Buffs Celebrate 2018

BOULDER— The University of Colorado soccer team officially closed the 2018 season on Tuesday night, celebrating and handing out its team awards at its annual end of season banquet. The Buffaloes celebrated its record-breaking season that included a school-record 16-game unbeaten streak and a fifth-place Pac-12 finish.

2018 Team Awards
Buff Cup* – Erin Greening
MVP – Taylor Kornieck
Offensive MVP – Jorian Baucom
Defensive MVP – Sarah Kinzner
Herbst Academic Award – Libby Geraghty
Strength & Conditioning Award – Jalen Tompkins
Newcomer of the Year – Kayleigh Webb

*Buff Cup award is given to the player with the most accumulated points from competitions amongst the team during the spring season

Greening, a recent third-round selection by the Orlando Pride in the NWSL Draft, started all 12 matches she appeared in 2018. She recorded three assists from her outside back position in 911 minutes. Greening missed eight matches to injury but returned to the lineup without missing a beat. She played a major role on CU's backline that recorded eight shutouts on the season.

Kornieck became CU's first All-American since 2006, earning second-team honors from the United Soccer Coaches. The Henderson, Nev., native, finished second on the team with a career-best 28 points, despite missing four matches to injury. Kornieck set the CU record for assists in 2018 (10) and ranked seventh in the NCAA with .63 assists per game. Her 10 assists were 13th best in the NCAA.

The 6-1 forward scored nine goals in her 16 starts, tallying two multi-goal games. Kornieck was also among the top offensive players in the nation this season, totaling school record 1.75 points per game (11th NCAA). The team MVP honor adds to her collection from the season. She was also a first-team All-Pac-12 selection and a first-team All-Pacific Region honoree.

Baucom ranked fourth in the Pac-12 with a team-best 12 goals in 2018. She led the team with 30 points (33rd NCAA), recording the second-best point total in program history. Baucom became just the third player in program history to record 12 or more goals in a season, bringing her career total to 45. She started all 20 games in her lone season with the Buffs. The transfer from LSU totaled three multi-goal games and ranked fifth in the Pac-12 with .60 goals per game. She was also third on the team with six assists. Baucom was also a second-team All-Pac-12 honoree.

Kinzner, a senior defender, started all 20 matches and registered the third most minutes (1,496) in 2018. She registered her lone assists on CU's game-winning goal in overtime against Washington, helping CU to its 11th win of the season. Kinzner helped lead the Buffs to a school-record 16-game unbeaten streak, starting the season 13-0-3. She helped solidify a back line that played to eight shutouts. Kinzner attempted nine shots on the season, including six on goal. She ends her career tied for eighth in program history in starts (80) and tied for 10th in games played (82).

Geraghty became CU's first first-team Pac-12 All-Academic honoree since 2015. The redshirt freshman holds a 4.0 GPA while majoring in integrative physiology. She earned four starts and appeared in all 20 matches for the Buffaloes. Geraghty scored her first-career goal in CU's win over Oregon. She also had three assists in her first full season. Geraghty returned to the pitch in 2018 after suffering a season-ending injury in Colorado's opener in 2017.

Tompkins, a third-team All-Pac-12 honoree, registered 12 wins on the season, including a solo shutout against California. Tompkins had a hand in seven of CU's eight shutouts. She started 18 of the 19 games she appeared in 2018. The junior keeper made 12 saves in CU's draw at Arizona State, tying her career-high. Tompkins was second in the Pac-12 with a .851 save percentage (23rd NCAA) and was third in the conference with 4.53 saves per game.

Webb led the team with her 1,726 minutes in 2018. She started all 20 matches in her freshman season, helping solidify CU's backline. She tallied her first-career goal and the Buffs' first goal of the season in CU's season-opening 3-0 win over Air Force.

Colorado finished 13-4-3 on the season, going 5-4-2 in the Pac-12. The Buffs set program records in goals (47), assists (50) and total points (146). Continue reading here for a further review of the 2018 season.

Players Mentioned

Jorian Baucom

Libby Geraghty

Erin Greening

Sarah Kinzner

Taylor Kornieck

Jalen Tompkins

Kayleigh Webb

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