Buffs Shut Out Colorado College, 3-0

Sunday, August 23

Boulder, Colo.

3:30 PM

Colorado

1-0-1

Colorado College (Colorado Cup)

1-1-0

Colorado College

Colorado

August 23, 2015 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Ashley Braun, Assistant SID

BOULDER – The University of Colorado women's soccer team earned its first victory of the season on Sunday, defeating Colorado College 3-0 in its second match of the Colorado Cup.

The Buffaloes, playing at home for the first time in 2015, took the 1-0 lead in the 24th minute when freshman Erin Greening stepped up to tally her first career goal. On a set play after the Tigers were called for a foul, senior Madison Krauser passed to junior Danica Evans who then found Greening to drill it home from 20 yards out. Greening's shot hit the bottom side of the crossbar and bounced in.

"It felt so good, hard work pays off," Greening said after scoring. "I was really excited."

Just over 10 minutes later, senior Emily Paxton scored her first goal of the year at the 35:55 mark to give the Buffs a 2-0 advantage. Junior Brie Hooks picked up the assist as Paxton headed the ball into the back of the net.

"This year we have a lot more people to combine in the final third," Hooks said about the CU offense. "It's not just one person dribbling through and that is opening things up and everyone is getting on the scoreboard now. That's really nice to see."

Colorado's attack remained in control throughout the majority of the match, outshooting Colorado College 15-7, while its defense also put together a solid performance as the backline held the Tigers to only one shot on goal and did not allow a single corner kick.

"I saw good things in spurts today," said Colorado head coach Danny Sanchez. "We feel that we have options going forward and I thought we were better on the attack, not just because we scored three goals, but because we moved the ball well and created a lot more chances and scored three good goals."

After halftime, Hooks all, but put the match away, notching CU's third goal and her second on the year just five minutes into the second period. Sophomore Joss Orejel found a sprinting Hooks deep in the box and the forward from Maple Valley, Wash. sent her shot into the top left corner. Hooks has earned at least two points in each of the first two contests this year.

Senior goalkeeper Kate Scheele and redshirt freshman Scout Watson, who made her collegiate debut as the second-half starter combined for the shutout.

"In the back, we moved some players around and tried some new players," Sanchez added. "We got the shutout, which is most important and then we have the goalkeepers so it was a productive day."

The Buffs improved to 1-0-1 on the season and 15-4-1 all-time in home openers. Colorado also finds itself atop the Colorado Cup standings after the win. The Buffs will play its final Cup match on Sept. 11 at Denver. Colorado College drops to 1-1 overall.

CU hosted two neutral site matches earlier in the day as part of Colorado Cup weekend at Prentup Field. Northern Colorado defeated Air Force, 1-0 and Colorado State blanked the Denver Pioneers by the same 1-0 score.

Colorado takes its first out-of-state trip next weekend to Provo, Utah to face the BYU Cougars on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. MDT. The Buffs then return home to close out the weekend against New Mexico on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. Single game and season tickets are on sale now and available for purchase by visiting CUBuffs.com or by calling 303-49-BUFFS.