Colorado University Athletics
Saturday, September 16
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Scout Watson
Photo by: Mike Greening
CU Looks To Continue Winning Streak In Rivalry With DU On Saturday
September 14, 2017 | Soccer
BOULDER – When Colorado travels to the University of Denver on Saturday, it will be the next chapter in perhaps the biggest rivalry for the Buffs in soccer. CU has only been in the Pac-12 since 2011—not enough time to develop a big rivalry. But the Buffs and Pioneers have played 21 times in 21 seasons, including two NCAA Tournament matches, tied for the most meetings between CU and any other opponent (Colorado has also played Missouri and Texas A&M 21 times each).
"We don't have a natural built-in rivalry with any Pac-12 team," head coach Danny Sanchez said. "Every game in the Pac-12 is huge for us, but if we look outside in non-conference, I think Denver is a game every year that both teams point to as a big local rivalry."
Like any good rivalry, the matchups are tense every time and often decided by one goal. In fact, the past four meetings (all CU wins) have been one-goal games and 14 of the 21 meetings have been decided by a goal, with an additional one being a tie.
"The turning point in the rivalry for us was 2013," Sanchez said. "Denver handled us pretty well during the season, but we beat them in the NCAA Tournament and since then, every game has been a one-goal game, fortunately for the Buffs."
The Pioneers earned a 3-0 win during the regular season in 2013 behind a brace from Kristen Hamilton. But the tide turned when the two teams met in the postseason that year and CU knocked DU out of the NCAA Tournament with a 1-0 win at DU Soccer Stadium as Anne Stuller scored the winner in the 84th minute.
In 2014, CU earned a 2-1 victory at home with Darcy Jerman scoring the game-winning goal on a penalty in the 89th minute, the second-latest game-winning score in regulation in school history. It was another late winner in 2015 as Mikaela Kraus scored the match's only goal in the 74th minute to lift the Buffs to another win.
Last season, it took overtime before either team found the net. Danica Evans scored in the 100th minute after the Pioneers failed to clear a ball from the box, and Jalen Tompkins stopped six shots for her second career shutout.
The regular-season match ups have been part of the Colorado Cup for the past six seasons with CU winning five of those championships and DU winning the 2013 Colorado Cup. However, this year's matchup will not decide the championship for the first time as Northern Colorado has already clinched the 2017 Cup with a perfect 3-0-0 record in the tournament. The Pioneers are 2-0-0 in this year's competition, while CU is 1-0-1.
CU leads the all-time series 12-8-1 overall, but is 4-5-1 in matches played in Denver. The Buffs have also won the past four matchups.
Scouting The Pioneers
DU enters Saturday with a 3-3-1 mark, earning wins against Air Force, Colorado State and Albany. They also tied UC Riverside, but have no dropped three straight matches to CSU Bakersfield, San Diego and Gonzaga.
Senior Jessie Dancy leads DU with five goals and one assist for 11 points and Hannah Adler has four goals and two assists. Adler was named Summit League Offensive Player of the Week after the second week of the year when she netted three goals, and she was the Summit League Freshman of the Year in 2016. Brittany Wilson has held down the goalkeeping position, posting a 3-2-1 mark, a 1.15 goals-against average, and a .742 save percentage, and was named league goalkeeper of the year in 2016. Makenzie Bothner returns as the reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year after starting all 19 matches and assisting on four goals last season.
The Pioneers were picked to win the Summit League this year.
"We don't have a natural built-in rivalry with any Pac-12 team," head coach Danny Sanchez said. "Every game in the Pac-12 is huge for us, but if we look outside in non-conference, I think Denver is a game every year that both teams point to as a big local rivalry."
Like any good rivalry, the matchups are tense every time and often decided by one goal. In fact, the past four meetings (all CU wins) have been one-goal games and 14 of the 21 meetings have been decided by a goal, with an additional one being a tie.
"The turning point in the rivalry for us was 2013," Sanchez said. "Denver handled us pretty well during the season, but we beat them in the NCAA Tournament and since then, every game has been a one-goal game, fortunately for the Buffs."
The Pioneers earned a 3-0 win during the regular season in 2013 behind a brace from Kristen Hamilton. But the tide turned when the two teams met in the postseason that year and CU knocked DU out of the NCAA Tournament with a 1-0 win at DU Soccer Stadium as Anne Stuller scored the winner in the 84th minute.
In 2014, CU earned a 2-1 victory at home with Darcy Jerman scoring the game-winning goal on a penalty in the 89th minute, the second-latest game-winning score in regulation in school history. It was another late winner in 2015 as Mikaela Kraus scored the match's only goal in the 74th minute to lift the Buffs to another win.
Last season, it took overtime before either team found the net. Danica Evans scored in the 100th minute after the Pioneers failed to clear a ball from the box, and Jalen Tompkins stopped six shots for her second career shutout.
The regular-season match ups have been part of the Colorado Cup for the past six seasons with CU winning five of those championships and DU winning the 2013 Colorado Cup. However, this year's matchup will not decide the championship for the first time as Northern Colorado has already clinched the 2017 Cup with a perfect 3-0-0 record in the tournament. The Pioneers are 2-0-0 in this year's competition, while CU is 1-0-1.
CU leads the all-time series 12-8-1 overall, but is 4-5-1 in matches played in Denver. The Buffs have also won the past four matchups.
Scouting The Pioneers
DU enters Saturday with a 3-3-1 mark, earning wins against Air Force, Colorado State and Albany. They also tied UC Riverside, but have no dropped three straight matches to CSU Bakersfield, San Diego and Gonzaga.
Senior Jessie Dancy leads DU with five goals and one assist for 11 points and Hannah Adler has four goals and two assists. Adler was named Summit League Offensive Player of the Week after the second week of the year when she netted three goals, and she was the Summit League Freshman of the Year in 2016. Brittany Wilson has held down the goalkeeping position, posting a 3-2-1 mark, a 1.15 goals-against average, and a .742 save percentage, and was named league goalkeeper of the year in 2016. Makenzie Bothner returns as the reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year after starting all 19 matches and assisting on four goals last season.
The Pioneers were picked to win the Summit League this year.
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