Soccer Drops 4-2 Decision In Season Opener

Friday, August 31

Boulder, Colo.

TBA

Colorado

0-1-0

Wisconsin

1-0-0

Wisconsin

Colorado

August 31, 2001 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Colleen Reilly Krueger, Associate Director

BOULDER - Despite outshooting Wisconsin 9-8 in the second half, the University of Colorado soccer team fell on the short end of a 4-2 score to a more experienced, deep and talented Badger team in the first test of the early season at the Pleasant View Soccer Complex here Friday.

With the loss, the Buffs fall to 0-1 on the season while Wisconsin opens the campaign with a 1-0 mark. "We're learning," said first year head coach Bill Hempen following his first contest at the foot of the Flatirons. "I'm not going to beat them up for losing because the effort was clearly there."

A visibly nervous team took the field in the season-opening half with freshmen Monique Gillaspie and Jennifer Thais making their collegiate debuts in the starting lineup while veterans Lindsey Galas and Nikki Sachar made their first career starts. The result was being outshot 9-1 in the first half and going into the break down 1-0.

Wisconsin, which kept the Buffs on their heels most of the first half with four corner kicks, got on the scoreboard at the 31 :35 mark of the first half. Amy Vermuelen received a pass from Jenny Kundert and Natalie Reedier in the middle and put the ball past Colorado keeper, and preseason All-Big 12 pick, Whitney Peterson. "There were some girls out there that were very nervous," explained Hempen. "If they had given up I'd be mad, but they didn't.

A sense of urgency and 45 minutes under their belts proved to be the difference in the second stanza as Colorado would score the tying goal in the 57th minute when CU senior Jessica Wollow made a diving header past Wisconsin keeper Kelly Conway. It was Wollow's third career goal, and third where a Buff goalie would register an assist on the play. Goalkeeper Danielle Bassett drop kicked the ball upfield to Suzy Kiefer who cross the ball from the right side of the field to Wollow for the dramatic score.

"Even with defenders all over her, Suzy got the ball off," complemented Wollow on the pass. "It was one of very few opportunities that I've gotten to score, so I was going to do whatever I had to finish it."

Less than two minutes later, CU's Gillaspie was brought down in the box by a Wisconsin player, giving CU its first penalty kick opportunity of the season. Senior Heather Zonker took the kick from 12 yards out towards the far right low corner when Wisconsin's Conway made the diving save. "The penalty kick would have given us two goals in two minutes and it might have changed the game. Once we missed the PK, Wisconsin took over," said Hempen.

Four minutes later Wisconsin's Kelly Kundert would take a pass from sister Jenny to take the Badgers' second lead of the game. The lead would last 11 minutes before freshman Danielle Bickley crossed the ball to newcomer Alyssa Burgess who flicked it towards junior defender Aimee Bugay who scored her first career goal a the 71:35 mark of the game.

The celebration would last just two-and-a-half minutes before Wisconsin's Tia Dale would score the gamewinner with just over 16 minutes to play.

The Buffs will look to rebound from today's outcome when they continue the season-opening weekend Sunday, September 2 at Wyoming in a 2:00 kickoff. The Cowgirls opened the season today against Southwest Texas State. The final score was not known at press time.

"The test is to come back on Sunday with the same enthusiasm," said Hempen. "The balls are going to bounce our way
eventually."