Soccer Beats Fresno State 4-1

Sunday, September 21

Boulder, Colo.

1 p.m.

Colorado

7-1-1

Fresno State

2-6-0

Fresno State

Colorado

Photo by: Tony Harman

September 21, 2008 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Aaron Lopez, Denver Nuggets

BOULDER - The No. 21 University of Colorado women's soccer team won its seventh straight game as they defeated Fresno State 4-1 in the final day of the Colorado Soccer Classic here Sunday.

With the win, the Buffaloes improve to 7-1-1, while the Bulldogs fall to 2-6-0.

Colorado got off to an aggressive start, testing the Fresno State defense early, but the Buffaloes were unable to find the back of the net after 36 minutes of action.

Colorado would finally get on the board in 36th minute as freshman Kassidy Fitzpatrick played a ball to forward Nikki Marshall from 30 yards out. Marshall set up a perfect dummy, letting the ball roll through her legs on to forward Gianna DeSaverio. DeSaverio took one touch around the diving Fresno State goalkeeper and buried the ball in the back of the net for the 1-0 Buffalo lead.

Fresno State battled back just seven minutes later and evened out the game in the 43rd minute when Bradlee DeShane sent a long ball from the left sideline into the box. Ali Sill received the ball on the front post and flicked it with her head past CU keeper Kirstin Radlinski, tying the game at 1-1.

Colorado would take the lead back in the second , half when forward Amber Bettenhausen played a through ball to senior midfielder Nikki Keller. Keller turned on a Fresno State defender, took one touch around the goalkeeper and notched her third goal of the season to give Colorado the go-ahead goal with 37 minutes left to play.

"Amber played a great ball in the gap and set me up well for the goal," said Keller. "After that goal we just played simple and to our feet and got two more goals as a result."

The Buffs would strike again in the 73rd minute when senior Michelle Wenino carried the ball from midfield all the way to the top of the Fresno State goal box. Wenino dished a pass off to DeSaverio and got it right back, taking one touch before netting her first goal of the season and putting Colorado ahead 3-1.

"The second half started out a lot slower compared to the first half," said Wenino. "I think once we got the first goal in the second half, the momentum shifted and that was a key factor for us today."

CU showed no signs of letting up as they took the 4-1 lead in the last two minutes of the game. The Buffs were awarded a corner kick and junior Ally Goodman stepped up to take the kick. Senior defender Alex Cousins extended over the Fresno State defense and headed Goodman's kick into the back of the net for her third goal of the season. Goodman's assist was her first career point recorded as a Buff.

Colorado finished the game outshooting the Bulldogs 23-12 and CU recorded nine shots on goal to Fresno State's two

Two Buffaloes saw their season debuts in the match as sophomore forward Amanda Foulk entered the game in the first half and junior Kellis Johnson made her first career appearance at goalkeeper for the Buffs for the last 9:41 of the game.

Colorado's seven game winning streak gives them an overall record of 7-1-1 to start the season, which is the second best start in CU program history as Colorado also started 7-1-1 in 2004 and 2006.

"Riding a seven game win streak definitely gives us a lot of confidence, but the Big 12 is never easy and we have to be ready to go every game," said Keller.

Colorado will take the field again next week when they kick off the heart of the Big 12 Conference season, playing host to Oklahoma on Friday, Sept. 26 at 4 p.m., followed by No. 13 Oklahoma State on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 1 p.m.

"We play the competition that we do to prepare for Big 12 play," said head coach Bill Hempen. "We've played teams here and away; we've played the back-to-back Friday and Sunday weekend games, just like we will during conference play. All of that is to get ready for our Big 12 schedule, and we will be ready to go when that starts next weekend."