Buffs Soccer Team Hands Out Team Awards

BOULDER, Colo. – Colorado's women's soccer team put the wraps on its 2015 season over the weekend at its banquet, handing out five team awards, along with the awards that were earned during the season. Final season notes are attached above in the PDF. The following are the team award winners:

Offensive MVP: Danica Evans

Evans had an excellent first season in Boulder after transferring from the University of Portland. She tied for the team lead in goals with five, ranking ninth in the Pac-12 in that category, and had three assists for 13 points. Her 52 shot attempts and 29 shots on goal were both second on the team. She scored her first goal of the season in a 4-0 win over New Mexico on Aug. 30, netting the game-winner in that contest. Evans also had scores against Iowa State, Villanova, UCLA and Arizona.

Head coach Danny Sanchez on Evans, “Danica had a very good junior season as she came in as a transfer and tied for the team lead in goals. We are expecting bigger things out of her for her senior year.”

Defensive MVP: Madi Krauser

Krauser made the switch from forward to outside defender prior to her senior season and the move proved successful as she was named second team all-Pac-12. Starting all 20 matches, Krauser tallied four assists on the season and had a 1.32 individual goals-against average, best among CU's four starting defenders. She finished her career ranked third in school history in assists with 16.

Sanchez on Evans, “Madi made a seamless transition to outside back from her forward position she played her first three years here at Colorado. Her defending was good, but her ability to get forward is what really separated her.”

Freshman/Newcomer of the Year: Sarah Kinzner

Kinzner became the first freshman since Alex Huynh in 2013 and the first true freshman since Hayley Hughes in 2010 to start every game for the Buffaloes, appearing in the first XI for the Buffs all 20 times in 2015. Kinzner finished the year with one goal and two assists, recording assists against New Mexico and Cincinnati and scoring her first career goal vs. Arizona. She went on to represent Canada at the 2015 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship in December, starting all five matches and scoring two goals to lead her home country to a silver medal.

Sanchez on Kinzner, “Sarah had a very productive freshman season as she started all 20 matches. As she gets stronger and more comfortable, we feel that she will have a huge impact on our program in the future.”

Academic Award: Kate Scheele

Scheele was a standout for the Buffs during her two seasons on the pitch for the Buffs, finishing her career ranked fourth in school history with 14 shutouts. As a senior, she posted a 1.14 goals-against average and had three solo shutouts. However, she separated herself in the classroom, posting a 3.89 grade point average (through the summer) while majoring in history. She was named CoSIDA second team Academic All-District VII and first team Academic All-Pac-12.

CU's Associate Director of Academics Ryan Kataoka on Scheele, “Kate Scheele exemplifies the term student-athlete. She completed all of her Honors History coursework in three-and-a-half years with a 3.847 cumulative GPA, which speaks volumes about her commitment to her academic success. She is focused and driven, and if the past is any indicator of her future success, she will certainly realize her dream of serving our country as an attorney in the U.S. Air Force.”

Sports Performance Award: Kenzie Tillitt

Tillitt competed in just two matches for the team on defense, but stood out in the weight room and in training as a leader on the team.

CU's Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning Steve Englehart on Tillitt, “Kenzie is one of the most determined athletes I have ever met. Her attitude, passion, effort and never-give-up attitude are what I look for in athletes. I have personally seen Kenzie get knocked down by life and sport but she always brushes off the negativity and looks for positivity and goes harder than before. This young lady will become something great in life because of her never-give-up attitude. Another plus is that she is STRONG!”

Season Notes:

Kinzner Shines at CONCACAF Championship

• Sarah Kinzner competed for Canada at the 2015 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship in Honduras.

• Kinzner started all five matches and scored two goals, leading Canada to the finals against the United States.

• She scored against Trinidad and Tobago in an opening-round 2-0 win and also scored in a 7-0 victory over Jamaica in the second round of group play.

• Canada qualified for the 2016 U-20 World Cup by finishing in the top three.

All-Pac-12 Honorees

• Madi Krauser was named second team all-Pac-12 and Sarah Kinzner was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.

• Krauser finished with four assists, starting all 20 matches on defense.

• Kinzner had a goal and two assists, also starting all 20 matches.

Team Award Winners

• Offensive MVP: Danica Evans (scored five goals and had three assists, starting 19 of 20 matches)

• Defensive MVP: Madi Krauser (had four assists and started all 20 matches)

• Freshman of the Year: Sarah Kinzner (scored one goal and had two assists in 20 starts)

• Academic Award: Kate Scheele (3.89 GPA, also 1.14 GAA and .747 save percentage in 16 starts as the team's goalkeeper)

• Sports Performance Award: Kenzie Tillitt (recognized as the team's hardest worker in the weight room and conditioning drills by the sports performance staff)

Senior Day Notes

• The Buffs honored their seven seniors (Kahlia Hogg not included as she is expected to return next season) on Nov. 1 vs. Arizona State.

• The seven combined for 228 career starts at CU (Madison Krauser 75, Olivia Pappalardo 56, Emily Paxton 24, Kate Scheele 38, Heather Ward 33, Ashley Love 1, Nikki Machalek 1).

• The seven also combined for 24 goals (Krauser 9, Paxton 8, Pappalardo 3, Ward 3, Machalek 1).

Krauser Dishing Assists

• 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.

• She finished with four assists this season and her 16 career assists rank third all-time in the CU record book.

Scheele Shining on the Field and Off

• Senior goalkeeper Kate Scheele recorded three shutouts this season and finished with 14 career clean sheets, which in just her second season at CU, ranks fourth on the all-time list.

• Scheele was also named CoSIDA second team Academic All-District VII, making her the seventh Buff to earn the award in school history.

• Scheels has a 3.89 GPA and is a senior, majoring in history.

Last Time Out

• CU fell 2-0 at Utah to end the season on Nov. 6.

• Kate Scheele made six saves in goal.

Scheduling the Best

• CU played seven top-25 opponents this season (1-5-1 record).

• Last season the Buffs faced eight nationally-ranked opponents (2-5-1), the most they have faced in a season in school history.

• CU also faced eight ranked opponents in 2006 (2-4-2) and seven in 2007 (0-6-1), the previous highs in that category.

Bonus Soccer

• The Buffaloes played in six overtime matches this season, posting a 2-1-3 record in those contests.

• Five of the six have been played at home and just one on the road.

• CU's 3-3 tie with No. 21 Arizona on Oct. 30 was the highest-scoring draw in school history, topping several 2-2 ties that the Buffs have played in.

• The tie with No. 21 Arizona was the first time since 2005 the Buffs have tied after leading by two goals (led 2-0 and 3-1; previous time Sept. 2, 2005 at Denver, led 2-0 and tied 2-2).

Tight Matches

• CU has played in nine matches decided by one goal, to go with three ties, posting a 4-5-3 record in those matches.

• The Buffs have dropped their past four matches that were decided by one goal.

Sharing Scoring Opportunities

• 10 different Buffs have scored at least one goal this season and six tallied more than two goals.

Newcomers Making an Impact

• Freshmen 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 combined for 50 starts, nine goals, five assists and 106 shot attempts, or 38 percent of the team's goals and 39 percent of the team's shots.

• Redshirt freshman Scout Watson started four of the final seven matches in goal and had a 1.89 GAA and .529 save percentage on the season in six appearances.

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 Andy Schlichting at 303-362-3219 or andrew.schlichting@colorado.edu.