Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Andy Schlichting
Buffs Open 2018 Season With Two Training Sessions
July 31, 2018 | Soccer
Orejel wins gold with Mexico's Women's National Team
BOULDER – Colorado's soccer team completed its first two training sessions of the 2018 season on Tuesday, in addition to some fitness testing in the morning. The Buffs are scheduled for two-a-day practices for the first two weeks with a scheduled off-day each week as well. The team opens the season at Air Force on Aug. 16 and returns home to face Colorado State on Aug. 19 at Prentup Field.
All 24 players on the roster are healthy and participated in Tuesday's training and fitness testing. Overall, head coach Danny Sanchez was pleased with the performances to open camp. CU reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the past five seasons, and returns 11 players that started 10 or more matches last season.
"When you lose in November in the NCAA tournament, then you really start thinking about this morning," Sanchez said. "That's eight to nine months away and I thought that during fitness, players really showed us something because it's a physical test but also a mental test. Then obviously out here once you start playing, you don't draw too many conclusions [because it's the first session of the season], but you feel like some of the players look sharp and some looked like they were tired from the run. But that is to be expected, and overall, it was good. We are healthy and excited to see where we get to progress as we build towards August 16th"
After the fitness testing, the team jumped right into an 11v11 session on the game field at Prentup. Tatum Barton and Camilla Shymka both scored goals in the team session.
Compared to seasons past, the offense appeared to be ahead of where it normally is at the start of the season as goalkeeper Jalen Tompkins said that there has not typically been any scoring in the opening training session during her career.
Sanchez agreed, saying, "It's almost like the NFL...it's easier to defend than attack in general, in any sport. It's easier to defend the basket than score the basket. It's good. I thought the movement in the attack and the options we had created some good chances."
Tuesday's afternoon session was more situational and more individual, focusing on connecting passes and finishing near the goal with defenders working on their tactics at the same time.
OREJEL WINS GOLD WITH MEXICO
Joss Orejel, a graduate from CU this spring after being the team's starting left back for the past four seasons, earned a gold medal with Mexico's Women's National Team on Monday at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. Mexico finished the tournament 5-0.
Orejel started all four matches (Haiti withdrew from the tournament, earning Mexico a forfeit win in group play as the team played just four of its five wins) and played all 90 minutes of the 3-1 win over Costa Rica in the final. Las Tri conceded only three goals in the tournament and Orejel was on the field for all but six minutes in the four matches.
BLACK AND GOLD SCRIMMAGE SUNDAY
The team will hold a day of festivities for fans around an intrasquad scrimmage on Sunday, Aug. 5, at Prentup Field. The day will open with a youth clinic for kids 12-and-under at 11:30 a.m. Following the clinic, fans will have a chance to meet the team at 12:30 for photos and autographs. The Buffs will then hold their Black & Gold Scrimmage at 1 p.m.
To RSVP for the youth clinic, please fill out the form at this link.
All 24 players on the roster are healthy and participated in Tuesday's training and fitness testing. Overall, head coach Danny Sanchez was pleased with the performances to open camp. CU reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the past five seasons, and returns 11 players that started 10 or more matches last season.
"When you lose in November in the NCAA tournament, then you really start thinking about this morning," Sanchez said. "That's eight to nine months away and I thought that during fitness, players really showed us something because it's a physical test but also a mental test. Then obviously out here once you start playing, you don't draw too many conclusions [because it's the first session of the season], but you feel like some of the players look sharp and some looked like they were tired from the run. But that is to be expected, and overall, it was good. We are healthy and excited to see where we get to progress as we build towards August 16th"
After the fitness testing, the team jumped right into an 11v11 session on the game field at Prentup. Tatum Barton and Camilla Shymka both scored goals in the team session.
Compared to seasons past, the offense appeared to be ahead of where it normally is at the start of the season as goalkeeper Jalen Tompkins said that there has not typically been any scoring in the opening training session during her career.
Sanchez agreed, saying, "It's almost like the NFL...it's easier to defend than attack in general, in any sport. It's easier to defend the basket than score the basket. It's good. I thought the movement in the attack and the options we had created some good chances."
Tuesday's afternoon session was more situational and more individual, focusing on connecting passes and finishing near the goal with defenders working on their tactics at the same time.
OREJEL WINS GOLD WITH MEXICO
Joss Orejel, a graduate from CU this spring after being the team's starting left back for the past four seasons, earned a gold medal with Mexico's Women's National Team on Monday at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. Mexico finished the tournament 5-0.
Orejel started all four matches (Haiti withdrew from the tournament, earning Mexico a forfeit win in group play as the team played just four of its five wins) and played all 90 minutes of the 3-1 win over Costa Rica in the final. Las Tri conceded only three goals in the tournament and Orejel was on the field for all but six minutes in the four matches.
BLACK AND GOLD SCRIMMAGE SUNDAY
The team will hold a day of festivities for fans around an intrasquad scrimmage on Sunday, Aug. 5, at Prentup Field. The day will open with a youth clinic for kids 12-and-under at 11:30 a.m. Following the clinic, fans will have a chance to meet the team at 12:30 for photos and autographs. The Buffs will then hold their Black & Gold Scrimmage at 1 p.m.
To RSVP for the youth clinic, please fill out the form at this link.
Players Mentioned
Monday, April 06
Tuesday, November 25
Thursday, November 20
Thursday, November 20