The seat cushions were a good idea to give out before the game, because there wasn’t much reason for fans to rise to their feet at Prentup Field.
A Colorado soccer flag at Prentup Field. The Buffs fell to the Bruins 8-0 Friday. (CU Independent/Robert R. Denton)
The Buffs women’s soccer team experienced their worst loss of the season Friday afternoon against UCLA, falling 8-0.
This loss wasn’t too unexpected, as No. 7 UCLA entered with a 12-1-3 record, holding 2nd in the Pac-12 right behind Stanford. Colorado came into Friday’s contest with a 4-10-2 overall record.
“This is the first game that we came out with no energy,” Coach Bill Hempen said. “It showed from the start, and let’s face it, the only way our team can survive under the circumstances we’re dealing with is energy and effort.”
Like other times this year, the Buffs couldn’t handle a very talented Pac-12 forward. This time it was Sydney Leroux, who happened to have a broken wrist.
In the 11th minute, Leroux got in behind the CU defense and skillfully faked two shots, one faking a CU defender, the other Colorado’s goalkeeper Kayla Millar. Her third touch in the CU penalty box was the fatal one, putting UCLA up early, but she was nowhere near being done.
Just two minutes later in the 13th minute, Chelsea Stewart put in a long cross from about 30 yards away from the right sideline, finding Leroux striking towards CU’s left post for a tap in volley from about eight yards out.
In the 16th minute, UCLA’s Jenna Richmond received the ball from about 25 yards out and chipped Kayla Millar on a shot that seemed easily savable.
In the 23rd minute, UCLA threw the ball in after a CU injury, Sam Mewis received the ball at top of the box doing a dummy turn, lunging towards the right sideline, letting the ball roll by beating the defender to later strike a ripping shot with her left foot to the right post.
The wrist injury was not any kind of distraction for Sydney Leroux as she completed her hat trick in the just 29th minute of the game.
“When you don’t do all the little things, a player like that is going to be incredibly intelligent and see that, and get on the end of stuff,” Junior Amy Barczuk said.
The score at halftime was 5-0 UCLA, causing some frustration on the CU bench. But as much as UCLA scored in this game, players said it didn’t matter to Colorado.
“At this point in the season, almost all we have to play for is pride,” Barczuk said. “So in the second half we went out and gave it our all. No regrets, you know. Just play hard.”
The Buffs came out much stronger in the beginning of the second half, completing many more passes and creating threatening possessions in the final thirty minutes of play. But even with a few chances to score early on, the Buffs couldn’t find a way past UCLA’s goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland.
Then the Bruins got back behind the goal in the 58th minute when sophomore Jenna Richmond scored.
UCLA continued to dominate for the rest of the game, scoring in the 62nd minute from freshman Ally Courtnall and in the 78th minute by Junior Chelsea Cline.
“It was a glorified scrimmage for UCLA,” sad CU Coach Bill Hempen. “And it’s my fault, it’s very disappointing.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Joseph Wirth at joseph.wirt@colorado.edu.
