CU Tops Cornell In Home Opener

Friday, September 8

Boulder, Colo.

TBA

Colorado

1-3-0

Cornell

0-1-0

Cornell

Colorado

September 08, 2000 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Lindsay Lew, Assistant Director

BOULDER, Colo. --The University of Colorado women's soccer team (1-3) overcame an afternoon of rough shooting to defeat Cornell University (0-1) by a score of 1-0 in the Buffs' 2000 home opener Friday afternoon.

"It's nice to get the win, but we still need to do a better job at the end," said head coach Austin Daniels. "I think that's the nature of the game when you are up 1-0, that the other team puts a lot of pressure on you, but we held on. We definitely need to improve all facets of our play. I think we did the best job we have done all year at winning the 50-50 balls, and we have to continue to be a little tighter at the back. We will certainly work on finishing our chances."

Colorado's lone goal was scored by the Buffs' all-time leading scorer Melissa Cartmell in the 71st minute. Sophomore defender Tiffany Booth made a run up the middle of the field, knocking a ball wide to senior midfielder Andrea Matassa. Matassa hit a cross through the middle of the defense, which Cartmell ran onto and tucked away past Big Red 'keeper Meghan Cauzillo at the 70:02 mark of the game.

Cartmell notched a CU record nine shots in the game, breaking her own record of eight set last season against Utah. Her 160 career shots also gives her a new Buff record for career shots, breaking 1999 grad Shawn Kenyon's record of 148.

"This game gives us a tremendous boost of confidence," said Cartmell. "It was important to get the win, especially at home. We did a good job of defending our home turf last year, going 9-1-1, and one of our goals this year is to stay undefeated here."

The Buffs' 23 shots is a season-high and outpaced the Big Red, who had 16 on the day. Sarah Olsen was the high shooter for Cornell, earning four shots on the day, three on goal. Buff netminder Erskine was stellar in her first career start at home, just her second all-time, pulling in 11 saves on the afternoon.

"Sara Erskine was outstanding," remarked Daniels. "Like I have said from the beginning, we have one goalkeeper hurt, but luckily we have three great goalkeepers and Erskine stepped up today and made some big saves."

The 1-0 shutout is the first of Erskine's career, as well as Colorado's first of the year. The sophomore from Highlands Ranch was pleased with her play as well as that of her teammates following the game.

"I was very happy with the way we played today," she said. "I think we stepped it up a notch because it is our home field and we take a lot of pride in winning at home. It was nice to finally get a win. I felt awesome today. I was nervous before the game, but once it got started I felt much more comfortable and as the game progressed, I think the defense got more confident in themselves and in me."

The Buffs are back in action this Sunday, Sept. 10, when they take on Central Connecticut State University in a 1:00 p.m. match at Pleasant View Soccer Complex. PVSC is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Foothills Parkway and the Diagonal Highway in Boulder. Admission and parking are free at Colorado soccer games.