Colorado
8-1-0, 0-0-0
Denver
3-4-1, 0-0-0
Colorado Tops Denver, 2-0
September 21, 2019 | Soccer
Buffs move to 8-1-0
BOULDER – Libby Geraghty and Tessa Barton provided the offense in Colorado's 2-0 win over in-state rival Denver on Saturday night. The Buffaloes wrap up the non-conference season with an 8-1-0 record and start Pac-12 play next week.Â
The opening kick got delayed from its 7:30 scheduled start due to the DU men's game going into overtime. The Pioneers got a quick spark early in the first half, playing in front of their packed home-crowd. Senior Jalen Tompkins and CU's backline were active early for the Buffs, helping keep the Pioneers' offense in check. Â
Colorado led in shots, 6-4, in the first half and totaled nine more shots in the second half. Tompkins had to make just two saves on the night to secure her sixth shutout of the season. The win ties her for second in CU history with 23 career solo shutouts.Â
How it happened
Colorado flipped the field on the Pioneers about 10 minutes into the first half. CU's attack pushed the pace, resulting in chances from Gabbi Chapa and Taylor Kornieck. The Pioneers had one good look in the 25th minute but Tompkins was up to the task with a one-handed jab. Minutes later, Hannah Sharts got a good look with a header high over the net.Â
A Tompkins save in the 35th minute helped build to CU's first goal. She pushed the ball up the field, eventually getting to the feet of Kornieck. Kornieck played the ball to the center and Geraghty slipped behind the defenders to chip the ball over the challenging DU keeper into the lower right corner.Â
The Buffs left little breathing room for the Pioneers in the second half. CU got good looks from Camilla Shymka and Geraghty in the 61st minute but were unable to find the net. Minutes later Te. Barton put a flick just high over the crossbar.Â
Te. Barton would get her redemption in the 74th minute. Kornieck played a long ball into the DU zone. Te. Barton gave chase beating out the DU defender. From there it was one-on-one with the keeper and Te. Barton slipped the shot under the keeper for the 2-0 lead.Â
Key Statistics:Â CU outshot DU 9-1 in the second half. Colorado put four shots on net in the final 45 minutes, while DU did not get a shot on target in the half.Â
BY THE NUMBERS:
Colorado
Goals:Â 2
Shots:Â 15
Fouls:Â 5
Saves:Â 2
Denver
Goals:Â 0
Shots:Â 5
Fouls:Â 12
Saves:Â 5
Up Next:Â Colorado opens the Pac-12 season on the road next week. The Buffs will head to Tucson, Ariz., to take on the Arizona Wildcats next Friday.Â
Notes: CU has now won the last eight matches against DU…Kornieck's assist was her 17th point of the season (6 G, 5 A)…she now has 23 career assists, one shy of tying Fran Munnelly for CU's all-time lead…Kornieck also moved one step closer to becoming CU's all-time leading scorer now with 89 career points (Nikki Marshall, 93)…Colorado is 8-0-0 in the state of Colorado this season…Te. Barton joined fellow freshman Roo Yarnell-Williams each with three goals this season.Â
Quotes
Head coach Danny Sanchez
Overall thoughts
"It was a typical DU vs CU derby. I thought we started slow. DU was probably a little unfortunate to not get a goal in the first 15 minutes. I thought after that we settled down a little bit. The key to the game I think was Taylor [Kornieck] to Libby [Geraghty] towards the end of the first half. I thought we played a lot better in the second half. It was opportunistic for Tessa Barton to get the goal, but I think we created a lot of chances. DU is a tough team to defend. I was pleased with our backs, especially in the second half."
On pressuring DU in the second half
"Sometimes you get one goal and you kind of relax. I was pleased with the way we came out in the second half, especially with the wind against us. It is a bit of a factor. I think we can play a little better when we win the ball, but we created a lot of chances today. Credit to Brittany [Wilson], their goalkeeper, that save against Taylor at the end was a world-class save. At the end of the day, a 2-0 win over a tournament team is a good result."
On the start of Pac-12 play
"We are pleased with where we are at. 11 Pac-12 games are going to be a whole different beast. Especially, this year when the Pac-12 everybody is just playing well. Arizona is a tournament team every year, we are going to need to bring our A-game next week."
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Team Stats
Geraghty, Libby (1)
Assisted By: Kornieck, Taylor
GOAL by COLO Geraghty, Libby (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Kornieck, Taylor, goal number 1 for season.
34:40
Barton, Tessa (3)
GOAL by COLO Barton, Tessa, goal number 3 for season.
73:38
