Soccer Blanks Hawai'i 2-0, Advances to Second Round

Friday, November 16

Boulder, Colo.

11 a.m.

Colorado

10-7-4

Hawaii (1st Round)

15-5-2

Hawaii

Colorado

November 16, 2007 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Aaron Lopez, Denver Nuggets

BOULDER - The University of Colorado women's soccer team defeated the University of Hawai'i 2-0 in the first round of the 2007 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament at Prentup Field.

"We took advantage of our opportunity today," said head coach Bill Hempen. "But I'm constantly reminded by one of our players that I really respect that it wasn't great, but we won. Now we have to get ready for Sunday."

Colorado (10-7-4) got on the board first in the 11th minute when they were awarded a corner kick. Junior midfielder Amber Bettenhausen stepped up to take the kick and sent a quick pass out to freshman Michaela DeJesus at the top of the 18. DeJesus took one touch and sent a ball into the box to junior Gianna DeSaverio. DeSaverio extended in the air and headed the ball into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season.

DeSaverio's goal was the first goal the Rainbow Wahine had allowed in six matches.

Hawai'i (15-5-2) turned on the pressure during the 30th minute of the game when they fired a sequence of shots at the Colorado goal. Hawai'i forward Taryn Fukuroku penetrated the Buffalo defense and blasted a shot at Colorado goalkeeper, junior Kara Linder. Linder saved the initial shot, but Fukuroku followed up with another one, but defender Michelle Wenino was there to block it. The ball deflected to the Rainbow Wahine's Alexis Choi, who took another shot at the Colorado frame, but CU managed to block it wide. Hawai'i took a corner kick that was served perfectly into Fukuroku, taking her third shot in less that one minute, which was once again blocked out of play to end the attack.

The Buffaloes took a 1-0 lead into the half, despite the Rainbow Wahine outshooting the Buffs six to four.

Colorado came out hard in the second half and proved that they were not going to let up. DeJesus played a through ball to freshman Mel Hicks who was alone at the top of the Hawai'i box. Hicks ripped a shot past the goalkeeper into the right side of the net, putting Colorado ahead 2-0 with just under 30 minutes left to play.

"We have been working on those plays a lot," said junior DeSaverio. "Michaela (DeJesus) made the extra pass and it was a great pass, I just had to finish."

"Michaela is so technical that she can make that pass anytime," said sophomore Nikki Marshall. "It doesn't matter if she's wide open or well covered."

Colorado is now 4-4-1 in NCAA Tournament play and are advancing to the second round for the third-straight season. With the shutout win, the Buffs now own nine shutouts on the year and this is just the fourth time in program history that CU has recorded nine or more shutouts in a single season. It was sophomore goalkeeper Kara Linder's fourth shutout of the year and second in a row.

"We are really grateful for the opportunity to be here," Hawai'i head coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "We've been around for a while and this is our first trip to the NCAA tournament. I'm just a little sad that we didn't play our best game today, but we're a young team and we'll be back next year."

The Buffaloes now advance to the second round where they will take on No. 2 Portland. The two teams will meet on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. at Prentup Field.

Tickets are $7 for adults, $3 for kids 12 and under, seniors, and students of participating institutions, and $1 for kids under five. Prentup Field is located at 33rd Street and Colorado Avenue. Parking at CU games is free.