Buffs Tie Florida 1-1 in Season Opener

Friday, August 22

Boulder, Colo.

4 p.m.

Colorado

0-0-1

Florida

0-0-1

OT 3

OT 4

Florida

Colorado

Photo by: Chip Bromfield, ProMotion Ltd.

August 22, 2008 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Aaron Lopez, Denver Nuggets

BOULDER - The University of Colorado women's soccer team opened the 2008 season here Friday night and after a 110 minute battle of wills, the Buffaloes played to a 1-1 tie against No. 20 Florida.

Colorado wasted no time and got off to an early start on an offensive attack in the 10th minute of the game. The Buffs were awarded a corner kick and freshman Kelly Butler sent a perfect ball into the middle of Florida's goal box. Freshman midfielder Kate Russell was on the receiving end and took a shot, but Gator keeper Katie Fraine made the initial save, sending the ball back into play. Russell followed her shot and one-touched the rebound past Fraine for the 1-0 CU lead and her first career goal.

"When the game started I was completely nervous, but as the game went on I felt more comfortable with things," said Russell. "It's not every day that you play your first college soccer game, let alone at a Division I school like Colorado. Overall though, I think I got my first game jitters out of my system."

"This is a girl (Russell) who scored a goal in her last high school game, which was a state championship, and last club game, which was a national championship," said head coach Bill Hempen. "Having an athlete with the talent and knowledge of how to win can only make this team more dangerous."

Florida responded less than two minutes later when Denver, Colo. native Ameera Abdullah took the ball down the right side of the Colorado 18 and one-timed it into the net past CU goalkeeper, Kara Linder, tying the game at 1-1.

Statistically, the Buffs had the better of the play in the first half with 12 shots to Florida's two.

In the second half, CU dominated the offensive action again as they edged the Gators nine shots to one and the Buffs wrapped up the game with six shots on goal to UF's one. It proved to be a physical match, with CU whistled for five fouls to Florida's eight.

As the two teams were unable to get on the board in the second half, the game was forced into sudden victory overtime. CU, however, is no stranger to overtime as the Buffaloes played six games with extra time in 2007.

Early in the first overtime period, CU's Nikki Keller had a chance to end the game as she fired a shot just high of the goal 21 seconds into extra time. In the second overtime period, Florida's Megan Kerns nearly had the magic touch, taking a shot off a cross from Abdullah, but Linder was there to make the save. In the game's closing minute, Marshall attempted to take the win as she fired a shot just over the crossbar and out of play. With both teams unable to find the back of the net, the match ended in a 1-1 tie.

"Our defense was definitely good today," said senior captain Michelle Wenino. "We are just getting used to each other and how some of the new girls play, but overall everything was good; we only allowed one shot in the second half and if we can keep playing defense at this level, we are going to record a lot of shutouts this season."

Senior Gianna DeSaverio and Marshall led all Buffs with five shots, with two of DeSaverio's on goal.

It was a night of firsts for Colorado as five newcomers to the program made their debuts. Junior Kelly Menachof started and played in her first game as a Buffalo after transferring home to Colorado from the University of California at Berkeley. Three Buff freshmen earned their first collegiate starts in defender Caroline Danneberg, and midfielders Butler and Russell. Maggi Steury also saw her first collegiate action as she recorded eight minutes in the match.

"It's just so nice to play so close to home, with my family watching," said Russell. "My mom was in the stands today, but my dad is still over in Iraq, so he couldn't make it today, but he will be excited to watch the game online. The fact that I scored today, only makes it that much more special."

Colorado is now 4-5-4 all time in the first game of the season.

"We have got to score the easy ones, whether it is against our next opponents a week from now or a month from now," said Hempen. "It's one thing to play a double-overtime game and have a week's rest and it's another to do it with only a day's rest. Our players are in good hands though with our training staff, and should be ready to go against Denver on Sunday."

The Buffs will wrap up the home-opening weekend when they host in-state rival, the University of Denver, at 3 p.m. at Prentup Field in Boulder. Admission and parking are free.