Soccer Blasts James Madison 4-0

Sunday, September 7

Boulder, Colo.

Noon

Colorado

3-1-1

James Madison

2-2-1

James Madison

Colorado

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

September 07, 2008 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Aaron Lopez, Denver Nuggets

BOULDER - The University of Colorado women's soccer team produced its second-straight four-goal effort, shutting out James Madison University 4-0 here Sunday afternoon.

With the win, Colorado won its third-straight game and improved to 3-1-1, 1-0 Big 12 while James Madison falls to 2-2-1.

"We trained hard this week and every little thing that we do helps," said head coach Bill Hempen. "It's tough for teams to play on Friday and come here against us when we've had time to rest."

The Buffs nearly got on the board in the ninth minute when senior defender Alex Cousins served a long ball up the field to junior forward Nikki Marshall. Marshall used her speed to beat two defenders and challenge JMU goalkeeper Diane Wszalek to a one-on-one. Wszalek came off her line towards Marshall and deflected the ball out of bounds, preventing CU from taking the early lead.

Just three minutes later, freshman Kelly Butler took a pass from Cousins and carried it down the left side of the JMU box. Butler was taken down and fouled by the defender in the box and CU was awarded a penalty kick. Cousins stepped up to take the shot and buried the ball in the top left side of the net, past the outstretched hands of the JMU goalkeeper for the 1-0 Colorado lead in the 12th minute. The goal was Cousins' first of the season, ninth of her career.

"Everyone that was out there today was really working hard to get things done," said Butler. "Everyone pushes each other to get to the next level and I think we're up there now."

Colorado would strike again in the 18th minute when senior Amber Bettenhausen executed a move to break though two Duke defenders in front of the goal. Bettenhausen turned and shot the ball to the left of the goalkeeper, putting CU ahead of the Dukes 2-0.

As the Buffaloes kept up the strong pressure on the JMU defense, Marshall challenged a Duke defender on the right side of the goal and forced a handball, awarding the Buffs their second penalty kick of the game. Junior transfer Kelly Menachof stepped up to take the kick and with the goalkeeper guessing left, Menachof went right and put the Buffs ahead 3-0 in the first half.

Freshman Kassidy Fitzpatrick entered the game towards the end of the first half, making her collegiate debut for the Buffaloes and playing a total of 30 minutes in the game. Fitzpatrick suffered a knee injury in the first week of preseason which kept her out of the first four matches.

Colorado dominated the first half statistics taking 11 shots to James Madison's two.

The Buffs wouldn't let up in the second half as Butler carried a ball down the left sideline and crossed it on the ground to a sprinting Bettenhausen in the middle of the goal. The Duke goalkeeper came off her line to challenge Bettenhausen, but the CU forward was able to one-time it into the back of the net for her second goal in the game and third goal in the last two contests.

"We've been practicing a lot and we're a lot calmer around the goal than we were during the first few games," said Bettenhausen. "Everyone really did a great job for us today and we hope to keep this momentum going into next weekend."

"We have got to have our forward score the bulk of the goals," said Hempen. "The most important thing I told them to for the second half was not give up a goal. Our kids took on that challenge and held their end of the deal. James Madison is a good team and for us to play the way we did today is a step forward."

Colorado wrapped up the match outshooting the Dukes 18-3, recording eight shots on goal to JMU's two. The 4-0 win marks the first shutout for the Buffs this season.

Next week, Colorado will travel south to take on Mississippi on Friday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. in Oxford, Miss. The Buffs will finish the weekend on Sunday, Sept. 14 at Memphis at noon.