Soccer Drops 1-0 Second Round NCAA Match

Sunday, November 18

Boulder, Colo.

1:00 PM

Colorado

10-8-4

Portland (2nd Round)

17-3-0

Colorado

Portland

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

November 18, 2007 | Soccer

Box Score Quotes

By: Aaron Lopez, Denver Nuggets

BOULDER - The University of Colorado women's soccer team saw their season come to an end here Sunday afternoon with a 1-0 loss to second-ranked Portland in the Second Round of the 2007 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament.

"Since I've known about Portland they have always been a very skillful and technical team," said head coach Bill Hempen. "You can't make any errors against them and we only made one. It isn't anyone's fault; we weren't getting shots, especially not on goal. You can't win if you don't get shots on goal."

The Pilots (17-3-0) nearly got on the scoreboard early on in the 21st minute, as two Portland attackers made their way downfield against lone Buffalo defender, Nikki Marshall. Marshall broke up the scoring chance by stepping in and intercepting a pass to take control of the ball.

The Buffaloes (10-8-4) lone shot of the first half came when freshman, Michaela DeJesus, took the ball from Nikki Keller on right side. DeJesus crossed it to the near post to Genna Gorman, who got a shot off, but was blocked away and cleared out with 18 seconds left.

The first half proved to be very physical with Portland recording seven fouls to Colorado's two. The Pilots outshot the Buffaloes seven to one and had three shots on goal. Buff goalkeeper Kara Linder recorded three saves to keep the game scoreless after one half.

In the 58th minute Portland's Elli Reed took the ball from the right side all the way across the box through two Colorado defenders and lined up for a shot. Again, it was Marshall who came running in and took the ball away, ending the Pilot attack.

Portland finally got on the board, when they took a 1-0 lead in the 61st minute. Michelle Enyeart took a miscue by the Colorado defense and penetrated the box and served a ball to a running Sophie Schmidt. Schmidt took a touch and fired a shot past Linder into the right side of the net, putting the Pilots ahead 1-0.

The Pilots nearly scored again in the 72nd minute when Schmidt fired a shot through the Buff defense. Linder dove to her side and was able to make the save and deflect the ball away. Just three minutes later Schmidt was wide open for another shot on the Colorado goal, but Marshall slid in and gained possession of the ball once again, clearing it out of play.

The game ended with the 1-0 final margin, in favor of Portland. The Pilots outshot Colorado 16 to two on the day and recorded seven shots on goal. Linder pulled in six total saves, while Portland keeper Kelsey Davis was not tested in the match.

"We didn't come in here trying to limit their offense; we came in wanting to attack," said Marshall. "That is just Colorado soccer, we don't play to tie we play to win."

Colorado will return its entire starting line-up in 2007, including its leading scorers, Nikki Marshall (nine goals, two assists) and Gianna DeSaverio (five goals, two assists).

"I don't think it was a discouraging season," said Hempen. "It was frustrating at times because we usually can string together five or six wins during the season and we weren't able to do that this year. But we certainly represented Division I soccer today."