Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Andy Schlichting
Buffs Picked Fifth In Pac-12 Preseason Poll
August 07, 2018 | Soccer
SAN FRANCISCO – Colorado's soccer team was picked fifth in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll on Tuesday. The Buffs received 74 points and came in behind first-place Stanford (121 points), UCLA (109), Southern California (98) and California (90).
CU is coming off its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the past five years after going 12-6-4 and finishing sixth in the Pac-12 in 2017.
The team returns nine of its 11 starters from last season, including the top four goal scorers, along with all-region and All-Pac-12 goalkeeper Jalen Tompkins. Marty Puketapu scored a team-high eight goals and added two assists as a freshman in 2017. Junior Taylor Kornieck has already been named All-Pac-12 twice in her career, and scored seven goals with four assists as a sophomore. Tatum Barton had six goals coming off the bench as a sophomore and midfielder Megan Massey added four, along with six assists during her junior campaign a year ago.
Also returning to the starting lineup from 2017 are midfielders Cassie Phillips and Sarah Kinzner, along with defenders Kelsey Aaknes, Erin Greening, Alex Vidger and Hannah Cardenas.
CU also welcomes back three offensive players who sat out with injuries. Jorian Baucom is healthy for her senior season and was an All-SEC performer after scoring 33 goals in three seasons at LSU before sitting out last season with an injury. Stephanie Zuniga led the Buffs with six assists as a sophomore in 2016 before missing last season. Libby Geraghty started CU's season opener last year, but was injured late in the match and missed the remaineder of the season. She was among the top-rated forwards nationally in the 2017 recruiting class.
Head coach Danny Sanchez returns for his seventh season with CU and has a 70-44-15 (.601) record, leading the Buffs past the first round of the NCAA Tournament four times already. Over the past two seasons, CU has gone 13-6-3 (.659) in Pac-12 matches under Sanchez.
Eight of CU's opponents this season made the NCAA Tournament last season, including five that visit Boulder this season (Utah Valley, Denver, Washington State, Southern California and UCLA). Last season's national championship game featured Stanford edging UCLA 3-2.
Season tickets are on sale now at CUBuffs.com. The Women's Sports Pass is also available for just $125. That package includes season tickets to all women's sports teams at CU.
The 2018 season kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 16, at Air Force. The Buffs play their home opener on Sunday, Aug. 19, against Colorado State at 3:30 p.m. at Prentup Field.
CU is coming off its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the past five years after going 12-6-4 and finishing sixth in the Pac-12 in 2017.
The team returns nine of its 11 starters from last season, including the top four goal scorers, along with all-region and All-Pac-12 goalkeeper Jalen Tompkins. Marty Puketapu scored a team-high eight goals and added two assists as a freshman in 2017. Junior Taylor Kornieck has already been named All-Pac-12 twice in her career, and scored seven goals with four assists as a sophomore. Tatum Barton had six goals coming off the bench as a sophomore and midfielder Megan Massey added four, along with six assists during her junior campaign a year ago.
Also returning to the starting lineup from 2017 are midfielders Cassie Phillips and Sarah Kinzner, along with defenders Kelsey Aaknes, Erin Greening, Alex Vidger and Hannah Cardenas.
CU also welcomes back three offensive players who sat out with injuries. Jorian Baucom is healthy for her senior season and was an All-SEC performer after scoring 33 goals in three seasons at LSU before sitting out last season with an injury. Stephanie Zuniga led the Buffs with six assists as a sophomore in 2016 before missing last season. Libby Geraghty started CU's season opener last year, but was injured late in the match and missed the remaineder of the season. She was among the top-rated forwards nationally in the 2017 recruiting class.
Head coach Danny Sanchez returns for his seventh season with CU and has a 70-44-15 (.601) record, leading the Buffs past the first round of the NCAA Tournament four times already. Over the past two seasons, CU has gone 13-6-3 (.659) in Pac-12 matches under Sanchez.
Eight of CU's opponents this season made the NCAA Tournament last season, including five that visit Boulder this season (Utah Valley, Denver, Washington State, Southern California and UCLA). Last season's national championship game featured Stanford edging UCLA 3-2.
Season tickets are on sale now at CUBuffs.com. The Women's Sports Pass is also available for just $125. That package includes season tickets to all women's sports teams at CU.
The 2018 season kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 16, at Air Force. The Buffs play their home opener on Sunday, Aug. 19, against Colorado State at 3:30 p.m. at Prentup Field.
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