SOCCER'S GRIFFIN NETS TWO IN SHUTOUT OF IOWA STATE

Sunday, September 28

Boulder, Colo.

1:00 p.m.

Colorado

8-1-0, 2-0-0Big 12

Iowa State

3-4-2, 0-2-0Big 12

Iowa State

Colorado

September 28, 2003 | Soccer

Box Score

By: CUBuffs.com

BOULDER - Freshman forward Katie Griffin recorded her second two-goal game of the season, netting both Colorado scores as the No. 17 Buffs shutout Iowa State 2-0 at the Pleasant View Soccer Complex here Sunday.

With the win, Colorado continues to improve the best start in program history to 8-1-0, 2-0 in Big 12 play and extend its unbeaten streak to eight while Iowa State falls to 3-4-2/0-2.

"It's good to be 2-0, but unfortunately we're not good marksmen. It's good to be 8-1 (my first season we were 1-7-1) and not overwhelmed with your team. We still have a lot to work on," said head coach Bill Hempen.

Griffin put the Buffs on the scoreboard early, netting her team-leading fifth goal of the season in the eighth minute of the game. Kathryn Grandinetti picked up her fifth assist of the season when her lobbed serve to Griffin just off the left flank was brought into the box by Griffin who forced ISU keeper Beth Chapman off her line and placed the ball in the low right corner of the net.

Jen Thais nearly made it a 2-0 game when her goal in the 18th minute was called back on an offsides call.

Colorado continued to pressure the Cyclones the remainder of the half taking six shots to ISU's two, forcing Chapman to make a save off a high Thais shot that Chapman tipped above the crossbar. Colorado also held the halftime advantage in corners (1-0).

The Buffs opened the second half the way they started, and took the first five shots of the half. Two of those belonged to Griffin who had back-to-back opportunities, but was rejected by Chapman, in the 50th minute, going one on one with Chapman on the first shot which was rebounded back into play following the save, and eight seconds later taking a feed from Maddy Minnis.

Jessica Keller was forced to make her first save of the game when an Iowa State shot on goal from Deb Benakis from the top right corner of the box was snatched by Keller.

Griffin played another game of one-on-one with Chapman in the 62nd minute when she took another serve from Grandinetti, worked her way into the middle of the box and her shot to the right post was denied by Chapman.

"The goalie should have no chance in that scenario. We're burying about 10 percent of those chances. Iowa State is in the middle of the pack, where we've been the last couple of years. We need to be a lot better to beat the teams ahead of us," said Hempen.

The Buffs caught a break when Iowa State's Erin Weldon picked up her second caution of the game and was ejected in the 74th minute, giving CU the man-up advantage for the remaining 16 minutes of the game.

Grandinetti had a one-on-one opportunity of her own in the 83rd minute when her shot went wide of the right post.

Just when it looked like the Buffs weren't going to get the opportunity to capitalize on the extra player advantage, they picked up some breathing room in the 85th minute when the Grandinetti to Griffin connection in the middle of the box was converted on Griffin's fourth shot of the game for the score on a shot drop shot by Griffin.

"She should have had six goals," laughed Hempen. "She's a great player, and quick on the turn. But she needs to alleviate some of the pressure off me."

"Every time I get the ball, I try to go hard. Sometimes it goes in, other times it doesn't. Sometimes it's just luck. I definitely want to finish on every opportunity, but that's something I'll have to work on,' said Griffin.

When it was said and done, Colorado had outshot the Cyclones 18-5 and forced Chapman to make seven saves to Keller's two.

After two weeks at home, the Buffs return to the road when they play at Texas Tech Oct. 3 and at Baylor Oct. 5 before returning to the friendly confines of the Pleasant View Soccer Complex for their last non-conference match of the year, against Minnesota, Oct. 10 in a 4 p.m. kickoff.

"We had a ton of chances. We have a ton to work on, we have our practice time filled up for the week," concluded Hempen.