Buffs Beat Bears 2-0 in Exhibition

Saturday, August 19

Boulder, Colo.

1 p.m.

Colorado

Northern Colorado (Exhibition)

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

August 19, 2006 | Soccer

By: Aaron Lopez, Denver Nuggets

BOULDER - The University of Colorado women's soccer team got their 2006 season off to a good start here Saturday afternoon, topping the Northern Colorado Bears by a score of 2-0.

The game was an opportunity for the Buffs to get playing time for some of the 14 newcomers to coach Bill Hempen's roster before the regular season games get started next week in Nashville. While there were some positives, Hempen was hoping for more direct play from his side.

"I think we settled for knocking it wide, crossing and hoping something would happen," said Hempen.   "We lacked the responsibility that you have to have to be willing to take players on and playmake through traffic as opposed to settling and knocking it wide for a cross. That's a confidence thing. So many more things happen when you take those chances than if you settle for the same thing over and over again."

One of those chances came when speedy Nikki Marshall knocked down a ball that was cleared from the UNC end. She settled it at her feet, and took it 30 yards before teeing off from the left side of the box to beat keeper Chrissy Marvin one-on-one and make the score 1-0 at the 12:49 mark of the first period.

"Nikki, she's going to be a good college player," Hempen said. "She's in that awkward stage, 'Do I belong,' and so on. But once she realizes she can play with anybody she'll be more willing to take chances."

"I was so nervous, I don't know, I think that goal was mainly just effort, it wasn't like I made a great run," said Marshall. "It was just kind of lucky things bounced the right way.

"I think right now just being confident in myself and knowing that I can pay with these guys and it's such a privilege to be out there with these girls is such a great opportunity. Learning how to play with Katie (Griffin), Maura (Gentile) or Nikki (Keller) and learning how they play and adjusting to that."

There were lots of adjustments for Marshall and the Buffaloes as CU was forced to make a few early injury substitutions. Michelle Wenino went down early in the first period after getting knocked in the head and did not return. Katie Griffin was also a short-timer, leaving with an ankle sprain just 20 minutes into the game.

CU adjusted well, as the Buffs got their second goal from sophomore Alex Cousins soon after Griffin made her premature exit. Megan Manthey blasted a corner kick from the right side which Cousins headed into the upper left part of the goal to make it 2-0 at the 27:05 mark. That would wrap up the scoring for the day for both teams.

"We are still trying to find out who is going to play," said Hempen. "Right now we are a thin team because we have a lot of injuries. I didn't plan on taking Nikki Marshall, Allie True and Nikki Keller off. They will all have to be 90 minute players."

Cousins was relatively happy with the effort from her team, but admitted there was still work to do.

"I'd probably say that was a 'B' or a 'B+' because we're in the middle of preseason, our legs are tired and we still came out and worked as hard as we could," said Cousins. "We got some good plays in there, there are definitely things we need to work on, but I wouldn't say it was too bad."

Colorado has a week to heal before they kick off the regular season with a game against Vanderbilt in Nashville on Friday, Aug. 25. The Buffs will open the home slate on Friday, Sept. 1 against Clemson at 4 p.m. at Prentup Field.

Scoring Summary
1. 12:49     CU           Nikki Marshall (unassisted)
2. 27:05     CU           Alex Cousins (Megan Manthey)