Colorado University Athletics
Martine Puketapu (21) celebrates her goal on Saturday with Sarah Kinzner (10).
Photo by: Mike Greening
Midfielders Looking Strong Through Three Spring Games
April 17, 2017 | Soccer
BOULDER – With just two more weeks of training before the spring season is over, Colorado head coach Danny Sanchez is looking for his team to continue building off strong individual performances. He noted the performances of four of his returners and all three of his newcomers this spring, a group that has produced for all five of CU's goals this spring through three exhibition games.
Joss Orejel, who started 12 matches last fall, but battled injuries for much of the season and was limited to 17 total appearances, Megan Massey, Sarah Kinzner and Taylor Kornieck all have stood out to Sanchez among the returners. The latter three players started all 22 matches in the midfield in 2016.
"Joss has done a good job in the back," Sanchez. "She was in and out of the lineup last year because of injuries, but has been solid in the back. Megan and Sarah and Taylor in the midfield have performed at a high level."
The team's three newcomers this spring—transfers Cassie Phillips and Becca Rasmussen, and freshman Martine Puketapu—have also impressed with their play so far.
"Up top [on offense], Marty scoring a couple of goals [has been great], but just her work off the ball, her willingness to defend as well, has been very good," Sanchez said. "And the other two [new] players, Becca and Cassie, are bringing good qualities to the team. There are a lot of good individual performances so far, but we're really looking collectively to be more consistent this spring."
CU suffered a 2-1 defeat to Wyoming on Saturday in its third spring game, with Kinzner setting up Puketapu for a 1-0 lead in the first half.
"I thought we started well," Sanchez said. "Sarah had a great ball to Marty and she had a good finish. We had opportunities after that, but credit to Wyoming, they scored a good goal and got one in on a set piece that we didn't deal with. Once again it's the spring, and if [I'm] going to be true to what [I] say, it's about individual performances and I thought some players played well and other players got exposed a little bit, which is a good thing. We are playing good teams like Wyoming, and with Nebraska and Kansas State coming up and you're going to get exposed. It was a good learning experience for some of those players."
With both of the team's goalkeepers out at the moment as they recover from injuries, the Buffs added Maddy Boutros to the spring roster from CU's club women's soccer team. She made several saves in the game and helped slow the pressure from the Cowgirls.
"I was really pleased with Maddy Boutros and that the club team loaned her out," Sanchez said. "We thought she did a good job and we were really appreciative of her coming out and helping out the team. It was good to not have to put a field player in goal."
While Sanchez recognized that the defense was not familiar with seeing a pressing attack from its opposition this spring, he said the team needs to improve in its back four. The Buffs held a 1-0 lead in the game until the 78th minute when the Cowgirls finally got on the board and they added the game-winning score in the 84th minute off a set piece near midfield.
"I felt defensively we were average," Sanchez said. "Our shape wasn't good, but that's probably the first time [this spring] that we've had sustained pressure against us. I think in some of our individual battles, we failed. But once again, we hadn't been put in that situation yet. I think this week, especially leading up to a team like Nebraska that went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, it's going to be a big test for us and we're going to have to be better defensively."
These last two weeks are very important for the development of the returning players. While players will continue to work out on their own and with CU's strength and conditioning staff throughout the summer, NCAA rules prohibit organized practices with coaches throughout the summer until official training begins in August.
NO POSITION CHANGES—YET
Do not look for position changes in the spring. While the Buffs made a major change last season moving Erin Greening from forward to right-outside defender, that change was not made until August when preseason training began. In fact, Greening led the team in scoring last spring before making the switch to defender. It turned out to be a great change for everyone as Greening was the only defender on the team to start all 22 matches last fall, leading CU to a school-record 15 wins and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Sanchez prefers not to move players around much, particularly in the same game. With that said, he likes the versatility of several of his players this spring. Massey, Phillips and Rasmussen have all played throughout the midfield and at forward.
"We have some players that have versatility," Sanchez said. "Brooklyn Varnadore can play up top or she can play in the back as well. It's good to have those options, but really you won't know all of the pieces until August when everybody gets here and is healthy."
DANICA EVANS MAKES PROFESSIONAL DEBUT
Danica Evans made her pro soccer debut on Saturday, playing the final 18 minutes of the Orlando Pride's season-opener on the road against Portland Thorns FC. She immediately made an impact, winning a free kick from inside Pride's attacking half of the field.
Evans was drafted 22nd overall by the Pride in January and officially signed her first contract on April 10 prior to Saturday's season opener. She scored one goal during the preseason and is looking to fit into the Pride's lineup behind five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta and USWNT star Alex Morgan, who will both join Orlando soon from their overseas clubs.
CU had the opportunity to watch Evans' debut live on television.
"We got in the locker room after the game on Saturday and flipped on Lifetime TV," Sanchez said. "She was comfortable on the ball, drew a foul in a dangerous spot and was dangerous. She looked very comfortable out there as a rookie playing in front of 16,000 people in the toughest venue in the NWSL. We're super proud of her, but like we tell her, these are just baby steps. She has to continue to work hard at getting better and really work on defining her role with the team, especially when [Marta and Morgan] come back."
Evans was the sixth CU player to sign with an NWSL team, joining Amy Barczuk (Western New York Flash – 2013-14, Boston Breakers – 2015), Annie Brunner (Western New York Flash – 2015), Michelle (Wenino) Lomnicki (Chicago Red Stars – 2013-15), Nikki Marshall (Portland Thorns FC – 2013-14) and Kate Scheele (Houston Dash – 2016). Evans is the fourth to appear in an NWSL game, joining Barczuk, Lomnicki and Marshall.
UP NEXT
Colorado (1-1-1) will host Nebraska (3-1) at noon on Saturday in its fourth spring game of the season. The Cornhuskers, like the Buffs, reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last fall. They have defeated South Dakota State, Iowa State and Oklahoma in spring action, while falling 2-1 to FC Kansas City.
Saturday's Recap:
Goals: Puketapu (Kinzner)
Starting XI: Boutros (GK), Greening, Vidger, Orejel, Aaknes, Kinzner, Massey, Kornieck, Rasmussen, Puketapu, Phillips
Joss Orejel, who started 12 matches last fall, but battled injuries for much of the season and was limited to 17 total appearances, Megan Massey, Sarah Kinzner and Taylor Kornieck all have stood out to Sanchez among the returners. The latter three players started all 22 matches in the midfield in 2016.
"Joss has done a good job in the back," Sanchez. "She was in and out of the lineup last year because of injuries, but has been solid in the back. Megan and Sarah and Taylor in the midfield have performed at a high level."
The team's three newcomers this spring—transfers Cassie Phillips and Becca Rasmussen, and freshman Martine Puketapu—have also impressed with their play so far.
"Up top [on offense], Marty scoring a couple of goals [has been great], but just her work off the ball, her willingness to defend as well, has been very good," Sanchez said. "And the other two [new] players, Becca and Cassie, are bringing good qualities to the team. There are a lot of good individual performances so far, but we're really looking collectively to be more consistent this spring."
CU suffered a 2-1 defeat to Wyoming on Saturday in its third spring game, with Kinzner setting up Puketapu for a 1-0 lead in the first half.
"I thought we started well," Sanchez said. "Sarah had a great ball to Marty and she had a good finish. We had opportunities after that, but credit to Wyoming, they scored a good goal and got one in on a set piece that we didn't deal with. Once again it's the spring, and if [I'm] going to be true to what [I] say, it's about individual performances and I thought some players played well and other players got exposed a little bit, which is a good thing. We are playing good teams like Wyoming, and with Nebraska and Kansas State coming up and you're going to get exposed. It was a good learning experience for some of those players."
With both of the team's goalkeepers out at the moment as they recover from injuries, the Buffs added Maddy Boutros to the spring roster from CU's club women's soccer team. She made several saves in the game and helped slow the pressure from the Cowgirls.
"I was really pleased with Maddy Boutros and that the club team loaned her out," Sanchez said. "We thought she did a good job and we were really appreciative of her coming out and helping out the team. It was good to not have to put a field player in goal."
While Sanchez recognized that the defense was not familiar with seeing a pressing attack from its opposition this spring, he said the team needs to improve in its back four. The Buffs held a 1-0 lead in the game until the 78th minute when the Cowgirls finally got on the board and they added the game-winning score in the 84th minute off a set piece near midfield.
"I felt defensively we were average," Sanchez said. "Our shape wasn't good, but that's probably the first time [this spring] that we've had sustained pressure against us. I think in some of our individual battles, we failed. But once again, we hadn't been put in that situation yet. I think this week, especially leading up to a team like Nebraska that went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, it's going to be a big test for us and we're going to have to be better defensively."
These last two weeks are very important for the development of the returning players. While players will continue to work out on their own and with CU's strength and conditioning staff throughout the summer, NCAA rules prohibit organized practices with coaches throughout the summer until official training begins in August.
NO POSITION CHANGES—YET
Do not look for position changes in the spring. While the Buffs made a major change last season moving Erin Greening from forward to right-outside defender, that change was not made until August when preseason training began. In fact, Greening led the team in scoring last spring before making the switch to defender. It turned out to be a great change for everyone as Greening was the only defender on the team to start all 22 matches last fall, leading CU to a school-record 15 wins and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Sanchez prefers not to move players around much, particularly in the same game. With that said, he likes the versatility of several of his players this spring. Massey, Phillips and Rasmussen have all played throughout the midfield and at forward.
"We have some players that have versatility," Sanchez said. "Brooklyn Varnadore can play up top or she can play in the back as well. It's good to have those options, but really you won't know all of the pieces until August when everybody gets here and is healthy."
DANICA EVANS MAKES PROFESSIONAL DEBUT
Danica Evans made her pro soccer debut on Saturday, playing the final 18 minutes of the Orlando Pride's season-opener on the road against Portland Thorns FC. She immediately made an impact, winning a free kick from inside Pride's attacking half of the field.
Evans was drafted 22nd overall by the Pride in January and officially signed her first contract on April 10 prior to Saturday's season opener. She scored one goal during the preseason and is looking to fit into the Pride's lineup behind five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta and USWNT star Alex Morgan, who will both join Orlando soon from their overseas clubs.
CU had the opportunity to watch Evans' debut live on television.
"We got in the locker room after the game on Saturday and flipped on Lifetime TV," Sanchez said. "She was comfortable on the ball, drew a foul in a dangerous spot and was dangerous. She looked very comfortable out there as a rookie playing in front of 16,000 people in the toughest venue in the NWSL. We're super proud of her, but like we tell her, these are just baby steps. She has to continue to work hard at getting better and really work on defining her role with the team, especially when [Marta and Morgan] come back."
Evans was the sixth CU player to sign with an NWSL team, joining Amy Barczuk (Western New York Flash – 2013-14, Boston Breakers – 2015), Annie Brunner (Western New York Flash – 2015), Michelle (Wenino) Lomnicki (Chicago Red Stars – 2013-15), Nikki Marshall (Portland Thorns FC – 2013-14) and Kate Scheele (Houston Dash – 2016). Evans is the fourth to appear in an NWSL game, joining Barczuk, Lomnicki and Marshall.
UP NEXT
Colorado (1-1-1) will host Nebraska (3-1) at noon on Saturday in its fourth spring game of the season. The Cornhuskers, like the Buffs, reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last fall. They have defeated South Dakota State, Iowa State and Oklahoma in spring action, while falling 2-1 to FC Kansas City.
Saturday's Recap:
| Wyoming | 0 | 2 | - | 2 |
| Colorado | 1 | 0 | - | 1 |
Starting XI: Boutros (GK), Greening, Vidger, Orejel, Aaknes, Kinzner, Massey, Kornieck, Rasmussen, Puketapu, Phillips
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Tuesday, November 25
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Thursday, November 20