Danny Sanchez at team banquet
Photo by: Gavin Crowson

Buffs Wrap Up Spring, Celebrate 2022 Season

April 24, 2023 | Soccer

Colorado will reconvene in the fall

BOULDER – Colorado soccer wrapped up its spring season with a jampacked weekend that included its final match of the season, the team's annual year-end banquet and an exciting groundbreaking ceremony.
 
The Buffaloes opened the weekend with a 4-3 defeat of Nebraska as part of Saturday's Black & Gold Day festivities. Shyra James scored three first-half goals and Sophia Petrov tacked one on in the second half to send the Cornhuskers packing.
 
The match capped off the spring that included wins over Wyoming and Kansas State. The Buffaloes also defended their Colorado Cup title, downing Denver in the championship match.

"It was a fantastic spring for the Buffs," head coach Danny Sanchez noted. "We had some very good performances in our spring matches. We feel our squad really developed individually. We couldn't be more excited to get everyone back later this summer. Added excitement is all the improvements happening at Prentup Field. It will be a game changer for our current student-athletes, our recruits and our fan atmosphere."
 
The Buffs also celebrated the 2022 season on Sunday hosting the annual awards banquet at the Rooftop Lounge of the Champions Center.
 
2022 Team Awards
MVP – Civana Kuhlmann
Offensive MVP – Shyra James
Defensive MVP – Hannah Cardenas
Herbst Academic Award – Alyssa Duke
Strength & Conditioning Award – Jade Babcock-Chi
Newcomer of the Year – Juliauna Hayward



Departing senior Civana Kuhlmann was awarded the team's MVP for the season. She led CU with 30 points (12 G, 6 A). Her 30 points ranked second in the Pac-12 and 22nd NCAA and tied her with Taylor Kornieck (2019) and Jorian Baucom (2018) for the second most in a season in program history. Kuhlmann's 12 goals tied for second-most by a Buff, alongside Kornieck (2019), Baucom (2018) and Katie Griffin (2005). She started all 19 matches she appeared in and played 1,227 minutes in her lone season in Boulder. Kuhlmann, a First Team All-Pac-12 selection, was absent from the banquet as she is currently in her rookie season with the NWSL's Washington Spirit.

James, a rising senior, was selected as the team's Offensive MVP for the second year in a row. She totaled 11 goals and one assist last season. She scored at least one goal in CU's first six matches to start the season, extending her goal-scoring streak to 10 games (carrying over from 2021). James scored eight goals in her hot start, before going without a point in CU's 1-1 draw at Michigan. She finished second on the team and eighth in the Pac-12 with 23 points. James picked up her second Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week award on Aug. 22, following a six-point start to the season. She closed the season fifth in the Pac-12 with 0.55 goals per game.

Cardenas had her collegiate career come to a close, earning the team's Defensive MVP. She helped CU record six shutouts on the season. Cardenas played just short of 1,000 minutes in her final season, having missed the entire 2021 season and large portions of 2022 and 2018.

Duke took home the team's Academic Award for the year. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in three seasons and will finish up her master's this spring. She was a three-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll honoree and was a 2022 CSC Academic All-District selection. On the field, she totaled a career-high three points (1 G, 1 A), scoring in CU's 5-1 win over San Diego.

Babcock-Chi, who will return for a fifth season in the fall, scored the Strength and Conditioning Award. She started 15 matches and appeared in 16. Babcock-Chi played 90 minutes twice and totaled 1,103 minutes on the season.

Hayward contributed in a big way in her freshman season. She started all 14 matches she played in and recorded her first career goal in her CU debut against Weber State. She missed the season's final six games but still finished the season sixth on the team with eight points (2 G, 4 A).

The Buffs shifted venues to Prentup Field on Sunday afternoon for a cerimonial groundbreaking. When Colorado takes the field next fall it will be with major improvements with the most noticeable change being the addition of lights. 
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