CU Wins On A Late Penalty Kick

Friday, September 12

Boulder, Colo.

4:30 PM

Colorado

5-2-0

Denver

2-4-1

Denver

Colorado

Photo by: Chip Bromfield, ProMotion Ltd.

September 12, 2014 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Ashley Braun, Assistant SID

BOULDER – The University of Colorado women's soccer team defeated the Denver Pioneers 2-1 in the 89th minute on Friday at Prentup Field behind a successful penalty kick conversion by senior Darcy Jerman.

In both squads' final match of the Colorado Cup, each team exchanged scoring opportunities early. In the eighth minute, DU forward Taylor Ivins had the ball in a one-on-one situation against Colorado goalkeeper Kate Scheele. Ivins' shot deflected off Scheele's hands and the Buffs were able to clear the ball.

Colorado held Denver to only four shots in the contest and Scheele recorded three saves.

A minute later, Colorado had its chance to get on the board when sophomore Brie Hooks sent a cross right to left from deep in the Pioneers' goal box. She connected with senior Brooke Rice who headed the ball toward the net, but DU goalkeeper Cassidy Rey made the save inches away from the left goal post.

The match remained scoreless until the second half when Colorado forward Tori Cooper scored her first goal as a Buffalo. In the 49th minute, junior Kahlia Hogg sent a corner kick from the right side of the pitch that found Cooper at the back post. The senior transfer punched the ball in the left corner of the net, giving CU the 1-0 lead.

"Kahlia [Hogg] had a great corner kick and she found me right there where I'm supposed to be," said Cooper. I was just paying attention to detail on where I need to be on those set pieces because those are usually game changers. So I just took it [the ball] and put it where it needed to be and got it in plain and simple."

The Pioneers answered with its own goal in the 81st minute. DU's Sam Harder received a pass from teammate Brooke Boothe 20 yards out. Harder's shot found the top left corner tying the match at 1-1.

"I liked how we bounced back after giving up that late goal," said Colorado head coach Danny Sanchez. "Sometimes you can hang your head and I liked how we responded."

The match looked as if it was headed to overtime, but Denver's Rey received a red card in the 89th minute after a collision with Colorado's Emily Paxton. At the top of the 18-yard box, Paxton was one-on-one with the DU goalkeeper. As Paxton carried the ball toward the goal, Rey came running out in an attempt to break up the play. Paxton was tripped up by Rey's slide and went to the ground. The referee issued the red card to Rey as she did not allow Paxton the goal scoring opportunity and awarded Colorado a penalty kick. Jerman took the kick and drilled it in the top left corner, lifting the Buffs to the late win.

"The ball came into Brie [Hooks] and she chipped a nice ball into Emily [Paxton], and Emily hustled and put herself into a dangerous position to earn the penalty kick," said Sanchez. "I'm real pleased with that and I'm pleased with the composure that Darcy [Jerman] showed.

Colorado finished the Colorado Cup with a perfect 3-0 record. The Buffs are the only team to go undefeated in the tournament that features all six of the state's Division I soccer programs.

CU is 5-2 overall, while the Pioneers fall to 2-4-1 on the season.

The Buffaloes return to Prentup Field on Friday, Sept. 19 to face the Bryant Bulldogs at 4 p.m in the Omni Hotels Colorado Soccer Classic.

Family Weekend, Sept. 19-21
On Friday, Sept. 19, there will be pregame pictures with Colorado's mascot, Chip and a mini soccer ball giveaway to the first 500 fans. On Sunday, Sept. 21, pregame festivities continue with face painting and the CU soccer team will host an autograph session immediately following the match.