Soccer Withstands Weather to Beat Denver 1-0

Friday, September 15

Boulder, Colo.

4 p.m.

Colorado

5-1-1

Denver

4-2-1

Denver

Colorado

Photo by: Chip Bromfield, ProMotion Ltd.

September 15, 2006 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Aaron Lopez, Denver Nuggets

BOULDER - The University of Colorado women's soccer team survived a rain storm, a lightning delay and a tough match from their in-state rivals from the University of Denver to win 1-0 here in front of a season high 1,765 fans at Prentup Field on Friday afternoon.

Colorado (5-1-1), who has been averaging over two goals a game as a team, got one goal from freshman Jess Quador in the 31st minute of the game, and it was all the offense they would need.

"I'm pretty excited. With the kind of schedule we had, I don't know if I would expect to be 5-1-1," CU coach Bill Hempen said. "But now it's a different kind of level. You have league play and qualifying for conference tournaments."

Denver (4-2-1) nearly struck first 20 minutes into the first half. DU had a solid corner opportunity from Lleane Grimditch, which she played to the far post of the CU goal, about 12 yards out. Lizzy Carlson got on the end of that cross, firing a shot through traffic at the CU goal with her first touch. CU freshman keeper Kara Linder was up to the task, making a fantastic finger tip save, extending and diving to her left and pushing it just wide of the net to keep the game knotted at 0-0.

The Buffs would strike 10 minutes later. Nikki Marshall played a brilliant through ball across the mouth of the goal to Katie Griffin, who was denied at point blank range by Dani Wiley of DU. The ball bounced back out to Marshall, who dumped off a pass to the edge of the penalty area. Junior Allison Kidd threw up a dummy on the edge of the box, the ball went between her legs and Quador hit a fantastic bending high ball, beating Wiley high into the side netting on the right side of the goal at 30:48.

"I just ran onto it and thought I would hit a shot and hoped it would at least hit the frame," said Quador. "I was aiming for the upper part of the goal. I played defense in high school so I didn't score too many. Not 100 like Nikki Marshall. I was really happy. It was my first college goal but hopefully there are more to come. When I get my chances to play I have to make an impact so today I'm glad I contributed."

Soon after the Quador goal, with 4:03 remaining in the first half, game officials and the referees determined that the lightning from the approaching rain storm was getting too close, and postponed the game for approximately 40 minutes.

Once the game was restarted, neither team had a really solid chance until the last 20 seconds. With time expiring Linder made another solid save. DU's Katie Oates ran and hit a free kick with just: 08 seconds left, 25 yards from the goal. She struck a high bending ball towards the back post, which Linder leapt for and punched free to end the half.

"It was played across the goal and she was aiming for the back post," said Linder. "I just did what I could to get there and I got my hand on it."

At the half, the stats were in CU's favor, with the Buffs getting nine shots to DU's six. Both Linder and Wiley had three saves in the first half of play.

The second half of play saw some additional offense, but it was clear that the delay of game changed up the pace and style of play. Both sides played a more tentative style, and the lack of direct play resulted in a lack of offensive chances. Colorado did manage two shots on goal, both saved by Wiley. Denver had no shots on goal in the second half. It did get more physical in the second stanza, with DU getting whistled for 12 fouls to CU's nine.

Colorado now owns a mark of 5-3-1 against the Pioneers all time, winning three of the last four with a tie in last year's match. Nikki Marshall got her first career assist, giving her 15 points on the season to go with her seven goals. Quador's goal was the first of her career, and made her the eighth different CU player to score this season. Kara Linder recorded her second career shutout, CU's third of the season.

The Buffs will be off until next Friday, Sept. 22, when they will open up Big 12 play against the University of Oklahoma at 4 p.m. at Prentup Field. Admission and parking are free.