Kornieck's Goal Gives Buffs Seventh Win In A Row

Sunday, October 2

Tempe, Ariz.

4:00 PM

Colorado

9-3, 3-0

Arizona State

5-4-2, 0-2-1

Colorado

Arizona State

Taylor Kornieck

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

October 02, 2016 | Soccer

Box Score WATCH Highlights

By: Andy Schlichting, Assistant SID

TEMPE, Ariz. - Colorado's soccer team won its seventh consecutive match on Sunday, topping Arizona State 1-0 on the road. The Buffaloes are now 9-3 overall and 3-0 in the Pac-12, while ASU dropped to 5-4-2 and 0-2-1 in conference play.

The seven-match winning streak is the longest for CU since 2008. It's also the first 3-0 start in conference play since 2009 when CU was in the Big 12.

Sunday's match was the fourth straight 1-0 win for the Buffs, and the third match in a row freshman Taylor Kornieck has scored the game-winning goal. Her free kick from 19 yards out in the 45th minute was the difference Sunday.

WHAT HAPPENED: The first half was uneventful for 44 minutes with neither team challenging the goal.

In the 45th minute, two Arizona State players collided with Mikaela Kraus on a header after a ball chipped to the top of the box by Stephanie Zuniga. After a lengthy delay for an injury to one of the ASU players, play ensued with Kornieck converting a free kick from 19 yards out at the top of the box, just left of the center of the goal. Her shot drove in to the right side of the net past the wall set by ASU's defense.

CU came out in command early in the second half. Kornieck nearly had another goal in the 61st minute when her free kick from 20 yards out hit the left post.

ASU took a brief command of possession for a couple of minutes and nearly had a goal in the 63rd minute. Jalen Tompkins made a save and then her ensuing goal kick led to a breakaway for ASU's Jazmarie Mader. But Tompkins forced Mader to the right side of the box and came up with a diving, point-blank save to keep CU in front.

CU quickly regained momentum and held the Sun Devils off until the 83rd minute when Tompkins made two more key saves as ASU started pushing numbers forward out of desperation.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES: Kornieck is now tied with Utah's Hailey Skolmoski to lead the Pac-12 with eight goals each. Tompkins was also key for CU, making six saves for her fourth consecutive shutout. Her current shutout streak is now 439:39, the fourth-longest in school history, she has stopped the past 23 shots on goal she has faced.

UP NEXT: CU will return home from a three-match road trip to host Oregon at 3:30 p.m. at Prentup Field. That match will be broadcast live on Pac-12 Digital and will be the first-ever live Twitter broadcast for a Pac-12 sporting event.

NOTES: Kornieck's goal at 44:28 was the second goal scored by the Buffs in the 45th minute this season, joining Sarah Kinzner, who scored at 44:56 against Air Force (latest goal ever scored in the first half) … it was also just the fifth 45th-minute goal in school history … Kornieck's streak of three consecutive matches with a goal is the longest for a CU freshman since 2006 (Nikki Marshall) … for Kornieck, she becomes the first player in school history to score the game-winning goal in three consecutive matches … her five game-winning goals this season are the second-most in a season in school history (Nikki Marshall had seven in 2006) ... it's the first time in school history the Buffs have won three consecutive conference matches on the road … the four consecutive 1-0 wins is the longest such streak in school history.

HALFTIME QUOTES
Danny Sanchez, head coach
On the late goal by Kornieck in the first half
"It was three players going for the ball and hopefully the ASU players are ok, but obviously a class finish by Taylor."

On adjustments needed for the second half
"I think we are dropping in too deep and they're playing underneath us. We need to be tighter in the final third. They have a lot of dangerous players and we've get more on the ball. And then when we do have numbers pushing forward, we've got to counter and we've got to punish them. But we have to keep the ball better when we win. It's tough, a little slick and so forth, but we've got to do a better job keeping the ball when we win it."

POSTGAME QUOTES
Danny Sanchez, head coach
On the goal before halftime
"I thought we were playing well. We really limited their opportunities and they have some dangerous players. It was good creativity from Stephanie (Zuniga) to find Mikaela (Kraus) and for Mikaela to draw the foul at the top of the box. Like I told the team after the game, we need 21 players. We need everyone that's traveling to contribute and Mikaela and Stephanie helped draw the foul and it was obviously a great finish by Taylor.

On the play of the defense
"I think it all starts with Morgan (Stanton). Her work in front of the back four is tremendous. She really limits the space when they're pulling off our backs and it makes our backs' jobs easier. The back four, plus (Alex) Vidger and Courtney (Fedor), who gave us some good minutes in the first half as well--the six players that played back there were rock solid. We kept them to really one dangerous opportunity and JJ (Tompkins) made the save late in the game."

On the key to success on the road
"I think every game in the Pac-12 is going to be like these games. So it's not like when you go home everything is easier. We have good leadership from all of our seniors and captains and there's belief in the group that we can get results no matter where we go. Hopefully when we go home for six of eight (matches), we need to take advantage of the altitude and hopefully get some big crowds out next weekend to see us play."

On Oregon, Thursday's opponent at home
"Oregon is the best team they've had in years. They've played Stanford tough, played USC tough, played UCLA tough. A lot of it is dictated by your schedule and how it lays out. They'll be coming into Boulder on Thursday desperate to get a result so we're going to have to play our best soccer if we're going to get a result because it's one of the best Oregon teams in years.

Taylor Kornieck, freshman, midfielder
On being able to contribute and be a leader as a freshman
"It's really great, actually. I didn't really expect to be a leader out here (right away). It gives me a really big confidence boost going into the next few games at home and we just need to keep that winning streak."

On the team's mentality on the road
"It was a great opportunity to win two on the road. Now that we're back home, we have the crowd behind us so hopefully we'll get two more wins (next weekend)."