Colorado University Athletics
Erin Greening at a recent training session.
Photo by: Andy Schlichting
Defenders Preview
August 15, 2018 | Soccer
CU opens the 2018 season on Thursday
CU's soccer team opens the 2018 season on Thursday at Air Force at 6 p.m. The Buffs then host Colorado State at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday at Prentup Field. Game notes for the weekend are attached.
BOULDER – Colorado's defense, like all of its positions, looks fairly solidified heading into the 2018 season with four players returning that started at least 10 games last season. With the help of strong goalkeeping play, the Buffs defense broke school records in 2017 for lowest goals-against average and shutouts.
Leading the way on the back line are seniors Alex Vidger and Erin Greening, both of whom have been starters for two seasons.
Vidger has been in the lineup 37 times in her career and has scored two goals (both during her sophomore season). Last season, she played as a defensive center midfielder at times before settling back into her role as a center back.
"Alex Vidger, for the most part of last two and a half seasons, has been a starter at center back," Sanchez said. "She has a lot of experience in competing in the Pac-12 and that high level."
Greening also moved around last season, opening the season as the team's right back before sliding into the midfield due to injuries at that position. She will return to one of the team's outside back positions and has the ability to push forward in the attack, adding another dimension to CU's defense. She scored two goals as a freshman in 2015 when she played in the midfield, but has just one assist since moving to the back line as a sophomore. Sanchez believes she has the potential for a breakout season as she has been the team's top performer during the spring and summer.
"Erin Greening had a great spring and has continued that into the preseason," Sanchez said. "We are really looking forward to seeing her and Kelsey [Aaknes], who are very good at attacking from the back. We are looking for [Greening] to have an impact here like she did in 2016 (when she started all 22 matches), and she is in even a better place now than she was then."
Greening's big improvement during the offseason is largely due to her commitment to fitness.
"Over summer I worked on long distance," Greening said. "I ran a half-marathon, which I have never done before. I was preparing for that, but I would also lift. I've been in the best shape I have ever been in."
Aaknes has made 39 starts in two seasons. She has been perhaps the most consistent defender for the Buffs during her time in Boulder and emerged last season as an offensive threat with two assists.
"Kelsey Aaknes has been a consistent two-year starter for us," Sanchez said. "She is versatile and can play left side, right side, or central. She gives us options for when we move players around."
Hannah Cardenas flourished as a freshman last fall, starting all 22 games at center back. She was a calming presence in the center of CU's defense, helping ease the load on goalkeepers Jalen Tompkins and Scout Watson. Cardenas continued to blossom throughout the offseason, earning call-ups to the U.S. U-18 and U-19 national teams.
"Hannah Cardenas came in as a freshman and had an immediate impact, and hasn't missed a beat in spring or preseason," Sanchez said. "We expect her to continue to develop and find her voice and become more of a leader."
Aaknes and Cardenas both stood out as freshmen on defense the past two seasons and the Buffs have two more freshmen that could step in this season if needed.
Sofia Weiner is a transfer from Virginia, where she redshirted in 2017. She has experience on U.S. youth national teams and was a top-100 recruit out of Evergreen High School last year. She will see time as an outside back.
Jesse Loren is a freshman from Redondo Beach, Calif., and was a starter for LAFC Slammers club team, where she led her team to an ECNL national championship in 2016 and a third-place finish in 2017. She will compete for playing time in the middle of the defense.
Both freshmen are versatile enough to also play in the midfield.
Gabbi Chapa is another option CU has as an outside back. She transferred to Boulder this summer after spending one season at Illinois. With the Illini, she made eight starts and recorded one assist as a freshman.
Midfielder Nancy Best could also see playing time as a center back if needed. She made 18 appearances last season as a defensive holding midfielder.
"Sofia is a player that can play in the midfield and probably is more of a midfielder and we are looking at her for the back because we feel that she has the tactical understanding and the fitness to help us as a wide back or in the midfield anywhere," Sanchez said. "She kind of falls in line with a lot of our players [in that she's versatile]. Nancy Best gives us some options as a center back because she is a fifth-year senior. She has been there and done it, and can compete there for sure. Gabbi Chapa has come in as a late addition to the program, and has tremendous pace as a wide back and gives us some depth and cover there. Jesse Loren is a player that can really make an impact on this team whether that is in the back or in the midfield. She has shown really well so far in preseason."
CU has one player to replace on defense in Joss Orejel, who was an all-region performer at left-outside back in 2017 with one goal and five assists in 21 starts. After graduation, she has joined Mexico's Women's National Team and has signed a contract to play professionally in France. Greening, Weiner and Aaknes appear the most likely candidates to slide over to the left back spot.
Regardless of who fills Orejel's role, Sanchez is confident in the team's options on defense. "We have options, and the good thing is we have competition. We have competition in all of the spots. Sometimes the attack takes a while to become cohesive, but fortunately in the back we have players who have started lots of games in the Pac-12. We also have new players that aren't intimated by the situation at all. They are experienced players who have played at a high level, and we feel good about that."
BOULDER – Colorado's defense, like all of its positions, looks fairly solidified heading into the 2018 season with four players returning that started at least 10 games last season. With the help of strong goalkeeping play, the Buffs defense broke school records in 2017 for lowest goals-against average and shutouts.
Leading the way on the back line are seniors Alex Vidger and Erin Greening, both of whom have been starters for two seasons.
Vidger has been in the lineup 37 times in her career and has scored two goals (both during her sophomore season). Last season, she played as a defensive center midfielder at times before settling back into her role as a center back.
"Alex Vidger, for the most part of last two and a half seasons, has been a starter at center back," Sanchez said. "She has a lot of experience in competing in the Pac-12 and that high level."
Greening also moved around last season, opening the season as the team's right back before sliding into the midfield due to injuries at that position. She will return to one of the team's outside back positions and has the ability to push forward in the attack, adding another dimension to CU's defense. She scored two goals as a freshman in 2015 when she played in the midfield, but has just one assist since moving to the back line as a sophomore. Sanchez believes she has the potential for a breakout season as she has been the team's top performer during the spring and summer.
"Erin Greening had a great spring and has continued that into the preseason," Sanchez said. "We are really looking forward to seeing her and Kelsey [Aaknes], who are very good at attacking from the back. We are looking for [Greening] to have an impact here like she did in 2016 (when she started all 22 matches), and she is in even a better place now than she was then."
Greening's big improvement during the offseason is largely due to her commitment to fitness.
"Over summer I worked on long distance," Greening said. "I ran a half-marathon, which I have never done before. I was preparing for that, but I would also lift. I've been in the best shape I have ever been in."
Aaknes has made 39 starts in two seasons. She has been perhaps the most consistent defender for the Buffs during her time in Boulder and emerged last season as an offensive threat with two assists.
"Kelsey Aaknes has been a consistent two-year starter for us," Sanchez said. "She is versatile and can play left side, right side, or central. She gives us options for when we move players around."
Hannah Cardenas flourished as a freshman last fall, starting all 22 games at center back. She was a calming presence in the center of CU's defense, helping ease the load on goalkeepers Jalen Tompkins and Scout Watson. Cardenas continued to blossom throughout the offseason, earning call-ups to the U.S. U-18 and U-19 national teams.
"Hannah Cardenas came in as a freshman and had an immediate impact, and hasn't missed a beat in spring or preseason," Sanchez said. "We expect her to continue to develop and find her voice and become more of a leader."
Aaknes and Cardenas both stood out as freshmen on defense the past two seasons and the Buffs have two more freshmen that could step in this season if needed.
Sofia Weiner is a transfer from Virginia, where she redshirted in 2017. She has experience on U.S. youth national teams and was a top-100 recruit out of Evergreen High School last year. She will see time as an outside back.
Jesse Loren is a freshman from Redondo Beach, Calif., and was a starter for LAFC Slammers club team, where she led her team to an ECNL national championship in 2016 and a third-place finish in 2017. She will compete for playing time in the middle of the defense.
Both freshmen are versatile enough to also play in the midfield.
Gabbi Chapa is another option CU has as an outside back. She transferred to Boulder this summer after spending one season at Illinois. With the Illini, she made eight starts and recorded one assist as a freshman.
Midfielder Nancy Best could also see playing time as a center back if needed. She made 18 appearances last season as a defensive holding midfielder.
"Sofia is a player that can play in the midfield and probably is more of a midfielder and we are looking at her for the back because we feel that she has the tactical understanding and the fitness to help us as a wide back or in the midfield anywhere," Sanchez said. "She kind of falls in line with a lot of our players [in that she's versatile]. Nancy Best gives us some options as a center back because she is a fifth-year senior. She has been there and done it, and can compete there for sure. Gabbi Chapa has come in as a late addition to the program, and has tremendous pace as a wide back and gives us some depth and cover there. Jesse Loren is a player that can really make an impact on this team whether that is in the back or in the midfield. She has shown really well so far in preseason."
CU has one player to replace on defense in Joss Orejel, who was an all-region performer at left-outside back in 2017 with one goal and five assists in 21 starts. After graduation, she has joined Mexico's Women's National Team and has signed a contract to play professionally in France. Greening, Weiner and Aaknes appear the most likely candidates to slide over to the left back spot.
Regardless of who fills Orejel's role, Sanchez is confident in the team's options on defense. "We have options, and the good thing is we have competition. We have competition in all of the spots. Sometimes the attack takes a while to become cohesive, but fortunately in the back we have players who have started lots of games in the Pac-12. We also have new players that aren't intimated by the situation at all. They are experienced players who have played at a high level, and we feel good about that."
Players Mentioned
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