Soccer Blanks Fresno State 3-0

Friday, August 30

Boulder, Colo.

TBA

Colorado

1-0-0

Fresno State

0-1-0

Fresno State

Colorado

August 30, 2002 | Soccer

Box Score

By: CUBuffs.com

BOULDER - Freshman Fran Munnelly scored in the 11th minute of play while senior Lindsey Galas put two in the net in the second half as the Colorado soccer team shutout Fresno State 3-0 in the season opener for both squads here at the Pleasant View Soccer Complex Friday.

The win was the Buffs' first at home since a 2-0 win over Texas Tech late in the 2000 season, first in Boulder under second-year head coach Bill Hempen and first 3-0 blanking since the '99 Buffs shutout Alabama-Birmingham in the third game of the season.

"Our offense was created by our defense today," said Hempen of his backs. "They attacked Fresno's forwards and defended very, very well." Colorado starts the season 1-0, its first season-opening win since the 1999 season. Fresno falls to 0-1 and will play at Denver on Sunday.

Five freshmen, Tricia Regan, Darci Smerchek, Fran Munnelly, Nicholle Taylor and Ashlie Mihalcin, started their first collegiate matches, and their nerves were settled quickly when Munnelly, the 2001 Colorado State 4A Tournament MVP, recorded her first collegiate goal in the 11th minute of action. Taylor took a shot, which was blocked by a Fresno defender and rebounded into Munnelly's possession when she took the shot over the left shoulder of Bulldog keeper Mary-tyler Wahl for the score.

It was the quickest goals scored by a CU player since then-senior Andrea Matassa scored on Texas in the sixth minute of play during the 2000 season. It was also the first time that a freshman notched the first goal of the season since Shawn Kenyon did so against Cal-State Bakersfield in the season-opener in 1996, the soccer program's first season.

"I think once Fran scored, the freshmen settled down," said Hempen.

The Buffs had Fresno State on their heels most of the first 20 minutes of the game, forcing Wahl to make a pair of saves on three shots. Galas had an opportunity to score in the 16th minute when her shot from just inside the right corner of the box just wide of the right post. Tiffany Booth had a pair of chances, both in the 33rd minute, but was challenged by Wahl in both cases.

In the fourth minute of the second half, Galas would record her first goal of the season, first of two in the game, and second career against Fresno State, when she scored on Wahl on a combination goal that went from her to Taylor and back before she scored off the right post.

Jen Thais nearly made it a 3-0 game when the sophomore's shot went off the left post, across the net and back into play in the 71st minute, cutting her celebration short.

"We were simply winning balls," complemented Hempen. "And we won the midfield today. We would get the ball to Jen and Fran and they would cut loose."

Fresno State nearly made it a one-point deficit when Virginia Jenkins drew Colorado keeper Sara Erskine (who was credited with the win) out of goal to Jenkins' right, passed the ball to Kotri Nokso-Koivisto before a CU defender could clear it. But Galas would put the exclamation point on the game when she beat FSU defender Jackie Wax on the left side of the goal then take a soft shot that laid into the right corner of the net in the last minute of play. With the score, she became just the ninth CU player to record a pair of goals in a single game. Her goals attributed to CU outshooting Fresno State 12-7 in the second stanza.

"It was a pretty awesome feeling... it was good to be up front," said Galas on her position change from defense to forward. "It was a good way to begin the season and it was awesome for Fran."

The Buffs will put the Fresno State game in the books and turn their attention to Wyoming, which the Buffs will face a week from today, Friday, Sept. 6 at the Pleasant View Soccer Complex. The match will start at 4 p.m.