CU Wins Third Straight 3-2 Over Air Force

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Colorado women's soccer team (3-3) won their third game in a row, defeating Air Force (1-5-1) by a score of 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon.

"We finished pretty well so we are very pleased with that," said head coach Austin Daniels. "The next step for us is to do a better job when we have a lead. We hung back too far and they came on to us a little bit at the end. Overall I'm pleased, but we need to do a better job when we have the lead."

Colorado took a 1-0 lead early when senior forward Melissa Cartmell scored at the 16:31 mark of the first half off an assist from Jessica Wollow. Cartmell took a short pass from Wallow at the top of the box, took one touch to get free of her defender, and tucked the ball away in the bottom right of the net. The goal was the 20th of her career.

"Melissa did a good job finishing today," said Daniels. "They play man-to-man so she was able to hold off her defender pretty well. That type of a situation is ideal for her because she is good one-on-one and finished so well."

The Buffs extended their lead when Air Force cleared the ball from their box directly to sophomore midfielder Meghan Swanzy. She took two touches and buried the ball in the back of the Falcon net, through a crowded Air Force penalty box and over the top of an outstretched Kristy Kuhlman at the 25:41 mark of the first half. CU took a 9-6 edge in shots to the locker room at halftime, with Buffalo keeper Sara Erskine pulling in two saves to Kuhlman's one. Swanzy's goal, her second of the season, was the 100th all-time goal scored for the University of Colorado.

Air Force came out of the locker room firing, pulling to within one at the 46:25 mark. The Falcons' Billie Rothwell shot from outside the box, which CU keeper Sara Erskine punched up into the crossbar and then grabbed. The ball had crossed the plane of the goal before the initial save, and was therefore ruled a goal by the linesman.

Colorado answered quickly, when Cartmell notched her second goal of the game, the 20th of her career off a smooth pass from classmate Sarah Nowfel. In the 49th minute, Nowfel knocked a short pass to Cartmell in the box, which Cartmell touched past the Air Force defense and shot across the goal mouth into the bottom left corner of the net.

"I was more focused on placement than power, particularly since both my goals came in the six yard box," said Cartmell. I think this win gives us confidence to win at home and on the road and shows us that it doesn't matter where we play, if we play our best soccer we can win. We can't have mental lapses against CC on Friday. They are an undefeated team and are going to come and play hard to try and stay undefeated. It was great to get a road win."

The Falcons would not go away, however, and on the strength of a 12-7 edge in shots in the second half, scored with just :35 seconds to play. Senior Stephanie Rader took a pass from junior Beth Boyer which she shot from 12 yards out past an outstretched Erskine.

Colorado's next game is Friday, Sept. 15 at 4:00 p.m. when the Buffs take on Colorado College (7-0) at Pleasant View Soccer Complex in Boulder. They will then play San Francisco at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17. Admission and parking are free at all Colorado soccer games.

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Team Stats

Melissa Cartmell

Meghan Swanzy

Jessica Wollow

Sarah Nowfel

Players Mentioned

Melissa Cartmell

Sara Erskine

Sarah Nowfel

Meghan Swanzy

Jessica Wollow

Players Mentioned

Melissa Cartmell

Sara Erskine

Sarah Nowfel

Meghan Swanzy

Jessica Wollow