Colorado University Athletics
Top 20 Soccer Moments: No. 9
October 03, 2016 | Soccer
BOULDER – Nikki Marshall graduated from CU in 2010. What she left behind was a legacy of soccer that has yet to be matched by a Buff before or after Marshall was done tearing up the Big 12. But Marshall's time at CU was only the beginning of her career, and when Marshall's time at CU was over she was more than prepared to play at the next level. And in the 2010 selection draft of the Women's Professional Soccer league, the Washington Freedom took Marshall seventh overall giving Marshall the opportunity to take her talents for the beautiful game to the professional ranks.
Marshall was at CU for four productive seasons. She is still the CU career record holder for goals (42), points (93), shot attempts (261), game-winning goals (18), and shots per game (0.49). Marshall was named a first-team Freshman All-American in 2006, and she was a four-time first-team all-Big 12 performer.
But it was her leadership and ability to play almost anywhere on the pitch, that drew attention from the professional leagues. While at CU that leadership was evident by the success that the Buffs had. CU made three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a run into the third round during the 2006 season.
Professional teams also took note of Marshall's performance on the international stage as well. Marshall was a part of the 2008 U-20 US Women's World Cup winning squad, a squad she played for in 2007 as well. She also made the U-23 team in 2009. In 2014, she was called up to the senior USWNT roster for an international friendly against Canada.
By the time the Freedom took Marshall, she was an experienced player having performed at a top level in not only one of the tougher conferences in the country, but on the International level as well. The Freedom got a return on their investment immediately, as Marshall played in all 24 matches during her 2010 rookie campaign. She also put three balls in the back of net, playing primarily as a defender for the Freedom.
Marshall's career was cut short by an ACL tear in 2014, but before that untimely injury Marshall had played for three clubs (Washington Freedom/magicJack 2010-11; Boston Breakers 2011-12; Portland Thorns FC 2013-14) and she had played in two different professional leagues (Women's Professional Soccer 2010-12; National Women's Soccer League 2013-14).
Marshall helped lead Thorns FC to the league title during the 2013 inaugural season of the Women's Soccer League, and she was a key part of a Thorns FC squad that made another run at the title in 2014, falling just short in the semifinals.
Although Marshall's injury forced her to call it a career when she was just beginning to enter her prime years, Marshall had already proven herself on the pitch and success followed her anywhere she went. She is working on starting her next career, back in Boulder. Marshall joined the Buffs as a volunteer assistant coach this fall and has helped the team to a 9-3 record so far.
The Top 20 Moments of Colorado soccer will be revealed throughout the season as 2016 marks the 20th Anniversary of the first year of the program. Two will be announced per week on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Top 20 Moments
1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. ???
5. ???
6. ???
7. ???
8. ???
9. Nikki Marshall's legacy beyond CU soccer
10. Fran Munnelly earns Big 12 Player of the Year
11. Sloane Cox breaks Big 12 saves record
12. Shawn Kenyon scores first goal in school history
13. First Pac-12 win
14. First win over a ranked Pac-12 opponent
15. Buffs knock off No. 5 Texas A&M for win over highest-ranked opponent
16. CU moves into Prentup Field, a home for Buffs soccer
17. Nikki Marshall's success with the USWNT
18. CU's first Big 12 Tournament win in 2002
19. First NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003
20. Colorado announces the addition of women's soccer as a varsity sport on Aug. 14, 1993
Marshall was at CU for four productive seasons. She is still the CU career record holder for goals (42), points (93), shot attempts (261), game-winning goals (18), and shots per game (0.49). Marshall was named a first-team Freshman All-American in 2006, and she was a four-time first-team all-Big 12 performer.
But it was her leadership and ability to play almost anywhere on the pitch, that drew attention from the professional leagues. While at CU that leadership was evident by the success that the Buffs had. CU made three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a run into the third round during the 2006 season.
Professional teams also took note of Marshall's performance on the international stage as well. Marshall was a part of the 2008 U-20 US Women's World Cup winning squad, a squad she played for in 2007 as well. She also made the U-23 team in 2009. In 2014, she was called up to the senior USWNT roster for an international friendly against Canada.
By the time the Freedom took Marshall, she was an experienced player having performed at a top level in not only one of the tougher conferences in the country, but on the International level as well. The Freedom got a return on their investment immediately, as Marshall played in all 24 matches during her 2010 rookie campaign. She also put three balls in the back of net, playing primarily as a defender for the Freedom.
Marshall's career was cut short by an ACL tear in 2014, but before that untimely injury Marshall had played for three clubs (Washington Freedom/magicJack 2010-11; Boston Breakers 2011-12; Portland Thorns FC 2013-14) and she had played in two different professional leagues (Women's Professional Soccer 2010-12; National Women's Soccer League 2013-14).
Marshall helped lead Thorns FC to the league title during the 2013 inaugural season of the Women's Soccer League, and she was a key part of a Thorns FC squad that made another run at the title in 2014, falling just short in the semifinals.
Although Marshall's injury forced her to call it a career when she was just beginning to enter her prime years, Marshall had already proven herself on the pitch and success followed her anywhere she went. She is working on starting her next career, back in Boulder. Marshall joined the Buffs as a volunteer assistant coach this fall and has helped the team to a 9-3 record so far.
The Top 20 Moments of Colorado soccer will be revealed throughout the season as 2016 marks the 20th Anniversary of the first year of the program. Two will be announced per week on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Top 20 Moments
1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. ???
5. ???
6. ???
7. ???
8. ???
9. Nikki Marshall's legacy beyond CU soccer
10. Fran Munnelly earns Big 12 Player of the Year
11. Sloane Cox breaks Big 12 saves record
12. Shawn Kenyon scores first goal in school history
13. First Pac-12 win
14. First win over a ranked Pac-12 opponent
15. Buffs knock off No. 5 Texas A&M for win over highest-ranked opponent
16. CU moves into Prentup Field, a home for Buffs soccer
17. Nikki Marshall's success with the USWNT
18. CU's first Big 12 Tournament win in 2002
19. First NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003
20. Colorado announces the addition of women's soccer as a varsity sport on Aug. 14, 1993
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