Colorado Falls On Short End Of 3-1 Score To Denver

Tuesday, September 18

Boulder, Colo.

TBA

Colorado

1-4-0

Denver

4-1-0

Denver

Colorado

September 18, 2001 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Colleen Reilly Krueger, Associate Director

BOULDER - The University of Colorado soccer team couldn't overcome a 3-1 first half deficit and dropped its second straight contest to a much more physical University of Denver team, by that margin, at the Pleasant View Soccer Complex here Tuesday.

With the loss, the Buffs drop to 1-4, matching 1998's start, before opening up Big 12 play next week. The Pioneers improve to 4-1, their best start since the 1995 campaign.

"It's virtually impossible to come back from three goals down, especially against a team like DU," said Colorado head coach Bill Hempen. "They're quick, they're tough, smart, athletic and resilient."

Despite falling on the short end of every offensive statistic, the Buffs were the first to have an offensive presence in the game when CU senior Suzy Kiefer went through three Denver defenders to fire a shot off from just inside the box just seven minutes into the game. Kiefer's effort was snuffed by DU's Erica Izard.

Just three minutes later Denver took its first shot which sailed wide of CU keeper Whitney Peterson. Forty-seven seconds later, Denver senior forward Molly George would score her first goal of a hat trick when she put a chip shot from the top of the box over Peterson's left shoulder into the upper 90. Her second goal came with 22:56 left in the half and her third a mere three minutes later with 19:59 until the break.

Colorado's lone answer was a Meghan Swanzy shot from the top of the box that went high over Izard, who was diving right in an attempt to make the save. It was Swanzy's first goal of the season, fifth of her career in Boulder. CU freshman Jennifer Thais and senior Heather Zonker were credited with the assists.

CU newcomers Ellen Falender and Natalie Ramello, who advanced to the CU roster from walkon tryouts, saw their first minutes in a CU uniform Tuesday.

"We're going to give people a chance and I think they performed well," complimented Hempen.

Colorado has a 10-day reprieve before hosting Lone Star State powerhouses Texas and Texas A&M on Friday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 30, respectively.

"I wish I could find a way to not give up goals in the first 15 minutes of the game," said Hempen on his focus during the early season break. "We've only been ahead for 50 seconds all year and that was at the end of the Wyoming game (Sept. 2). If we can just work on stepping up right away, that will help."