Friday, September 11
Denver, Colo.
7:00 PM
Colorado
5-1-1
1
at
0
Denver (Colorado Cup)
0-6-1
1
2
F
Colorado
0
1
1
Denver
0
0
0
Buffs Top Denver 1-0 On Kraus' Goal
September 11, 2015 | Soccer, Neill Woelk
DENVER — Colorado junior Mikaela Kraus scored her first career goal in the 74th minute Friday night and the Buffs' defense took care of the rest as CU took a 1-0 win over in-state rival Denver at CIBER Field.
Kraus took a pass from Brie Hooks in front of the net and sent a screamer just inside the left post and past the outstretched arms of DU goalkeeper Cassidy Rey to break a 0-0 tie, finally connecting for the Buffs after Rey had stifled several earlier opportunities.
The win improved the Buffs' record to 5-1-1 and put them in position to win their second straight Colorado Cup, a contest between all six Division I programs in the state. The win gives the Buffs a comfortable lead over Colorado State, but the Cup won't be officially decided until Sunday's CSU-Northern Colorado match.
Denver dropped to 0-6-1.
"Denver was a desperate team," CU coach Danny Sanchez said. "They're well-coached. I said this was going to be a good game."
Kraus, a junior from San Diego, returned to play after missing four games because of an injury suffered against Colorado College in the second match of the season. Hooks said she heard Kraus yelling for the ball before she actually saw her.
"I saw the gap and I was yelling as loud as I could," Kraus said. "She saw me and just sent it over to me."
The Buffs dominated the first half of play, recording two strong shots on goal and six shots overall. The Pioneers, meanwhile — who have yet to score a goal this season in seven matches — failed to record even a shot in the first 45 minutes, as CU's backs kept any potential scoring threats at bay.
"I was real pleased with the backs," Sanchez said. "They were very solid."
Freshman midfielder Brooklyn Varnadore made her first career start and played 90 minutes on the backline. Making her first start for the season was senior Heather Ward, who also played all 90 minutes in the back.
CU's Alex Vidger had the Buffs' best opportunity in the opening period when she took a pass from Hooks in front of the net in the 43rd minute and popped a beautiful header at the upper right corner. DU goalie Rey, however, made a leaping save to poke the ball away and keep the match scoreless.
Earlier in the period, Buff freshman Erin Greening also had a solid opportunity to score on a pass from fellow freshman Sarah Kinzner. Rey, however, was on the spot with a diving save to prevent Greening from scoring her third goal of the year.
"We had so many great chances and the goalie making those saves was kind of discouraging," Hooks said. "But we just kept chipping away. We knew we'd have our chances."
DU finally managed a soft shot on goal midway through the second period, one that CU goalie Kate Scheele easily plucked out of the air, but overall, CU's defense continued to dominate. The shutout was Scheele's second of the season and 13th of her career, moving her to fourth on CU's all-time list.
The Buffs had another good chance at a goal just miss later in the second period when Hooks took a pass from Madi Krauser and lofted a long, looping shot that bounced and struck the left post.
Hooks' assist on Kraus' goal was her fourth of the season and 13th of her career, moving her into sixth on CU's all-time list. Krauser, who chipped the ball to Hooks on the scoring play, was also credited with an assist, her second of the year and 14th of her career, tying her for fourth on CU's all-time list.
The Buffs return to play Sunday in a 1 p.m. match vs. Northwestern at Prentup Field. The match will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.
Kraus took a pass from Brie Hooks in front of the net and sent a screamer just inside the left post and past the outstretched arms of DU goalkeeper Cassidy Rey to break a 0-0 tie, finally connecting for the Buffs after Rey had stifled several earlier opportunities.
The win improved the Buffs' record to 5-1-1 and put them in position to win their second straight Colorado Cup, a contest between all six Division I programs in the state. The win gives the Buffs a comfortable lead over Colorado State, but the Cup won't be officially decided until Sunday's CSU-Northern Colorado match.
Denver dropped to 0-6-1.
"Denver was a desperate team," CU coach Danny Sanchez said. "They're well-coached. I said this was going to be a good game."
Kraus, a junior from San Diego, returned to play after missing four games because of an injury suffered against Colorado College in the second match of the season. Hooks said she heard Kraus yelling for the ball before she actually saw her.
"I saw the gap and I was yelling as loud as I could," Kraus said. "She saw me and just sent it over to me."
The Buffs dominated the first half of play, recording two strong shots on goal and six shots overall. The Pioneers, meanwhile — who have yet to score a goal this season in seven matches — failed to record even a shot in the first 45 minutes, as CU's backs kept any potential scoring threats at bay.
"I was real pleased with the backs," Sanchez said. "They were very solid."
Freshman midfielder Brooklyn Varnadore made her first career start and played 90 minutes on the backline. Making her first start for the season was senior Heather Ward, who also played all 90 minutes in the back.
CU's Alex Vidger had the Buffs' best opportunity in the opening period when she took a pass from Hooks in front of the net in the 43rd minute and popped a beautiful header at the upper right corner. DU goalie Rey, however, made a leaping save to poke the ball away and keep the match scoreless.
Earlier in the period, Buff freshman Erin Greening also had a solid opportunity to score on a pass from fellow freshman Sarah Kinzner. Rey, however, was on the spot with a diving save to prevent Greening from scoring her third goal of the year.
"We had so many great chances and the goalie making those saves was kind of discouraging," Hooks said. "But we just kept chipping away. We knew we'd have our chances."
DU finally managed a soft shot on goal midway through the second period, one that CU goalie Kate Scheele easily plucked out of the air, but overall, CU's defense continued to dominate. The shutout was Scheele's second of the season and 13th of her career, moving her to fourth on CU's all-time list.
The Buffs had another good chance at a goal just miss later in the second period when Hooks took a pass from Madi Krauser and lofted a long, looping shot that bounced and struck the left post.
Hooks' assist on Kraus' goal was her fourth of the season and 13th of her career, moving her into sixth on CU's all-time list. Krauser, who chipped the ball to Hooks on the scoring play, was also credited with an assist, her second of the year and 14th of her career, tying her for fourth on CU's all-time list.
The Buffs return to play Sunday in a 1 p.m. match vs. Northwestern at Prentup Field. The match will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.
Team Stats
COLO
DEN
Goals
1
0
Shots
13
1
Shots on Goal
4
1
Saves
1
3
Corners
5
2
Fouls
8
9
Scoring Plays
Kraus, Mikaela (1)
Assisted By: Hooks, Brie , Krauser, Madison
cross from right side onto top of 18, fi
73:13
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ SoccerF
/ Soccer
M
/ SoccerM
/ Soccer
GK
/ Soccer
M
/ SoccerD
/ Soccer
D
/ SoccerThis Week in Colorado Soccer: Headed to Wisconsin
Thursday, September 04
Soccer: Postgame Press Conference vs Wyoming - Aug. 31, 2025
Sunday, August 31
Soccer: Colorado vs Wyoming Highlights - Aug. 31, 2025
Sunday, August 31
Soccer: Postgame Press Conference vs New Mexico State - Aug. 28, 2025
Friday, August 29