Sarah Kinzner battles a Nebraska player for possession in Saturday's game.
Photo by: Mike Greening
Watson Returns To Lead Buffs To Shutout In Fourth Spring Game
April 24, 2017 | Soccer
Watson preserves shutout, while Puketapu scores the winning goal
BOULDER – Colorado's women's soccer team put together perhaps its best performance of the spring season on Saturday against its best competition to date, topping former Big 12 rival Nebraska 1-0 at Prentup Field in the fourth of five exhibition games this spring.
The win moved the Buffs to 2-1-1 this spring as they head into their final matchup this coming Saturday against Kansas State. That game is slated for a noon kickoff at Prentup Field.
Scout Watson returned to goal after missing about a month of action with an injury and her presence proved to be a difference maker. The junior made several key saves to preserve the shutout for the Buffs and her communication helped organize a defense that had struggled a week earlier against Wyoming.
"I thought Scout, after being out for a while, was sharp," head coach Danny Sanchez said. "I don't think she missed a beat in goal and made a couple of really good saves to preserve the shutout. And [she] commanded her box well, especially late when we were under some pressure. I thought Joss [Orejel] in the back did a good job of anchoring the back four.
"I thought we were better defensively [than the Wyoming game], and not just because we got the shutout, but I thought we limited a very good team to not very many opportunities. As far as the players in the back, it was better, but there are definitely still some good coaching points. Unless you play good teams like Nebraska that are going to expose you, you're not going to learn anything about yourself. At the end of the day, we challenged them, we focused on defending, and we got a shutout against a good team. It was good momentum heading into our last game this weekend."
As for CU's offense, freshman Martine Puketapu scored in the second half, hitting a one-touch shot off a cross from junior Megan Massey. It proved to be the only goal the Buffs needed for the win.
While Sanchez recognized the execution of that play, he felt his team could have finished in front of the goal better on Saturday.
"I thought going forward, we scored a good goal, but maybe could've had more," Sanchez said. "Especially in the second half, I thought we started to link better and be more creative because Nebraska really defends with numbers so they're a tough team to break down."
However, he also recognized that chances are limited against top competition like Nebraska. The Huskers, like CU, made the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago and graduated just three seniors. In fact, they surrendered just 20 goals in 22 games in 2016, with a quarter of those coming in one game that got out of hand at 13th-ranked Clemson in early September.
"I think that Nebraska is very well-coached and they're a tough team to break down," Sanchez said. "They don't give you a lot of opportunities. I thought, especially in the second half when the game opened up a little bit, I was pleased with how we attacked. And [I was pleased with] the different players that played in those roles going forward."
TESTING WEEK
The Buffs will wrap up the spring season this week with strength and conditioning tests throughout the week, while still working in their normal training schedule. Sports performance coach Karim Derqaoui will take the team through several tests in the weight room and a fitness test. He will also assist with lactate testing to determine how the players' lactic acid systems react to different levels of physical exertion.
EVANS SCORES FIRST NWSL GOAL
Two games into her professional career, Danica Evans has made an instant impact with the Orlando Pride. She proved a threat in Week One off the bench, creating dangerous opportunities. But on Saturday in her second appearance as a pro, the former Buff netted perhaps the biggest goal of the weekend in the NWSL. While five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta stole the national headlines throughout the week leading up to Saturday's game against the Washington Spirit, Evans stole the show.
Marta subbed into the game in the 59th minute, marking her first career NWSL appearance. But it was Evans who proved to be the decisive sub. She entered the game in the 75th minute with the Pride trailing 1-0. In the 86th minute, Evans collected a pass at the top of the box, then calmly dribbled around a defender and then around the goalkeeper, before tapping the ball in for the game-tying goal. It was her first regular-season goal as a pro soccer player.
"It was great for her to get in and for them to put her in when they were chasing a goal," Sanchez said. "What a classy finish; [it was] just great composure to finish that in front of the home supporters and get the late equalizer. It was obviously exciting for her, but selfishly as a coaching staff, we take pride in it. We were very excited for her as well and hopefully she keep pushing and pushing. And when she gets opportunities, hopefully she continues to produce."
2017 SEASON TICKETS
CU is now accepting deposits for season tickets for the 2017 season. For more information, visit http://www.cubuffs.com/soccertickets.
Goals: Puketapu (Massey)
Starting XI: Watson (GK), Greening, Vidger, Orejel, Aaknes, Phillips, Kinzner, Kornieck, Rasmussen, Puketapu, Massey
The win moved the Buffs to 2-1-1 this spring as they head into their final matchup this coming Saturday against Kansas State. That game is slated for a noon kickoff at Prentup Field.
Scout Watson returned to goal after missing about a month of action with an injury and her presence proved to be a difference maker. The junior made several key saves to preserve the shutout for the Buffs and her communication helped organize a defense that had struggled a week earlier against Wyoming.
"I thought Scout, after being out for a while, was sharp," head coach Danny Sanchez said. "I don't think she missed a beat in goal and made a couple of really good saves to preserve the shutout. And [she] commanded her box well, especially late when we were under some pressure. I thought Joss [Orejel] in the back did a good job of anchoring the back four.
"I thought we were better defensively [than the Wyoming game], and not just because we got the shutout, but I thought we limited a very good team to not very many opportunities. As far as the players in the back, it was better, but there are definitely still some good coaching points. Unless you play good teams like Nebraska that are going to expose you, you're not going to learn anything about yourself. At the end of the day, we challenged them, we focused on defending, and we got a shutout against a good team. It was good momentum heading into our last game this weekend."
As for CU's offense, freshman Martine Puketapu scored in the second half, hitting a one-touch shot off a cross from junior Megan Massey. It proved to be the only goal the Buffs needed for the win.
While Sanchez recognized the execution of that play, he felt his team could have finished in front of the goal better on Saturday.
"I thought going forward, we scored a good goal, but maybe could've had more," Sanchez said. "Especially in the second half, I thought we started to link better and be more creative because Nebraska really defends with numbers so they're a tough team to break down."
However, he also recognized that chances are limited against top competition like Nebraska. The Huskers, like CU, made the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago and graduated just three seniors. In fact, they surrendered just 20 goals in 22 games in 2016, with a quarter of those coming in one game that got out of hand at 13th-ranked Clemson in early September.
"I think that Nebraska is very well-coached and they're a tough team to break down," Sanchez said. "They don't give you a lot of opportunities. I thought, especially in the second half when the game opened up a little bit, I was pleased with how we attacked. And [I was pleased with] the different players that played in those roles going forward."
TESTING WEEK
The Buffs will wrap up the spring season this week with strength and conditioning tests throughout the week, while still working in their normal training schedule. Sports performance coach Karim Derqaoui will take the team through several tests in the weight room and a fitness test. He will also assist with lactate testing to determine how the players' lactic acid systems react to different levels of physical exertion.
EVANS SCORES FIRST NWSL GOAL
Two games into her professional career, Danica Evans has made an instant impact with the Orlando Pride. She proved a threat in Week One off the bench, creating dangerous opportunities. But on Saturday in her second appearance as a pro, the former Buff netted perhaps the biggest goal of the weekend in the NWSL. While five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta stole the national headlines throughout the week leading up to Saturday's game against the Washington Spirit, Evans stole the show.
Marta subbed into the game in the 59th minute, marking her first career NWSL appearance. But it was Evans who proved to be the decisive sub. She entered the game in the 75th minute with the Pride trailing 1-0. In the 86th minute, Evans collected a pass at the top of the box, then calmly dribbled around a defender and then around the goalkeeper, before tapping the ball in for the game-tying goal. It was her first regular-season goal as a pro soccer player.
"It was great for her to get in and for them to put her in when they were chasing a goal," Sanchez said. "What a classy finish; [it was] just great composure to finish that in front of the home supporters and get the late equalizer. It was obviously exciting for her, but selfishly as a coaching staff, we take pride in it. We were very excited for her as well and hopefully she keep pushing and pushing. And when she gets opportunities, hopefully she continues to produce."
2017 SEASON TICKETS
CU is now accepting deposits for season tickets for the 2017 season. For more information, visit http://www.cubuffs.com/soccertickets.
| Nebraska | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
| Colorado | 0 | 1 | - | 1 |
Starting XI: Watson (GK), Greening, Vidger, Orejel, Aaknes, Phillips, Kinzner, Kornieck, Rasmussen, Puketapu, Massey
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