Soccer Falls 1-0 to Denver

Sunday, August 24

Boulder, Colo.

3 p.m.

Colorado

1-1-1

Denver

2-0-0

Denver

Colorado

Photo by: Boulder Daily Camera

August 24, 2008 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Aaron Lopez, Denver Nuggets

BOULDER - The University of Colorado women's soccer team, unable to find the back of the net, dropped a 1-0 battle with the University of Denver here Sunday afternoon.

Colorado (0-1-1) opened the game three solid scoring opportunities in the first minute of the match. Freshman midfielder Kate Russell, who scored her first collegiate goal against Florida on Friday, opened the offense for the Buffs just 19 seconds into the game with a hard shot that missed wide. Junior forward Gianna DeSaverio would strike next but Denver's goalkeeper Mackenzie Snyder was there to deny the shot, awarding the Buffs a corner kick. Russell fired the kick into the pack in front of the Pioneer goal and DeSaverio found the loose ball, took the shot past the DU keeper, but a Pioneer defender was able to make the save and clear it away.

Denver (2-0-0) took the 1-0 lead on their first scoring opportunity of the game after being awarded a free kick about 20 yards out of the box. DU's Mariah Johnston lined up to take the kick and blasted a shot into the upper left corner of the goal, past the outstretched hands of CU keeper Kirstin Radlinski.

"After they scored their goal, we shouldn't have been worried too much because there was still sixty minutes left in the game," said Colorado head coach Bill Hempen. "You have to believe that you can get a goal or two with that amount of time left. We just made a lot of mistakes today, and we need to get a little composure and confidence."

The Pioneers carried the 1-0 lead into halftime, despite the Buffaloes dominating the first half statistics. CU outshot DU 11-2, forcing the Pioneer goalkeeper to record four saves in the half.

As the second half got underway, Denver showed no signs of letting up. In the 67th minute of the game, DU's Lauren Cavarra fired a hard hit shot on frame, but Radlinski fully extended her reach and deflected the ball over the crossbar for the save.

Colorado continued to pressure the Pioneer defense and late in the second half, starting with CU's Nikki Marshall. Marshall beat two defenders down the middle and took the shot but DU's Snyder laid out to make one of her seven saves in the game. The Buffs refused to let up as midfielder Amber Bettenhausen had back-to-back chances in front of the goal, but Snyder continued to deny the Buffs and preserve DU's 1-0 lead.

"It all just comes down to finishing for us," said Marshall. "It wasn't just one mistake that was made on defense that cost us the game. We had sixty minutes to get even with them and we couldn't do that. Our defense is doing their job and we have to start doing ours."

The Buffaloes finished the game outshooting the Pioneers 22-7, recording nine shots on goal to DU's four, but were unable to find the back of the net. Marshall led the Buffs with five shots, three of which were on frame.

The Pioneer win marked the first time that Denver has topped Colorado since 2001; the teams did not play in 2002.

"We came out ready to play early on, moving the ball at will on their side, and then it looked like we relaxed and got too comfortable," said Hempen. "Denver started playing with more and more confidence and all of the momentum shifted over to them. Effort is not our issue right now, we just have to catch a break every now and then."

The Buffaloes will hit the road on Friday, Aug. 29 when they start the Big 12 season on the early side, facing Texas Tech in Lubbock at 6 p.m. They will return home to Boulder on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. when the play host to San Francisco.