Thursday, August 15
7 p.m.
Colorado
vs
Marquette
Photo by: Ashton Scott
Soccer Ready for Opener Against Marquette
August 14, 2024 | Soccer
Buffs get 2024 underway on Thursday
BOULDER — Head coach Danny Sanchez and the Colorado Buffaloes get the 2024 season officially underway on Thursday night, hosting Marquette under the lights at Prentup Field (7 p.m. MT).
The opener is the first of a four-game homestand. The Buffs will play six of their first eight games of the season on their home pitch. Colorado had a strong showing at home last season, going 8-3-1 in front of the home crowd.
CU previewed the opener with a 4-3 exhibition win over North Texas last Saturday. Hope Leyba, Sami Fisher, Josie Master and Ava Priest accounted for the goals.
"I thought there were some really good things," Sanchez explained. "We looked at some film and had some really good learning moments. Some of our new players got the opportunity to show some good things. It was almost what you expect in an exhibition. We never have one, it's always just our first game. We always lament the fact that we're not as sharp in that first game. Credit to North Texas: They played a tough game against Colorado State on Thursday and came here and played us on Saturday night. I thought they were very good, very dangerous. They scored a couple of really good goals, but having said that, we scored four really good goals, and everyone got out of it healthy."
The 2024 Buffs will look almost identical to the 2023 roster that finished 13-5-3 and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2020 season. CU returned 19 players from last season and added just five newcomers. Laura Gouvin (Boston College) and Michaela Rosenbaum (UCLA) transferred in as graduate students. Fisher redshirted last season at Florida, while true freshmen Jace Holley and Hannah Puff will look to make an impact this season.
"We have a good group back," Sanchez expressed. "We lost some important pieces last year in some four-year starters and fifth-year players that were very experienced and really pushed our program forward. At the end of the day, we have a lot of talent back and experience back. Part of the reason we have such a small recruiting class, only two freshmen, is because we bring players in to compete, not just to wear the gear in the airport.
"When you look at the players we have back, with a couple of fifth-years in Rachel Rosen and Shyra James and brought in a couple of fifth-years with Micky (Rosenbaum) and Laura, but really the core of the group is back."
Rachel Rosen, a returning captain from last season, is joined by juniors Juliauna Hayward and Jordan Nytes in wearing the captain's band this season.
"Last year was unique in just having Rachel as a captain," Sanchez noted. "We revisited what the expectation was and had a lot of conversations with Rachel. As a captain, you're held to a higher standard. At the end of the day, everything that happens with the program falls on me, and the captains have to facilitate the messaging and the expectations. Our team's saying is 'Side Before Self,' and that's difficult to do sometimes. The team voted, and we [the coaching staff] wholeheartedly agree."
Colorado was picked fourth in last week's Big 12 Preseason Poll with Shyra James, Faith Leyba and Nytes earning Preseason All-Big 12 accolades. James has also picked up Third Team Best XI from Top Drawer Soccer (TDS) and was named a Forward to Watch by the United Soccer Coaches.
All three players were listed on TDS's Preseason 100, with James leading the group at No. 28.
The Golden Eagles finished 5-10-4 last season and brought in a new coach and rotation of players this season. Thursday night's match serves as a rematch from last season's opening weekend. Marquette upset the Buffs 1-0, netting the only goal in the 35th minute. Colorado outshot Marquette 15-11 on the day but only landed three shots on net.
"Credit Marquette last year," Sanchez recalled. "They played better. We had three shots on goal. We didn't deserve anything more than we got out of it. We didn't play well. They played well, and it was an earned victory for them. Now they have a new coach. Like I said to the team, they have new coach energy. They're going to come out in that first game and be flying. We're going to have to play well."
Brad Thompson will have the call on the new home of Colorado Soccer, ESPN+.
The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a CU Hawaiian shirt giveaway. Gates will open an hour before kickoff.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time online at CUBuffs.com/Tickets.
The opener is the first of a four-game homestand. The Buffs will play six of their first eight games of the season on their home pitch. Colorado had a strong showing at home last season, going 8-3-1 in front of the home crowd.
CU previewed the opener with a 4-3 exhibition win over North Texas last Saturday. Hope Leyba, Sami Fisher, Josie Master and Ava Priest accounted for the goals.
"I thought there were some really good things," Sanchez explained. "We looked at some film and had some really good learning moments. Some of our new players got the opportunity to show some good things. It was almost what you expect in an exhibition. We never have one, it's always just our first game. We always lament the fact that we're not as sharp in that first game. Credit to North Texas: They played a tough game against Colorado State on Thursday and came here and played us on Saturday night. I thought they were very good, very dangerous. They scored a couple of really good goals, but having said that, we scored four really good goals, and everyone got out of it healthy."
The 2024 Buffs will look almost identical to the 2023 roster that finished 13-5-3 and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2020 season. CU returned 19 players from last season and added just five newcomers. Laura Gouvin (Boston College) and Michaela Rosenbaum (UCLA) transferred in as graduate students. Fisher redshirted last season at Florida, while true freshmen Jace Holley and Hannah Puff will look to make an impact this season.
"We have a good group back," Sanchez expressed. "We lost some important pieces last year in some four-year starters and fifth-year players that were very experienced and really pushed our program forward. At the end of the day, we have a lot of talent back and experience back. Part of the reason we have such a small recruiting class, only two freshmen, is because we bring players in to compete, not just to wear the gear in the airport.
"When you look at the players we have back, with a couple of fifth-years in Rachel Rosen and Shyra James and brought in a couple of fifth-years with Micky (Rosenbaum) and Laura, but really the core of the group is back."
Rachel Rosen, a returning captain from last season, is joined by juniors Juliauna Hayward and Jordan Nytes in wearing the captain's band this season.
"Last year was unique in just having Rachel as a captain," Sanchez noted. "We revisited what the expectation was and had a lot of conversations with Rachel. As a captain, you're held to a higher standard. At the end of the day, everything that happens with the program falls on me, and the captains have to facilitate the messaging and the expectations. Our team's saying is 'Side Before Self,' and that's difficult to do sometimes. The team voted, and we [the coaching staff] wholeheartedly agree."
Colorado was picked fourth in last week's Big 12 Preseason Poll with Shyra James, Faith Leyba and Nytes earning Preseason All-Big 12 accolades. James has also picked up Third Team Best XI from Top Drawer Soccer (TDS) and was named a Forward to Watch by the United Soccer Coaches.
All three players were listed on TDS's Preseason 100, with James leading the group at No. 28.
The Golden Eagles finished 5-10-4 last season and brought in a new coach and rotation of players this season. Thursday night's match serves as a rematch from last season's opening weekend. Marquette upset the Buffs 1-0, netting the only goal in the 35th minute. Colorado outshot Marquette 15-11 on the day but only landed three shots on net.
"Credit Marquette last year," Sanchez recalled. "They played better. We had three shots on goal. We didn't deserve anything more than we got out of it. We didn't play well. They played well, and it was an earned victory for them. Now they have a new coach. Like I said to the team, they have new coach energy. They're going to come out in that first game and be flying. We're going to have to play well."
Brad Thompson will have the call on the new home of Colorado Soccer, ESPN+.
The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a CU Hawaiian shirt giveaway. Gates will open an hour before kickoff.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time online at CUBuffs.com/Tickets.
Players Mentioned
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