Colorado University Athletics
Senior Darby Kiernan led CU in scoring as a junior in 2017
Photo by: Hunter Martin
Buffs Wrap-Up Successful Fall Season; Look Forward To Regular Season This Spring
December 13, 2017 | Lacrosse
BOULDER - Colorado's lacrosse team recently wrapped up its fall schedule and has turned their attention to offseason workouts and preparation for the spring season. Coming off the most successful season in the program's young history, expectations for the Buffs' 2018 season are sky high, and the fall season gave Colorado Head Coach Ann Elliott her first look at this year's team.
CU opened the fall season with an alumni game (the program's first) and an intra-squad scrimmage, before travelling to Denver for a scrimmage against the Pioneers. The Buffs wrapped up the fall slate at Northwestern's 'Play Days', where they were able to measure themselves against some of the nation's best competition.
At Play Days, CU had the opportunity to play two future opponents in Northwestern and Marquette, as well as Notre Dame. "Our fall trip out to Northwestern every year gives us the opportunity to play longer games against great competition," Elliott said of the event. "Obviously being able to play Northwestern, Notre Dame and Marquette is incredible."
While the team looked strong in an early fall scrimmage at DU, Elliott admits that matching up against the likes of Northwestern and Notre Dame in the fall can be eye-opening. "I think it really opened us up to where we're at and where we stand after the fall," she said. "It should motivate us going into the spring, just to get a picture of how much farther we have to go."
No doubt the 2018 Buffs will look distinctly different than in seasons past. CU graduated its first senior class (14 athletes) last spring off a team that posted a 16-4 record on the way to CU's first NCAA Tournament appearance. Fortunately for Elliott and the Buffs, this year's senior class appears ready to fill the big shoes left behind.
'I think we have a motivated senior class after making the tournament last year, but coming up short (in the first round)," Elliott said. "[This senior class] has a good idea of what they want from this team and where they expect it to go. As a whole, they're really invested in making this the best year that we've had here. Across the board we're returning a lot of strong, experienced players."
Among the biggest departures in CU's first graduating class is All-American and four-year starter in goal, Paige Soenksen. Colorado returns a pair of goalkeepers who will vie for the starting job in senior Sophia Gambitsky and sophomore Julia Lisella. "At the goaltender position in particular, we have two very talented players who can get the job done. They're very different in what they bring to this team and we're excited to keep watching them and see where we're at [in February]." Elliott said of the two goalkeepers, acknowledging that she likely won't name a starter until the first game. "We're trying not to rush anything. We want to give everybody the opportunity to come into their own and see who steps up."
Whether it's Lisella or Gambitsky in goal when CU opens its season in February, they will have the confidence of playing behind a skilled and experienced defense. The Buffs return three defensive starters off last season's team in second team All-American Sarah Brown, all-conference selection Kelsie Garrison, and Olivia Aschman. Seniors Brown and Garrison have anchored the defense throughout their CU careers, leading the team in both caused turnovers and ground balls last season. "Defensively, I think we're returning a really strong unit," Elliott said of the defense, "We know we can still grow a lot more in that area, and we're determined to be the best."
While the Buffs return all-region midfielder Miranda Stinson, several key departures have given unproven players the opportunity to step into larger roles. "Obviously we have some big shoes to fill in the midfield, and I think we'll have players stepping up in different ways," Elliott said of the midfield.
CU's attack looks primed for another productive season as last season's leading scorer, Darby Kiernan, returns after earning third-team All-American honors as a junior in 2017. Elliott has seen Kiernan and fellow senior Carly Cox rise as offensive leaders. "Offensively it's exciting to see Darby [Kiernan] and Carly [Cox] step up and start taking control of this team, and all of our younger players are really starting to find their roles and give us even more weapons than we had last year."
The fall slate also gave Coach Elliott and her staff their first look at 10 freshmen who joined the program this August. While the 2018 Buffs boast plenty of returning talent, this freshman class will have the opportunity to contribute early in their careers. Two freshmen in particular have stood out through the fall. "I think our freshman class as a whole is really coming along and challenging themselves. Devon (Bayer) has really done a great job of learning and growing as a defender and in the midfield this fall. Sadie (Grozier) is another one that I think really stepped up during the Northwestern games and did a great job for us. I think we have a lot of players that have the potential to step up, so we're excited to see how the next couple of months go for us and see where we're at in February."
When the Buffs take the field in February, they will do so as members of the Pac-12's new women's lacrosse conference. While CU may face-off against a handful of new foes, the Buffs' the offseason approach remains the same: "[We focus on] just keeping everything moving forward. We have a lot of room to grow, but I think they're excited for the challenge."
CU opened the fall season with an alumni game (the program's first) and an intra-squad scrimmage, before travelling to Denver for a scrimmage against the Pioneers. The Buffs wrapped up the fall slate at Northwestern's 'Play Days', where they were able to measure themselves against some of the nation's best competition.
At Play Days, CU had the opportunity to play two future opponents in Northwestern and Marquette, as well as Notre Dame. "Our fall trip out to Northwestern every year gives us the opportunity to play longer games against great competition," Elliott said of the event. "Obviously being able to play Northwestern, Notre Dame and Marquette is incredible."
While the team looked strong in an early fall scrimmage at DU, Elliott admits that matching up against the likes of Northwestern and Notre Dame in the fall can be eye-opening. "I think it really opened us up to where we're at and where we stand after the fall," she said. "It should motivate us going into the spring, just to get a picture of how much farther we have to go."
No doubt the 2018 Buffs will look distinctly different than in seasons past. CU graduated its first senior class (14 athletes) last spring off a team that posted a 16-4 record on the way to CU's first NCAA Tournament appearance. Fortunately for Elliott and the Buffs, this year's senior class appears ready to fill the big shoes left behind.
'I think we have a motivated senior class after making the tournament last year, but coming up short (in the first round)," Elliott said. "[This senior class] has a good idea of what they want from this team and where they expect it to go. As a whole, they're really invested in making this the best year that we've had here. Across the board we're returning a lot of strong, experienced players."
Among the biggest departures in CU's first graduating class is All-American and four-year starter in goal, Paige Soenksen. Colorado returns a pair of goalkeepers who will vie for the starting job in senior Sophia Gambitsky and sophomore Julia Lisella. "At the goaltender position in particular, we have two very talented players who can get the job done. They're very different in what they bring to this team and we're excited to keep watching them and see where we're at [in February]." Elliott said of the two goalkeepers, acknowledging that she likely won't name a starter until the first game. "We're trying not to rush anything. We want to give everybody the opportunity to come into their own and see who steps up."
Whether it's Lisella or Gambitsky in goal when CU opens its season in February, they will have the confidence of playing behind a skilled and experienced defense. The Buffs return three defensive starters off last season's team in second team All-American Sarah Brown, all-conference selection Kelsie Garrison, and Olivia Aschman. Seniors Brown and Garrison have anchored the defense throughout their CU careers, leading the team in both caused turnovers and ground balls last season. "Defensively, I think we're returning a really strong unit," Elliott said of the defense, "We know we can still grow a lot more in that area, and we're determined to be the best."
While the Buffs return all-region midfielder Miranda Stinson, several key departures have given unproven players the opportunity to step into larger roles. "Obviously we have some big shoes to fill in the midfield, and I think we'll have players stepping up in different ways," Elliott said of the midfield.
CU's attack looks primed for another productive season as last season's leading scorer, Darby Kiernan, returns after earning third-team All-American honors as a junior in 2017. Elliott has seen Kiernan and fellow senior Carly Cox rise as offensive leaders. "Offensively it's exciting to see Darby [Kiernan] and Carly [Cox] step up and start taking control of this team, and all of our younger players are really starting to find their roles and give us even more weapons than we had last year."
The fall slate also gave Coach Elliott and her staff their first look at 10 freshmen who joined the program this August. While the 2018 Buffs boast plenty of returning talent, this freshman class will have the opportunity to contribute early in their careers. Two freshmen in particular have stood out through the fall. "I think our freshman class as a whole is really coming along and challenging themselves. Devon (Bayer) has really done a great job of learning and growing as a defender and in the midfield this fall. Sadie (Grozier) is another one that I think really stepped up during the Northwestern games and did a great job for us. I think we have a lot of players that have the potential to step up, so we're excited to see how the next couple of months go for us and see where we're at in February."
When the Buffs take the field in February, they will do so as members of the Pac-12's new women's lacrosse conference. While CU may face-off against a handful of new foes, the Buffs' the offseason approach remains the same: "[We focus on] just keeping everything moving forward. We have a lot of room to grow, but I think they're excited for the challenge."
Players Mentioned
D
/ Lacrosse
D
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
G
/ Lacrosse
D
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
G
/ Lacrosse
G
/ Lacrosse
M
/ LacrosseMonday, May 04
Monday, May 04
Sunday, April 26
Saturday, April 18