Colorado
2-0-0, 0-0-0
Boston U.
0-1-1, 0-0-0
Team Stats
Aaknes,Kelsey (1)
Assisted By: Geraghty,Libby
GOAL by COLO Aaknes,Kelsey (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Geraghty,Libby, goal number 1 for season.
22:51
Yarnell-Williams,Roo (1)
Assisted By: Aaknes,Kelsey
GOAL by COLO Yarnell-Williams,Roo, Assist by Aaknes,Kelsey, goal number 1 for season.
47:52
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
A Pair of Firsts Lift Buffs Over Boston
August 25, 2019 | Soccer
Colorado improves to 2-0 on the season
BOULDER – The Colorado soccer team closed out the opening weekend of play with a 2-0 record on Sunday. A pair of first-time goal-scorers provide the offense with Kelsey Aaknes and Roo Yarnell-Williams picking up the tallies.
Aaknes and Yarnell-Williams each picked up their first career goals. For Aaknes, a senior defender, it took career-game No. 58 to get on the board. In contrast, it was career game No. 2 for the freshman Yarnell-Williams. Aaknes also registered the assist on Yarnell-William's goal, marking her first career-multi point game.
CU set the pace early in the match, putting Boston back on its heels from the start. Colorado totaled 19 shots in the contest, landing 10 on target. The Buffaloes' defense was stellar from the opening kick, not allowing a shot on goal until the final minute of play.
How it happened
The game got off to a mellow start with neither side getting much offense in the opening minutes. Boston fired the first shot in the 11th minute and from there on it was all CU.
Senior Taylor Kornieck provided Colorado its first opportunity in the 16th minute, missing the net on a header from close in.
The Buffs' offense continued to tilt the field, breaking through in the 23rd minute. Sophomore Libby Geraghty brought the ball upfield, finding Aaknes down the left side. The Carlsbad, Calif., native pushed into open space in the middle of the field and was left unpressured at the top of the goal circle. Aaknes fired across her body from the top of the circle and snuck the ball past the diving goalkeeper in the lower-left corner.
It didn't take Colorado long in the second half, adding the insurance goal in the 48th minute. Aaknes beat the Boston defender down the left sideline and passed off to a wide-open Yarnell-Williams. The freshman forward took one step to her right and blasted a shot into the right corner from nine yards out.
Colorado did not sit back the rest of the way. Kornieck was sniffing the goal in the final 15 minutes. Boston's Amanda Fay was forced to make a diving save on a blast from Kornieck in the 79th minute. Kornieck missed by a matter of inches in the 82nd minute, firing a rocket off the crossbar from 30 yards out.
Key Statistics: The Buffs outshot the Terriers 19-6 for the game. Senior Jalen Tompkins only needed to make one save in the 90th minute to secure the shutout.
BY THE NUMBERS:
Colorado
Goals: 2
Shots: 19
Fouls: 10
Saves: 1
Boston
Goals: 0
Shots: 6
Fouls: 6
Saves: 8
Up Next: The Buffs will remain at home next week, hosting Kent State on Thursday and No. 19 Texas on Sunday.
Notes: Aaknes entered the game with 13 career shots, scoring on her 14th…it's the third consecutive season Colorado has not allowed a goal in the opening weekend…CU has four goals from four different goal scorers…Tompkins now has 19 career shutouts, tying her for third all-time with Kirstin Radlinski…transfer Haileigh Adams played 33 minutes in her Colorado debut.
Quotes
Head coach Danny Sanchez
On goal scoring
"It is easier to destroy than to create. It is easier to defend than to attack to a certain extent. Last year we weren't pumping in the goals the first couple of games either. It was like the third or fourth game when we found our rhythm. I thought today versus Thursday, we created a lot more chances. Taylor [Kornieck] was unlucky. There was a great save and then off the post in the end. We got in dangerous spots. We had probably two or three more opportunities today than we had on Thursday. It was still two goals, but a lot of pressure. It will be a work in progress, but people will continue to get their opportunities. I am generally pleased. That was a good team. They have a Hall of Fame coach. They are coached well, are tough to break down and they were on a ten-game unbeaten streak. They went to the NCAA tournament last year. It was a good win for us."
On Kelsey Aaknes
"Kelsey has been flying under the radar for four years. I think she has started every game when she has been healthy except for maybe her first two or three games her freshman year. We know she is capable. We have asked her to do a little more from the leadership side of things and she is doing a great job. Obviously, she is dangerous going forward. We saw it last year. It usually doesn't happen until Pac-12 play, but she is dangerous going forward because she is fit enough to get back. I am pleased with her to get her first career goal. Also, the assist to Roo [Yarnell-Williams] was quality. It was a good win for us."
On the defense
"We haven't been under a lot of pressure. We know that is going to change, probably Thursday and then definitely next weekend. I thought the starting back four did well. When Chaynee [Kingsbury] came in she was solid. Haileigh Adams got some good minutes to get her feet wet at this level. I was pleased with the performance, but I know we will be under more pressure starting soon."
Senior Kelsey Aaknes
On her first career goal
"One of my goals this year is to be a force up top. I attacked as best as I could. I wanted to score a goal and that was the first goal I've scored in the fall season. It meant a lot to me."
On Her Assist
"I am really glad Roo [Yarnell-Williams] was able to get her first goal of her freshman year. She was in the right spot. It was pretty much all her. All I did was pass it to her."
On the Defense
"I feel pretty good about it. JJ [Tompkins] is a great leader in the back. We have a lot of depth this year so we have a lot of people who can sub in and play different positions. That has helped us a lot having people being able to slide and play a position that they may not usually play. It gives us some subs and depth in the back."
Freshman Roo Yarnell-Williams
On her first career goal
"It was an amazing feeling. I've never felt anything like it. Just the excitement that comes with it—not just for me but for the whole team. There's no feeling like it."
On the importance of winning the first two games of the season
"I think they are very important, especially today, because Boston University made it into the NCAA Tournament. So, coming in and beating them 2-0, and not giving them any opportunities—I feel this will give us more momentum for the future."