs’ defense in the second half gave up only one last shot to the Dukes before the game clock read triple zeroes.
Offensively, the Buffs added another notch when Bettenhausen added an insurance goal for the Buffs, making it 4-0. It was Bettenhausen’s second goal of the game, and her third goal in two games for the streaking Buffs.
“Everyone really did a great job for us today,” Bettenhausen said. “We hope to take this momentum into next weekend (against Mississippi and Memphis).”
CU finished the afternoon game out-shooting the Dukes 18-3 and extending their win streak to three as they prepare for Mississippi on Friday.
Hempen said after the victory that the Buffs are right in line to prove to everyone what a good team Boulder has this year.
“James Madison is a good team,” Hempen said. “To play the way we did is a step- a step forward.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Brent New at Brent.New@colorado.edu.
