Colorado University Athletics
Top 20 Soccer Moments: No. 2
October 26, 2016 | Soccer
BOULDER – Milestones are important in the history of a program, and one of the most important milestones you can get is that first win. On Nov. 8, 1996, just three games into the program's history, the Buffs recorded their first win beating LSU 2-1 at their original home the Pleasant View Soccer Complex.
The Buffs drew in their first ever match, 1-1 against Cal State Bakersfield, and they lost to California the next day 2-0. Both of those matches were on the road, so CU headed back to Boulder looking to open up their home pitch with a win.
Things didn't start off the way the Buffs wanted them to, when in the fourth minute LSU struck first scoring off of a corner kick. The Buffs then played from behind for a good chunk of the first half until junior midfielder Liz Swain sent in only the second goal ever in CU's history, but more importantly on this day it was a match tying goal.
Entering the half, CU had a 22-8 lead on shots, including nine of those being on goal. But the score was tied at one all, so the Buffs had a large amount of work to do coming out in the second half in order to get that first win.
Less than ten minutes into the second half, in the 51st minute, freshman Shawn Kenyon gave CU the lead for good, nailing a shot that hit the back of the net. The Buffs took the lead 2-1 at that point with Kenyon's goal and they didn't look to give that away.
Throughout the remainder of the second half, CU played solid defense on their backline and they were able to control the midfield, giving LSU zero chances on goal and only three shots that ended up anywhere near the net.
When the final whistle blew, CU had held on to record the first win in program's history. It was also the first win at the Pleasant View Soccer Complex, a home that the Buffs would enjoy a long and successful time at.
Although the Buffs would finish the season 6-10-1 (3-6 Big 12), the foundation for what has become a top flight program west of the Mississippi River, was first laid out on Nov. 8 with a win against LSU.
The Top 20 Moments of Colorado soccer will be revealed throughout the season as 2016 marks the 20th Anniversary of the first year of the program. Two will be announced per week on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Top 20 Moments
1. ???
2. Buffs top LSU for first win in program history
3. CU rallies from two-goal deficit to upset No. 11 Texas A&M in Big 12 semifinals
4. CU's First Sweet Sixteen Appearance In 2006
5. Reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 2013 with wins over Denver and BYU
6. Big 12 Tournament finalists in 2005, 2006 and 2008
7. Snow Clasico 2 - CU beats BYU in the NCAA Tournament in a snowstorm
8. CU breaks attendance record against defending national champion North Carolina in 1998
9. Nikki Marshall's legacy beyond CU
10. Fran Munnelly earns Big 12 Player of the Year
11. Sloane Cox breaks Big 12 saves record
12. Shawn Kenyon scores first goal in school history
13. First Pac-12 win
14. First win over a ranked Pac-12 opponent
15. Buffs knock off No. 5 Texas A&M for win over highest-ranked opponent
16. CU moves into Prentup Field, a home for Buffs soccer
17. Nikki Marshall's success with the USWNT
18. CU's first Big 12 Tournament win in 2002
19. First NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003
20. Colorado announces the addition of women's soccer as a varsity sport on Aug. 14, 1993
The Buffs drew in their first ever match, 1-1 against Cal State Bakersfield, and they lost to California the next day 2-0. Both of those matches were on the road, so CU headed back to Boulder looking to open up their home pitch with a win.
Things didn't start off the way the Buffs wanted them to, when in the fourth minute LSU struck first scoring off of a corner kick. The Buffs then played from behind for a good chunk of the first half until junior midfielder Liz Swain sent in only the second goal ever in CU's history, but more importantly on this day it was a match tying goal.
Entering the half, CU had a 22-8 lead on shots, including nine of those being on goal. But the score was tied at one all, so the Buffs had a large amount of work to do coming out in the second half in order to get that first win.
Less than ten minutes into the second half, in the 51st minute, freshman Shawn Kenyon gave CU the lead for good, nailing a shot that hit the back of the net. The Buffs took the lead 2-1 at that point with Kenyon's goal and they didn't look to give that away.
Throughout the remainder of the second half, CU played solid defense on their backline and they were able to control the midfield, giving LSU zero chances on goal and only three shots that ended up anywhere near the net.
When the final whistle blew, CU had held on to record the first win in program's history. It was also the first win at the Pleasant View Soccer Complex, a home that the Buffs would enjoy a long and successful time at.
Although the Buffs would finish the season 6-10-1 (3-6 Big 12), the foundation for what has become a top flight program west of the Mississippi River, was first laid out on Nov. 8 with a win against LSU.
The Top 20 Moments of Colorado soccer will be revealed throughout the season as 2016 marks the 20th Anniversary of the first year of the program. Two will be announced per week on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Top 20 Moments
1. ???
2. Buffs top LSU for first win in program history
3. CU rallies from two-goal deficit to upset No. 11 Texas A&M in Big 12 semifinals
4. CU's First Sweet Sixteen Appearance In 2006
5. Reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 2013 with wins over Denver and BYU
6. Big 12 Tournament finalists in 2005, 2006 and 2008
7. Snow Clasico 2 - CU beats BYU in the NCAA Tournament in a snowstorm
8. CU breaks attendance record against defending national champion North Carolina in 1998
9. Nikki Marshall's legacy beyond CU
10. Fran Munnelly earns Big 12 Player of the Year
11. Sloane Cox breaks Big 12 saves record
12. Shawn Kenyon scores first goal in school history
13. First Pac-12 win
14. First win over a ranked Pac-12 opponent
15. Buffs knock off No. 5 Texas A&M for win over highest-ranked opponent
16. CU moves into Prentup Field, a home for Buffs soccer
17. Nikki Marshall's success with the USWNT
18. CU's first Big 12 Tournament win in 2002
19. First NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003
20. Colorado announces the addition of women's soccer as a varsity sport on Aug. 14, 1993
Monday, April 06
Tuesday, November 25
Thursday, November 20
Thursday, November 20