Gold, black and white teams optimistic
A dedicated team of 22 Buffs are anticipating another successful season in 2008.
“We’re really excited to get out there and improve upon what we did last year,” said Megan Henning, a junior on the women’s Gold club soccer team.
Outperforming last year’s accomplishments could prove to be quite the task, considering last season was one of epic proportions.
The gold team finished the 2007 season 18-3-1 and were the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association region V champions. They continued on to the NIRSA national championship Elite Eight.
The Buffs’ last season wasn’t not the only season in recent memory in which they enjoyed such success.
The team has been the reigning region V champions since 2000, holding the title for seven consecutive seasons. They were also the University of California – Santa Barbara Tournament champions.
“Winning the tournament last year was awesome, we definitely want to do it again,” Henning said.
On a team consisting of 12 new players, Henning and the other nine returning players have been trying hard to set an example for the younger players, and show them the effort it takes to succeed.
“We show through how we play, we play tough,” Henning said.
One of the teams’ advantages is the experience and specialization of coaches Dorian Barnes and Brian Greenwood.
Barnes has been with the team for 10 seasons and Greenwood for nine.
“Dorian and Brian are both different, so they offer two different perspectives,” Henning said. “They each bring something to the table. It’s great having them both.”
The team has been practicing three days a week, typically Monday, Wednesday and Friday in preparation for the season.
The two lower levels of women’s soccer, the black and white teams are also proving to be a force to reckon with. During the 2007 season, the black team advanced to the NIRSA national open Elite Eight and were a CU invitational semi-finalist.
The white team was awarded 5th place at the NIRSA region V championship in 2007.
Henning said that she and the rest of her teammates, as well as the CU black team, are anxiously anticipating this year’s national championship, held in Alabama.
Since 1995, the CU gold team has taken the title three times, and the CU black team won the event in 2001. Henning said winning another national championship is the goal for both teams again this season.
“We want to win that too, that would be great,” Henning said.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Constance Ray at Constance.Ray@colorado.edu.
