Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Grey Gibbs
Buffs Select Captains for 2019
April 23, 2019 | Soccer
Four student-athletes elected team captains
BOULDER – The University of Colorado soccer team announced its selections for team captains for the upcoming 2019 season on Tuesday.
Seniors-to-be Jalen Tompkins, Taylor Kornieck, Kelsey Aaknes and Stephanie Zuniga were selected by a team vote. Tompkins and Scout Watson were the team's captains the previous two seasons.
Tompkins, a Phoenix, Ariz., native, ranked 23rd in the NCAA last season with a.851 save percentage. She registered 12 wins and helped CU to eight shutout victories. Tompkins totaled 86 saves and earned her sixth Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week award last season. She enters 2019 tied atop CU's all-time wins list with 37 and continues to be CU's career leader in save percentage (.862) and goals against average (.790). Tompkins wrapped up her season with a second consecutive third-team All-Pac-12 selection.
"I have learned a lot [as a captain]," Tompkins explained. "The first year you are trying to get your feet under you, especially as an underclassman. Each year I've really built up from it. Scout was a great co-captain to have. She showed me the ropes a little bit. Over the past three years, I've learned how to be responsible and be on top of things."
Kornieck, a Henderson, Nev., native, is coming off a stellar 2018 season. She became Colorado's first All-American (second team) since 2006 and just the second to be recognized by the United Soccer Coaches. Kornieck finished second on the team with a career-high 28 points, despite missing four matches. She set a Colorado record for assists in a season with 10. Her .63 assists per game closed the year seventh in the NCAA. Kornieck totaled nine goals in her 16 starts, recording nine multi-point games. She capped the year ranked 11th in the NCAA with 1.75 points per game. Kornieck was also first-team All-Conference and first-team All-Pacific Region.
"I think [being a captain] definitely changes my role on the field," Kornieck commented. "I think having the captain band on my arm is really important. I think it shows our incoming freshmen and our current freshman that can look to me and listen to me. I think we can work with each other even better than before."
Aaknes, a Carlsbad, Calif., native, started 12 of her 14 matches last season. She was a part of seven of CU's eight shutouts last season, missing time to injury. Aaknes totaled a career-high three assists last season and played a full 90 minutes in five matches. She was awarded her first Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week after CU's road wins at Marquette and Michigan State. Aaknes started all 22 matches for Colorado as a sophomore in 2017.
"We have had some really good captains in my three years here," Aaknes added. "Morgan Stanton, Scout and JJ. We have had some really good leaders and also really good friends of mine. They have shown that you can be a leader and hold people accountable but still be friends with them and have a good time."
Zuniga, a Pinole, Calif., native, totaled four starts last season after missing all of 2017. She played in 19 total matches, recording five points. She scored her lone goal in CU's 3-0 win at Michigan State. Zuniga totaled 16 shot attempts, putting eight on target. She played a career-high 784 minutes last season. Zuniga has 15 points in 56 career matches.
"It is a huge honor to be selected by the team," Zuniga said. "Obviously, there are big shoes to fill. Last year we had Scout and JJ. JJ has done a phenomenal job these past three years. Just having seen them and how they have led through the years has been very helpful in finding that balance between being a leader and knowing how to talk to the team."
Colorado is in the final week of its spring season. The team will host Wyoming at Prentup Field on Saturday (12 p.m.). CU is 2-1 against Division I opponents this spring, having put together wins over Air Force and Nebraska.
France 2019: The march to the fall does not end after this week. CU will have a few more opportunities to get out and compete this summer before the start of fall camp. The Buffs will play four matches as part of their trip to France in June.
Donations to help fund the team's trip are still welcome: Donate
Seniors-to-be Jalen Tompkins, Taylor Kornieck, Kelsey Aaknes and Stephanie Zuniga were selected by a team vote. Tompkins and Scout Watson were the team's captains the previous two seasons.
Tompkins, a Phoenix, Ariz., native, ranked 23rd in the NCAA last season with a.851 save percentage. She registered 12 wins and helped CU to eight shutout victories. Tompkins totaled 86 saves and earned her sixth Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week award last season. She enters 2019 tied atop CU's all-time wins list with 37 and continues to be CU's career leader in save percentage (.862) and goals against average (.790). Tompkins wrapped up her season with a second consecutive third-team All-Pac-12 selection.
"I have learned a lot [as a captain]," Tompkins explained. "The first year you are trying to get your feet under you, especially as an underclassman. Each year I've really built up from it. Scout was a great co-captain to have. She showed me the ropes a little bit. Over the past three years, I've learned how to be responsible and be on top of things."
Kornieck, a Henderson, Nev., native, is coming off a stellar 2018 season. She became Colorado's first All-American (second team) since 2006 and just the second to be recognized by the United Soccer Coaches. Kornieck finished second on the team with a career-high 28 points, despite missing four matches. She set a Colorado record for assists in a season with 10. Her .63 assists per game closed the year seventh in the NCAA. Kornieck totaled nine goals in her 16 starts, recording nine multi-point games. She capped the year ranked 11th in the NCAA with 1.75 points per game. Kornieck was also first-team All-Conference and first-team All-Pacific Region.
"I think [being a captain] definitely changes my role on the field," Kornieck commented. "I think having the captain band on my arm is really important. I think it shows our incoming freshmen and our current freshman that can look to me and listen to me. I think we can work with each other even better than before."
Aaknes, a Carlsbad, Calif., native, started 12 of her 14 matches last season. She was a part of seven of CU's eight shutouts last season, missing time to injury. Aaknes totaled a career-high three assists last season and played a full 90 minutes in five matches. She was awarded her first Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week after CU's road wins at Marquette and Michigan State. Aaknes started all 22 matches for Colorado as a sophomore in 2017.
"We have had some really good captains in my three years here," Aaknes added. "Morgan Stanton, Scout and JJ. We have had some really good leaders and also really good friends of mine. They have shown that you can be a leader and hold people accountable but still be friends with them and have a good time."
Zuniga, a Pinole, Calif., native, totaled four starts last season after missing all of 2017. She played in 19 total matches, recording five points. She scored her lone goal in CU's 3-0 win at Michigan State. Zuniga totaled 16 shot attempts, putting eight on target. She played a career-high 784 minutes last season. Zuniga has 15 points in 56 career matches.
"It is a huge honor to be selected by the team," Zuniga said. "Obviously, there are big shoes to fill. Last year we had Scout and JJ. JJ has done a phenomenal job these past three years. Just having seen them and how they have led through the years has been very helpful in finding that balance between being a leader and knowing how to talk to the team."
Colorado is in the final week of its spring season. The team will host Wyoming at Prentup Field on Saturday (12 p.m.). CU is 2-1 against Division I opponents this spring, having put together wins over Air Force and Nebraska.
France 2019: The march to the fall does not end after this week. CU will have a few more opportunities to get out and compete this summer before the start of fall camp. The Buffs will play four matches as part of their trip to France in June.
Donations to help fund the team's trip are still welcome: Donate
Players Mentioned
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