Colorado University Athletics
Soccer Hosts Villanova In Final Non-Conference Match
September 18, 2015 | Soccer
QUICKLY: The University of Colorado women's soccer team will play its final non-conference match this weekend and its second of a three-game homestand. The Buffaloes (5-2-1) welcome the Villanova Wildcats (0-7) to Prentup Field on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 12 p.m. MDT. The Buffs will look to bounce back after falling in overtime to Northwestern, 1-0 a week ago.
INTERVIEWS/CREDENTIAL REQUESTS: For those members of the media wishing to interview the women's soccer team during the season or request a game credential, please contact Assistant Sports Information Director/Soccer Contact Ashley Braun at (303) 492-7525 or ashley.braun@colorado.edu.
DON'T MISS IT: A livestream and live stats for Sunday's contest will be available on CUBuffs.com.
COLORADO VS. VILLANOVA: Sunday's match will mark the first meeting between the Buffaloes and Wildcats.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: Villanova is looking for its first win of the season, holding an 0-7 record and will play at Denver on Friday before traveling to Boulder. Despite not having won a match yet, four of the Wildcats' seven contests have been decided by only one goal. Sophomore defender Emily Kuefler has scored Villanova's only goal of 2015 while midfielder Hayley Wilson has the assist. Wilson also leads the team with 11 shots and four on goal. A trio of others have tallied five shots. Goalkeeper Emma Meyer has logged the majority of minutes between the posts and is the goalie of record in all seven matches.
LAST TIME OUT: The Buffaloes went 1-1 last weekend, first shutting out Denver on Friday, 1-0 on the road. Junior captain Mikaela Kraus scored her first career goal in the 74th minute to lift the Buffs to the victory. On Sunday, Colorado dropped a 1-0 match to Northwestern at home. The contest, scoreless after 90 minutes went to overtime and Northwestern scored the game-winner in the 97th minute.
NEWCOMERS MAKING AN IMPACT: Freshmen Amy Alexander, Erin Greening, Sarah Kinzner, Brooklyn Varnadore, Alex Vidger and Stephanie Zuniga along with Portland transfer Danica Evans have each stepped up, playing important roles this season, whether starting or coming off the bench. The group of newcomers have combined for five goals, four assists, 57 shots with 26 on goal and three game-winners.
HEAD COACH DANNY SANCHEZ: Fourth year head coach Danny Sanchez has been outstanding at the helm of CU. Under his leadership, Sanchez has guided the Buffaloes to a combined 41-24-8 record since 2012. He has helped the black and gold post back-to-back 14 wins seasons (2013 and '14) along with two straight berths in the NCAA Tournament, advancing as far as the Sweet 16 in 2013 and the Round of 32 last season. In 2014, Sanchez led the Buffs to a program-best third place finish in the Pac-12 Conference and it also marked the first time CU posted a winning Pac-12 record since it joined the conference in 2011. In his 20+ year coaching career, Sanchez has compiled a 308-84-31 record.
JUNIOR BRIE HOOKS: Brie Hooks is off to another strong start for the Buffs. She leads the team with three goals and four assists. Her goal against Iowa State earlier this season, the 19th of her career, moved her into sixth place on the all-time scoring list. Hooks has 13 career assists, which ranks sixth in the CU record book. She also is second in the Pac-12 Conference with 31 shots, averaging 3.88 per contest and ranks fifth in points with 10 total.
SCHEELE SHINING: Senior goalkeeper Kate Scheele recorded her second shutout of the season against Denver and it was the 13th clean sheet of her career. In just her second season at CU, her 13 shutouts already ranks fourth on the all-time list.
KRAUSER ASSISTING: Senior Madi Krauser has transitioned from the attack to playing on the backline this season, however she has found herself in the mix on offense at times and recorded the game-winning assist in last week's match against DU. Krauser has two this season and her 14 career assists is tied for fourth most all-time in the CU record book.
HOME SWEET HOME: Colorado has remained dominant at Prentup Field this season, posting a 4-1 record thus far. Since joining the Pac-12 Conference in 2011, CU holds a 26-17-3 record playing on its own pitch.
NON-CONFERENCE PLAY: The Buffaloes enter the match with five non-conference victories in 2015. A victory on Sunday means the Buffs will have finished with at least six non-conference wins for the fourth consecutive season.
LEADING THE WAY: The Buffs rank among the top five in the Pac-12 Conference in several categories. Colorado is tied for first with four shutouts, second in shots with 129 and tied for second with 14 assists. The team ranks fourth in corners (39) and assists per game (1.75), and is tied for fifth in points (38).
PAC-12 NETWORKS: In its fourth year, the Pac-12 Networks will air 69 women's soccer games, including nine of the Buffs' match-ups. Eight of CU's nine televised contests on the networks are conference matches. The Buffs' match against Northwestern is also part of the Pac-12 Networks line-up.
GAME PROMOTIONS: Kids in 8th grade or under are invited to come out early to the match and participate in field day activities including an obstacle bounce house, craft stations, face painting and more. For additional information and to sign up for Chip's Kids Club, please visit CUBuffs.com/community. Then be sure to stay after the match as the CU soccer team will be holding an autograph session for fans.
UP NEXT: At the halfway point in the season, the Buffaloes will open conference play against California at home on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. The match will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks. Fans arriving early to the contest will receive a free CU soccer t-shirt.
TICKETS: Single game tickets are $5 each. Season tickets start at just $25 for general admission and are on sale now by visiting CUBuffs.com or by calling 303-49-BUFFS. Kids 12 and under get in for free. Also, new this year is the Women's Sports Pass, which gives you general admission seating to all home soccer, volleyball and women's basketball games for just $125. The sports pass is also available for purchase by contacting the CU ticket office to save over 50 percent off the single game price.
