Buffs Mean Business With Season's First Win

Friday, August 19

Denver, Colo.

4:30 p.m.

Colorado

1-0-0

Colorado College

0-1-0

Colorado

Colorado College

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

August 19, 2011 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Taylor Temby, Graduate Assistant SID

DENVER - Colorado sent a message loud and clear that the scoring drought of 2010 is behind them.

The Buffs buried Colorado College 5-0 in the first game of the inaugural Colorado Cup. The two teams faced off for the first time since 2006, and it was evident early that the black and gold from Boulder came to win.

Just 1:44 into the game, Carly Bolyard put away the first goal of the 2011 season off a beautiful pass from Amy Barczuk.

Bolyard kept the pressure with an attack minutes later, and hit the post from Caroline Danneberg's corner kick.

"To put [Bolyard] in that position that early in her career and she finishes it, I'll take a bunch more of those," CU head coach Bill Hempen said.

Bolyard added an assist to compliment her first collegiate goal on a cross to sophomore Hayley Hughes for the second goal of the evening. Hughes scored 14 minutes into the game to put the Buffs up 2-0.

"It was really nerve-racking in the beginning, but I just got over my nerves. All the upperclassmen helped me through it," Bolyard said.

Even though the Tigers appeared to find their stride in the final 15 minutes of the half, Colorado goalkeeper Annie Brunner and the CU defense led by Amy Barczuk stood strong. Brunner made three saves on the night.

Anne Stuller, Colorado's lone scorer from the Air Force exhibition game, found the back of the net to kick off the second half scoring frenzy.

"The team chemistry is completely different than last year. We're a completely different team. Our goal-scoring problems [from 2010] are hopefully gone, and we're ready to turn a new leaf," said Stuller.

Lauren Shaner dribbled through traffic and blazed an unassisted goal past CC keeper Hannah Berglund, and CU led 4-0. Freshmen tandem Bianca Jones and Darcy Jerman connected for the final assist and goal, when Jones fed the ball to an open Jerman in the box.

All six freshmen saw action, and they combined for four out of the nine points of the night.

"We're really lucky to have these freshmen on our team," said Stuller.

Added Hempen, "It was an interesting game, but I couldn't be happier for those freshmen getting challenged early and coming through pretty well."

The Buffs seemed to have found a way to score, after only scoring 24 goals total last season. So what went right this game?

"Our shots were on target. They came from some unlikely characters, but at the same time, they went in. Some days they don't. Today, they happened to go in," said Hempen. "We'll take it."

Five goals showed the Buffs what they were capable of doing. Hempen knows it's a start, but added, "We can play a lot better."

The Buffs will be back in action on Sunday when they face Northern Colorado at Prentup at 3 p.m.

To help kickoff the first athletic event of the year, student-athletes from every other varsity sport will be marching to Prentup Field prior to Sunday's soccer game to help cheer on the Buffs. They will be walking "Shoulder to Shoulder" down the Boulder Creek bike path before entering Prentup Field to watch CU take on UNC.

Denver and Colorado College will play earlier at 12:30 p.m. DU defeated UNC 2-1 in double overtime Friday night.

Free Soccer Clinic on Saturday
Don't forget: In conjunction with the inaugural Colorado Cup, the CU women's soccer team will be hosting a free youth soccer clinic tomorrow morning at Prentup Field. The camp will run from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for kids ages 7-11. There is limited space available, so those interested should e-mail kyle.longwell@colorado.edu as soon as possible. Walk-ups will also be available to register beginning at 10:30 a.m.