Evanston,
Ill. - Hot start doesn't quite cut it for the University of Colorado soccer
team. The Buffs are off to their best start in program history.
After
tying Northwestern 2-2 in their first ever meeting, Colorado's record moves to
3-0-2, marking the first time the team has remained undefeated through its
first five games.
Colorado
head coach Danny Sanchez is pleased by his team's performance in the beginning
of the season, but hopes in the future the team will avoid getting down 2-0 fifteen
minutes into games.
"We're
down 2-0 on the road against a good opponent," Sanchez said. "We faced
adversity, but I like how the team responded. We just can't put ourselves in
that position."
The
Buffs couldn't find the net in the first half, but the offense came up big in the
second. The defense stayed strong in extra minutes, ending the game in a tie.
Seniors
Amy Barczuk and Quinn Krier set the Buffs in motion for CU's first goal off a
free kick. Just minutes later, freshman Madison Krauser scored her first goal
as a Buff to tie the game. Annie Brunner racked up a season-high six saves.
"We
talked about 'Get that next goal, and it's game on,'" Sanchez said. "Krauser had
a great individual effort. We had the potential to get the win. It wasn't meant
to be, but we got something out of the trip."
Darcy
Jerman made her first appearance of the season and took the first shot for the
Buffs in the ninth minute that went wide to the left.
Two
quick fouls on the Buffs led to two quick goals for the Wildcats. At the 13:21
mark, sophomore Georgia Waddle headed the ball in from 15 yards assisted by a
free kick by freshman Jennifer Korn.
Less
than two minutes later, Northwestern scored again. Junior Kate Allen got her
third goal of the season off a penalty kick.
Annie
Brunner felt the pressure at the net in the 18th minute when freshman Margo
McGinty and Waddle both took shots on goal. The Buffs couldn't seem to find any
offensive rhythm until later in the half. At 31:09, Amy Barczuk sent one high,
taking just the second shot for CU.
The
Buffs took three more shots, but couldn't net anything before the break.
Brunner came up big again for her third save of the half, denying sophomore Sami
Schrakamp in the 37th minute. Colorado came close just before the buzzer, but
Rachel Bergman grabbed the save against Barczuk's shot.
Barczuk
was ready from the opening minutes of the second. In the 51st minute, Krier's corner connected
with Barczuk, who headed it in to put the Buffs on the board.
Three
minutes later, freshman Madison Krauser headed it wide but rebounded the ball and put it in to tie the game at 2-2.
"She
was good on the dribble, dynamic and I think she's growing in confidence,"
Sanchez said. "The first half wasn't her best, but she was more dynamic in
second. She got the ball home, and that's why she's in that forward position."
Colorado
outshot Northwestern nine to five in the second, but neither team would score
again in regulation, though both came close in the final minutes. Brunner
helped send the game into overtime, saving a shot by sophomore KK Barr in the
last 17 seconds.
Both
teams took just two shots a piece in overtime. Again, Brunner held strong,
saving a shot by sophomore Niki Sebo with just over one minute left. The second
overtime wasn't much different, with CU's Krauser taking the only shot in the final
10 minutes, but not being able to score against Bergman, ending the game in a
2-2 tie.
The
Buffs head to Denver next weekend for the Denver Invitational. First up for the
Buffs are the hosting Pioneers on Friday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. Colorado concludes
against Cincinnati on Sunday at 11 a.m.
