Big Second Half Lifts Buffs To 10th Win

Thursday, October 6

Boulder, Colo.

3:30 PM

Colorado

10-3-0, 4-0-0Pac-12

Oregon

6-6-1, 0-4-0Pac-12

Oregon

Colorado

Emily Bruder works to get ahead of an Oregon defender in the first half of Thursday's win.

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

October 06, 2016 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Andy Schlichting, Assistant SID

BOULDER - Colorado scored two second-half goals to break a halftime tie and pull away for a 3-1 win over Oregon on Thursday afternoon at Prentup Field. The win was the eighth in a row for the Buffaloes as they improved to 10-3 overall and 4-0 in the Pac-12. Oregon dropped to 6-6-1 overall and 0-4-0 in conference play.

The eight-match winning streak is tied for the second-longest in school history and the longest since 2008. The school record is 11 consecutive wins in 2003.

WHAT HAPPENED: CU took an early lead in the third minute when Oregon defender Miranda Schulz kicked the ball into the net off a header by Taylor Kornieck for an own goal.

Play remained relatively even throughout the half until Kyra Fawcett headed in a corner kick for Oregon at 41:04 to tie the score.

Emily Bruder opened the second half with a rocket just inside the top of the box, but it was stopped with a leaping save.

CU then caught a pair of breaks in a span of less than 10 minutes. The Buffs nearly surrendered an own goal in the 50th minute, but Jalen Tompkins made a diving save to keep the match tied. Seven minutes later, the Ducks hit a header off the cross bar.

In the 63rd minute back in CU's favor, Bruder had another strong shot attempt that was saved and deflected out of bounds for a corner. Off the ensuing corner from Mikaela Kraus, Bruder scored off a one-touch shot after a failed clear attempt by Oregon at 62:21 for a 2-1 CU lead.

In the 71st minute, Stephanie Zuniga was fouled in the box and Kornieck converted the penalty for a 3-1 lead at 72:26.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES: Tompkins finished with five saves. When Oregon scored at 41:04, it ended her individual shutout streak at 480 minutes and 43 seconds, the longest such streak in school history. She broke current assistant Annie Brunner's previous record of 477:11 set in 2013. The team's shutout streak ended at 444:40, the third-longest streak in school history.

UP NEXT: CU will host Oregon State at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Prentup Field.

NOTES: The four-match conference winning streak ties the longest streak since CU joined the Pac-12 in 2011 … Kornieck has scored a goal in four consecutive matches, tying the school record set three times by Nikki Marshall … this is the 11th time CU has had 10 or more wins in a season, including the third time in head coach Danny Sanchez's fifth season … the 4-0 start in the Pac-12 ties the best start in conference play in school history (the 2003 team also started 4-0 before a tie with Oklahoma in the fifth conference match in the Big 12)

POSTGAME QUOTES
Danny Sanchez, head coach
On JJ breaking Annie's record
"Obviously when you get four shutouts in a row, there's probably something there. That's good, but I obviously think it's a reflection of the backs and the defense and the depth we have. Pleased for her, but obviously more pleased for the defense."

On the different defensive mix that was put into the game
"I think they're committed. They're communicating well. We're not giving up a lot of great opportunities and when we do, JJ is typically there to deal with them. I think today obviously showed off some of the depth we have with some of the players who stepped up and did very well. I was very pleased with Courtney Fedor and what she did. She went three or four games without playing at all and played 53 minutes today and did well. And obviously Mikaela [Kraus] stepping into center back. She played midfielder all year but really solidified things the last 30 to 35 minutes. I'm real pleased with that and excited to get back to work and get ready for Oregon State on Sunday."

On winning a different kind of game (with all the late goals)
"I think that, to be honest, we've had one goal but maybe we could have more. To be fair, I think other teams could have scored. So, credit to Oregon for getting that goal late in the first half. You could see it coming. They were putting pressure on us and we weren't playing well. So I think fair result, 1-1 at halftime. By the second half, we made some tactical adjustments. I thought we played much better and really neutralized the play and obviously we scored a fantastic goal. Great work from Stephanie to draw the penalty in and for Taylor to score the penalty."

On the adjustments that were made at halftime
"We didn't come out with a lot of energy. So, I think that was probably the biggest thing. But, we just reorganized the midfield. I felt we were really getting exposed in the flanks of the midfield, so we moved some players wider. Having said that, I thought we were more compact so we were able to defend more as a group. I thought we were so stretched out in the first half and we were chasing the game. Like you said, one shot [and that was the] own goal. But, from the second half we had more players around the ball so we were able to play a little bit more."

On the status of Joss Orejel's injury
"She has a hurt knee. We're going to aggressively rehab it and hope that she can come back. But, we don't know. It happened in the Arizona State game and it only hurt a little at the game. It was never really a big moment. When we flew back and got home it swelled up. It's a little bit better right now, but obviously she'll be out Sunday for sure."

On the status of Kahlia Hogg's injury
"We're going to go get an MRI in the morning. We've got great sports medicine. Great doctors. So, we'll hope it's not very serious and that she's just out for a little stretch. I feel bad for both of them. I obviously feel bad for Kahlia, but she's a tough kid. She'll do everything to do what she can to get back as soon as she can."

On the backs being to be able to perform strongly even with the injuries
"I thought Courtney [Fedor] stepped in and, like I said, was solid. It's tough to jump into a Pac-12 game when you haven't played a lot in the last four or five games. I think she played five minutes in four games. So, I was really pleased with what she did. Second half [Alex] Vidger, she had been coming off the bench, played a great 90 minutes today. Second half putting Mikaela [Kraus] in. I think she really stabilized the back four. And I think as a senior and as a leader, I thought her communication was key for us, especially late in the game when they were putting some pressure on us."

On how the team has been able to grind out wins with Pac-12 play
"We found a rhythm and I think we've found an identity and our identity is that we have to work hard and we have to play well. I mean if you're a neutral observer watching our games it could have gone either way, all of them. So we have to work hard together. We have to stick together. And we need players to step up and make moments. Today was a day that Emily [Bruder] stepped up, Stephanie [Zuniga] stepped up, Courtney [Fedor], Mikaela [Kraus], some different players than the names you normally hear. We're going to need that for the rest of the way."

Emily Bruder, senior, forward
On her scoring chances
"I was really excited because we were tied and I do believe we were outworking them. I think it was just time to get another goal and I think every time we put a goal in the net it just motivates the entire team. And I feel that's exactly what it did. We had Steph take it in. And everyone on the team was being more aggressive and everyone was working for each other on and off the ball."

On this game being a different kind of game considering it was tied a halftime
"This is a special group of [women] and obviously we were able to go to a different formation and we made it work well and that's exactly what Danny wanted. We figured it out and I think we adjusted really well. Like I said, we worked for each other. Everyone was defending and everyone was attacking together. Like I said, everyone motivates each other and when one person works another person is working. It's just all this energy and that's what we had to make it last until the end of the game.

On the big adjustment at halftime
"We put more onto the attack up front and I think that was really solid for us. I think that gave us more time to attack the endline and just attack the defense. I think that even their defense was thrown off. We were all moving up top and that's when it started creating opportunities. People were just going at it. Even our outside backs were coming up high. Overall, I think it was a well-done job by my whole team."

On the confidence the team is gaining each game
"I said this over and over and it's redundant ,but everyone's working for each other. And I think that when one person brings a lot of energy, everyone else has a lot of confidence and then it all just works off of each other. Another thing is JJ, best goalkeeper ever, did really well. I think she's actually a huge key in our team. She's been making these great saves and pumping everybody up. I think she's been a very good leader as well. I think that once one person is leading, everyone just all steps up."

On JJ breaking Annie Brunner's record
"I had no idea, but that's JJ. If anyone is going to do it, it's going to be JJ. I'm proud. That's awesome. Huge congratulations to her. I just think that proves that this team is doing well and JJ is holding our backline really well. It's all coming together. I'm just excited for the rest of the season. Obviously, it's only been a few games and we're 4-0. That's great for us. Compared to the last few years this is a huge step for us and I think we just need to face the harder teams coming up and obviously we have to take one game at a time. I think it's going to be a good time. Great season. We've just got to keep working."

Jalen Tompkins, goalkeeper, redshirt freshman
On breaking Annie Brunner's record
"I mean that's pretty cool. I just try to focus on now to be honest. Brunner was someone I looked up to when I was coming here. I went to a camp with her. But she's an awesome person I look up to a lot. I had no idea. My defense, like I've said, does most of the work for me. I've had to make a couple saves. And I'm just proud. I didn't even know. Shocked actually. It's kind of cool."

On the team playing with more and more confidence with each game…
"I think from each line, from the defense, to the midfield, to the forwards, everybody's just doing what they can and getting more confidence. The forwards the more they score… I mean 3-1 that's pretty big. Three goals today that's pretty big, especially in the Pac-12. It only gets harder from here with the teams. Each team we've played has been very, very good. But, it only gets harder and I think we have to take it day by day. Just take one game at a time."

On injuries in the back line….
"Joss [Orejel] and Kahlia [Hogg] are key to the defense. But, the great thing about this team is the dynamic that we have this year. Anybody can play anywhere right now. We all want each other to succeed so when people come off the bench we're cheering them on. I wasn't worried. I mean, Kahlia is a huge leader on this team. So, I knew I had to step up and I think [Alex] Vidger really stepped up with the leadership role in the background. I think everybody who was thrown in there, Courtney [Fedor] did a great job, Mic [Mikaela Kraus] did well, even Kenzie [Tillitt] when she came up and played a little bit of attacking she was working her butt off to get back. I'm just really proud of everybody because I know it's hard to lose players, but we've done well with it. I'm pretty proud."