Buffs Tie Commodores 0-0 in Season Opener

Friday, August 25

Nashville, Tenn.

6:00 PM

Colorado

0-0-1

Vanderbilt

0-0-1

OT 3

OT 4

Colorado

Vanderbilt

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

August 25, 2006 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Lindsay Lew, Associate SID

NASHVILLE - The University of Colorado women's soccer team opened the 2006 season here Friday night and after a 110 minute battle of wills, the Buffaloes came away with a 0-0 tie against No. 19 Vanderbilt.

The evening saw the collegiate debuts for seven Buffaloes, all of whom responded well to their first college game.

"I thought it was a great show from the freshman, first college game, on the road, and they played very well," said head coach Bill Hempen. "They did what we wanted them to do, defended like we wanted them to. They played smart and within themselves. It was good to see the new players step and play the way they did."

Colorado had two solid scoring chances in the first half. Early on Nikki Marshall dribbled the ball up the right side and into the box, beating three Vandy defenders. She was denied by Vanderbilt's Tyler Griffin once she got inside the 18 when she tried to hit the shot from seven yards out. Alex Cousins had a similar opportunity coming up the middle but was also denied by Griffin from close range.

"I think that decision-making inside the 18 yard box is part of being a new team, finding chemistry, knowing when to shoot early, when not to, when to take an extra touch, when not to," said Hempen.

Statistically, the Buffs had the better of the play in the first half with eight shots, four on goal to Vanderbilt's four, two of which were on goal. It was a physical half, with the Buffs whistled for five founds to the Commodores nine.

In second half action, the offensive action was more even, with Vanderbilt edging out the Buffaloes with six shots to five. Colorado had more shots on goal, forcing Griffin into three saves, while Kara Linder was tested twice. But again neither team could finish, so the season opener would go to overtime.

CU was no stranger to overtime last season, as the Buffaloes played seven games with extra time in 2005 with a record of 1-2-4. The lone winner came in the Big 12 Tournament as CU topped Texas 3-2 with losses to Oklahoma and Texas A&M.

Early in the first overtime Marshall had a solid chance to end it. The ball was played behind the defense and Marshall tracked it down blazing on a run to the left side. She had a well placed chip over Griffin, who reached over her back shoulder and barely got a hand on it. That slight touch was enough to deflect so it settled just wide of the right post. The Buffs did not convert on the resulting corner kick.

Colorado led the second overtime with four shots, and Vanderbilt had two, but neither team could get any shots on goal as the length of the game was visibly affecting the course of play. The game ended in a 0-0 tie, the second season opening scoreless tie in school history (Georgia, 2004). Alex Cousins led all players with five shots, four of which were on goal.

"Overall, I have to give Vanderbilt's team a lot of credit, they played very well." Hempen said. "It was great to get our team some live game action against a competitive team. It was a new experience for some of our team and they responded well."

It was a night of firsts for Colorado. Three Buffs saw their first collegiate starts in goalkeeper Kara Linder, forward Nikki Marshall and defender Mary White. Caitlin Choun, Libby Doyne, Jess Quador and Kelly Ross also saw their first collegiate action. Linder kept a clean sheet in the match, and in doing so became the first freshman to record a shutout in the season opener. It was just the third season opening shutout for Colorado all time. The Buffs are now 3-5-3 all time in the first game of the season.

CU's Katie Griffin sat out with a high ankle sprain, but is still possible for Sunday's match against Alabama, who were 4-0 losers to Denver.

The Buffs will play against at Vanderbilt on Sunday, taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide at 11 a.m. MDT. CU will then return home to face Clemson on Friday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. at Prentup Field. Admission and parking are free.