Tompkins Shines in Season Finale

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Jalen Tompkins stood on her head in net, literally and figuratively, for Colorado, but her effort was not enough to extend Colorado's season. The Buffaloes' run the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament came to an end at top-seeded and No. 2 ranked North Carolina on Friday. Colorado battled to the end but ended up on the short-end of the 1-0 decision.

Tompkins had a night to remember in her final game in a Colorado jersey. She impressed all 4,235 fans in attendance, making nine saves. The third-year captain finishes her career as CU's all-time leader in saves (369) and wins (49).

Stephanie Zuniga, Kelsey Aaknes, Camilla Shymka and Taylor Kornieck also wrapped up their CU careers on Friday. This graduating class leaves as one of the most successful in program history, having made three NCAA Tournament appearances. Kornieck, who turned 21 on Friday, leaves Colorado as the program's all-time points leader, amassing 102 career points. She is also tied for the team lead with 24 career assists and ranks second with 39 career goals.

The Buffs finished the year with 12-8-2 record. North Carolina (21-1-1) advances to take on Michigan on Sunday.

How it happened
Colorado's offense faced a tall task, going against North Carolina. The Tar Heels allowed just eight goals all season and outscored the opposition by 51 entering the night.

UNC established control in the first half, giving Colorado little room for error. The Tar Heels outshot the Buffs 10-1 in the first half. Tompkins was called upon to make four saves in the first half. None were bigger than her back-to-back saves in the 17th minute. The first was off a point-blank header that Tompkins stabbed out of midair and push over the net. She followed up with a two-handed save while on the ground, stopping UNC from inside the box again.

Freshman Jade Babcock-Chi got CU's first and only offensive chance of the night. She fired a shot off in the 22nd minute that was blocked before UNC keeper Claudia Dickey had to make a play on it.

North Carolina's goal came early in the second half. Tompkins made the initial save, but the ball came right out to UNC on the rebounds. Alessia Russo benefited from traffic in front of Tompkins and put the ball into the lower-left corner from 20 yards out.

Colorado's offense continued to push, looking to get the equalizer. Kornieck recorded CU's only shot on goal in the 64th minute. The Buffs got more chances as the game grew older. Zuniga and Kayleigh Webb both had shots late in the final five minutes but were unable to find the net.

Tompkins joined the fray in the final minute, running up to join the offense on a free-kick opportunity.

BY THE NUMBERS:
Colorado
Goals: 0
Shots: 5
Fouls: 6
Saves: 9

North Carolina
Goals: 1
Shots: 20
Fouls: 14
Saves: 1

Notes: Colorado has played North Carolina in three NCAA Tournament matches, all 1-0 results for the Tar Heels…CU is now 6-5 in NCAA Tournament games under Coach Sanchez and 10-11-1 all-time…CU went 2-5 against ranked teams this season…Tompkins started her 82nd career game in net (1st) and played her 85 career game (1st).

Quotes
Head coach Danny Sanchez
On Jalen Tompkins
"It was a world-class performance. The one goal they had, was kind of just a bouncing ball that she didn't really see until was by her. Credit to the North Carolina girl. It was a great hit. Everything she [JJ] saw she dealt with. I've never seen a better performance by any goalkeeper. It couldn't be prouder of JJ but it's not a big surprise because we know what her quality is."

On Colorado's game plan
"I thought the players really bought into the game plan and kept the game tied which is what we wanted to do. It was disappointing to give up the goal early in the second half but it gave us some time to make some tactical adjustments and I thought the last 20 minutes, especially the players really bought into it. We just didn't have quite enough. We put a lot of pressure on them and something needed to fall away and unfortunately, it didn't. It was just an all-around fantastic team effort."

On Taylor Kornieck and the seniors
"I think Taylor showed once again that she's one of the top players in college soccer. The way she just dominates the game on both ends of the ball is just something that I've never seen or coached. The way she bought into what we asked her to do today which is a little bit more of a deeper-lying role, more of a playmaker was just fantastic. I told the team inside [the locker room] the five seniors—what they brought after last year's disappointment not making it [NCAA Tournament] and to battle through some adversity this year. It says a lot about them as people. Three out of four years the NCAA Tournament, advancing every time and putting themselves in a position, like I told the team, put themselves in a position to hurt because sometimes, if you don't compete you don't put the effort in you don't get hurt like this. It hurts, but, they need to be proud of what they did because they set the program back where we need to be as we continue to compete for championships."

On the season
"It's tough to get in the tournament. It's tough to advance. It's tough to come here and get a result and they responded to every challenge we gave them throughout the year. The Pac-12 was brutal this year, we saw that. We had fine margins, with this team this year. Everybody bought into their role and the players on the bench and the staff and everybody that's what we're about. So now the vision is we are losing five great seniors and its time or these other players to step up and put themselves in the position to play a game like this next year and hopefully advance."

Senior Taylor Kornieck
On Colorado's effort
"I have no words for this team. The laid it on the field. I will remember this team until the day I die. I love them so much. I'm so proud of them."

On CU's late push
"I think we had a lot of chances coming for us. They had a great shot and I'll give them credit for that one but I feel like we responded right. I think we came out and pressed them even harder and we got a couple of really good chances. There's not much else you can do."

On Jalen Tompkins
"She is incredible. The saves she had kept us in the game. She was player of the match for sure."

Senior Jalen Tompkins
On her final game
"I was just excited about the game. My brother told me you're either nervous or you're excited. It's the same feeling. I just kind of took that as excitement. I mean I've watched North Carolina play since I was a kid. The coaches are awesome. I knew this game was going to a great game. The coaches prepared us for it, and I think the defense played really well. The midfield and forwards [too]. I just had to come in and play my game."

On gaining confidence as the game went on
"This is why you come to Colorado. You come to Colorado to play against the best teams— the Stanford's, the UCLA's the USC's and the North Carolina's. It's fun, it's the reason I play. It's the reason my teammates love me, and I love my teammates. We all get hyped off of things like that. When they block a shot, I get as hyped as they do for me. I feed off of it and I feel like I'm unstoppable and then the team feels unstoppable. I think we had a lot of good momentum going into the half."

On the senior class
"I think it says a lot about this program. I wanted to come to Colorado to make history and that couldn't happen without every single player in my class. Every single one of them did something that brought this program to the next level, Right now I'm sad because it's over, but I'm so proud of the seniors. I mean they worked through injuries comebacks, like I said my senior speech switching majors, boyfriend stuff you know they all came back and put their all on the field for four, four and a half years for Steph and I. I'm just so proud and I'm disappointed because it's over but I'll always smile when I think about my time here."

Team Stats

Taylor Kornieck

Kayleigh Webb

Jade Babcock-Chi

Stephanie Zuniga

Players Mentioned

Kelsey Aaknes

Jade Babcock-Chi

Taylor Kornieck

Camilla Shymka

Jalen Tompkins

Kayleigh Webb

Stephanie Zuniga

Players Mentioned

Kelsey Aaknes

Jade Babcock-Chi

Taylor Kornieck

Camilla Shymka

Jalen Tompkins

Kayleigh Webb

Stephanie Zuniga