Colorado University Athletics
Camilla Shymka
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Buffs Open Training For 2017 Season
August 02, 2017 | Soccer
BOULDER – Colorado's soccer team kicked off the 2017 season with its first official training session on Wednesday morning. The Buffs are scheduled to hold two-a-day practices (with an off-day on Tuesday, Aug. 8) until Friday, Aug. 11, when they head to the mountains for a three-day trip.
CU opens the season on Friday, Aug. 18, on the road at Colorado State with a 5 p.m. kickoff against the Rams. The Buffs host Colorado College and two other matches for the Colorado Cup on Sunday, Aug. 20. Action that day kicks off at Prentup Field at 11 a.m. with neutral site matches between Denver and Colorado State, followed by Air Force and Northern Colorado. CU will face Colorado College at 3:30 p.m.
Season Outlook
Colorado is coming off one of its best seasons in school history, tying a school record with 15 wins to finish 15-6-1 overall, including 8-2-1 in the Pac-12. Eight starters are back for the Buffs, led by Taylor Kornieck, who was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year after scoring 11 goals and assisting on four more.
Joining Kornieck as returning starters are fellow sophomores Jalen Tompkins, who broke every freshman goalkeeping record last season, and Kelsey Aaknes, who proved to be a key component in CU's back four.
Juniors Megan Massey, Sarah Kinzner, Alex Vidger and Erin Greening are also back to the starting XI. Massey and Kinzner were vital parts of the midfield and both players started all 22 matches. Kinzner also had four goals and three assists. Vidger and Greening were important pieces to the back four. Greening was the only defender to start all 22 matches a year ago and did so after making the move from forward to outside back during fall camp. Vidger scored a pair of goals in 15 starts.
Joss Orejel is the lone returning senior starter and she started 12 matches at left-outside back before suffering an injury midway through the season. She returned late in the season to come off the bench five times and added two assists on the season.
During CU's spring season, the Buffs integrated three newcomers into their lineup. Freshman Martine Puketapu, a member of New Zealand's National Team, tied for the team's lead in goals with Kornieck during the spring after enrolling early. Transfers Becca Rasmussen and Cassie Phillips also played important roles during the semester to help the Buffs go 3-1-1 with wins over Kansas State, Nebraska and Northern Colorado.
Head coach Danny Sanchez is entering his sixth season at the helm of the program. He carries a 58-38-11 (.593) record at CU, the highest winning percentage in school history. In his career between CU, Wyoming, Metro State (NCAA Division II) and Mesa Community College, he has a 325-98-34 (.748) record and won Division II national championships at Metro State in 2004 and 2006.
Ticket Information
Season tickets are on sale for the 2017 season through this link. Single-game tickets will be available later this week. Check back to CUBuffs.com/soccertickets for single-game tickets.
CU opens the season on Friday, Aug. 18, on the road at Colorado State with a 5 p.m. kickoff against the Rams. The Buffs host Colorado College and two other matches for the Colorado Cup on Sunday, Aug. 20. Action that day kicks off at Prentup Field at 11 a.m. with neutral site matches between Denver and Colorado State, followed by Air Force and Northern Colorado. CU will face Colorado College at 3:30 p.m.
Season Outlook
Colorado is coming off one of its best seasons in school history, tying a school record with 15 wins to finish 15-6-1 overall, including 8-2-1 in the Pac-12. Eight starters are back for the Buffs, led by Taylor Kornieck, who was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year after scoring 11 goals and assisting on four more.
Joining Kornieck as returning starters are fellow sophomores Jalen Tompkins, who broke every freshman goalkeeping record last season, and Kelsey Aaknes, who proved to be a key component in CU's back four.
Juniors Megan Massey, Sarah Kinzner, Alex Vidger and Erin Greening are also back to the starting XI. Massey and Kinzner were vital parts of the midfield and both players started all 22 matches. Kinzner also had four goals and three assists. Vidger and Greening were important pieces to the back four. Greening was the only defender to start all 22 matches a year ago and did so after making the move from forward to outside back during fall camp. Vidger scored a pair of goals in 15 starts.
Joss Orejel is the lone returning senior starter and she started 12 matches at left-outside back before suffering an injury midway through the season. She returned late in the season to come off the bench five times and added two assists on the season.
During CU's spring season, the Buffs integrated three newcomers into their lineup. Freshman Martine Puketapu, a member of New Zealand's National Team, tied for the team's lead in goals with Kornieck during the spring after enrolling early. Transfers Becca Rasmussen and Cassie Phillips also played important roles during the semester to help the Buffs go 3-1-1 with wins over Kansas State, Nebraska and Northern Colorado.
Head coach Danny Sanchez is entering his sixth season at the helm of the program. He carries a 58-38-11 (.593) record at CU, the highest winning percentage in school history. In his career between CU, Wyoming, Metro State (NCAA Division II) and Mesa Community College, he has a 325-98-34 (.748) record and won Division II national championships at Metro State in 2004 and 2006.
Ticket Information
Season tickets are on sale for the 2017 season through this link. Single-game tickets will be available later this week. Check back to CUBuffs.com/soccertickets for single-game tickets.
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