Buffs Open 2018 Season With 3-0 Victory Over Air Force

Thursday, August 16

USAFA, CO

6:00 PM

Colorado

1-0

Air Force

0-1

Colorado

Air Force

Photo by: Mike Greening

Buffs Open 2018 Season With 3-0 Victory Over Air Force

August 16, 2018 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Tommy Henderson, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. – The University of Colorado soccer team opened the season with a 3-0 victory over Air Force on Friday. Kayleigh Webb, Tatum Barton and Taylor Kornieck contributed a goal each, as 21 CU players saw action in the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Colorado opened the game and the season on the offensive, creating a handful of scoring opportunities early on.

Freshman Kayleigh Webb opened the scoring for the Buffaloes in the 11^thminute, when she finished a chance off of Libby Geraghty's corner kick.

Colorado's defense stifled the Air Force attack for the remainder of the half. Goalkeeper Jalen Tompkins made one save on a Falcons shot in the 35^thminute, before checking out of the game at halftime.

New goalkeeper Scout Watson and the CU defense were busy early in the second half, as the Falcons came out attacking. Defenders Hannah Cardenas and Kelsey Aaknes both made plays early in the second half to break up Air Force scoring chances.

Then around the 61st minute, the Buffs regained control. Air Force goalkeeper Jennifer Hiddink made a pair of acrobatic saves on shots from Megan Massey (62') and Erin Greening (65'), before Tatum Barton extended the Buffs lead to 2-0 on a pass from Marty Puketapu.

Barton and the CU offense continued to put pressure on the Air Force defense, creating scoring opportunities throughout the second half.

With time winding down and the game all but decided, Stephanie Zuniga played a ball ahead to Taylor Kornieck in the 89^thminute. Kornieck finished the opportunity from point-blank range to put the Buffs on top 3-0.

KEY STATISTICS: Colorado outshot Air Force by a final tally of 15-4, with the shots on goal breakdown standing at 9-3 in favor of the Buffaloes. 21 players on Colorado's 24-person roster saw action in Friday's victory, with freshmen Kayleigh Webb and Jesse Loren leading the team in minutes played with 75 a piece.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Colorado
Goals: 3
Shots: 15
Fouls: 7
Saves: 3

Air Force
Goals: 0
Shots: 4
Fouls: 5
Saves: 6

UP NEXT: CU will return home to Prentup Field to host in-state rival Colorado State at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.

QUOTEABLE:
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On depth of the team:
"I don't think you really saw a drop off [after subbing out starters]. Stephanie [Zuniga] got an assist, Tatum [Barton] scored a goal, Marty [Puketapu] had a nice assist, and a couple of freshmen Kayleigh [Webb] and Jesse [Loren]. I think we'll move things around, but I thought overall it was a good performance for the first game of season. It's early in the season so you want to get everybody minutes as much as you can. I thought the difference is, in the past you sub just for the sake of subbing, I thought you sub here [today] so we can play at a high tempo without a big drop off."

On play of the freshman class:
"I thought all three of them that got in did very well. Kayleigh [Webb] jumped into position, moved the ball well, you can see her athleticism, and she obviously gets on the end of things in the box. I thought Jesse [Loren] was very good in the back, you could see the composure even though she's a freshman. I think Emily Groark had a fantastic match, she had an assist and brought fantastic energy. It's a good start for them and good to get a game under their belts, but it's one of about 85 or 90 [collegiate] games for them."