Soccer Rolls Past San Francisco 4-1

Sunday, August 31

Boulder, Colo.

1 p.m.

Colorado

2-1-1

San Francisco

2-1-0

San Francisco

Colorado

Photo by: Tony Harman

August 31, 2008 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Allie Musso, Assistant SID

BOULDER - The University of Colorado women's soccer team beat the University of San Francisco 4-1 on top of a stellar offensive performance here Sunday afternoon.

With the win, CU improves to 2-1-1, 1-0 Big 12 and the Buffs handed San Francisco (2-1) its first loss of the season.

"Today was a real confidence builder for us," said Nikki Marshall. "Our game against Texas Tech on Friday wasn't a confidence builder; but I think the game today is really the start of our season. We got good chances and scoring four goals really gets us going for the rest of the year."

Colorado nearly took the 1-0 lead in the 14th minute when freshman Kate Russell served a ball to junior Nikki Marshall in front of the USF goal. Marshall one-timed it perfectly into the back of the net, but she was a step ahead of the defense and the goal was called back, due to offsides.

Colorado finally broke through in the 23rd minute when Nikki Keller sprinted down the right side of the box and fired a shot towards the goal. The ball deflected off a San Francisco defender and bounced into the goal, giving Keller her first goal of the season.

Marshall had another close opportunity to get on the board when she beat two defenders and challenged the USF goalkeeper to a one-on-one. Marshall took the shot past the keeper but the ball hit the post and bounced back in play.

The Buffs would take the 2-0 lead in the 40th minute of the game when senior Amber Bettenhausen was on the receiving end of an Alex Cousins cross in the air. Bettenhausen volleyed the ball into the back of the net for her first goal of the season and second of her career.

Freshman Kelci Newlin checked into the game in the first half for the Buffaloes, seeing her first collegiate action as she played a total of four minutes in the match.

Colorado finished the first half outshooting the Dons 12 to one, with seven shots on goal to USF's one.

CU' scoring barrage would continue in the second half as Russell took the ball down the right side of the field and sent a ball on the ground that rolled through the San Francisco defense untouched and found Marshall on the far post. Marshall buried the ball in the back of the net for the 3-0 Colorado lead and her second goal in two games.

The Buffs wouldn't let up and they continued to pressure the USF defense. Keller carried a ball down the middle of the field and dished a pass off to a sprinting Marshall. Marshall trapped the ball and found Gianna DeSaverio breaking through the defense. DeSaverio took a touch past the final defender and blasted it in the goal, giving the Buffs a 4-0 lead with 29 minutes left to play.

The Dons would finally get on the board when they were awarded a corner kick in the 67th minute. The Buffalo defense cleared the initial ball out of the box, but it rolled directly to the feet of USF's Kristina Hall. Hall sent a high ball into the top right corner of the goal, putting the score at 4-1.

Bettenhausen led all Buffs with four shots, three of which were on goal, including the eventual game-winner.

"We have opened each of our first four games strong, but we weren't scoring like we did today," said head coach Bill Hempen. "The kids played well today and we finished on our opportunities to score, and that's a good thing."

Colorado will have a week to rest before they return the pitch and host James Madison on Sunday, Sept. 7 at noon at Prentup Field in Boulder. As always, admission and parking are free.