The Legacy of Colorado Soccer
September 10, 2026 | Soccer
BOULDER — Four of the names that helped build Colorado soccer will return to Prentup Field on Friday as the Buffaloes celebrate the program's 30-year history.
As part of its season-long 30th anniversary celebration, Colorado will recognize Fran Munnelly, Laura Munnelly, Nikki Marshall and Taylor Kornieck as the first group selected for Colorado Soccer's Wall of Honor, which was created to pay tribute to the legendary players who have represented the Buffaloes and helped shape the program throughout its three decades of competition. The quartet will be recognized at midfield during halftime of the Buffaloes' matchup against Denver.
Friday's group spans nearly two decades of Colorado soccer history, from the program's first postseason success and Big 12 championship to record-setting careers and the emergence of Buffaloes on the professional and international stages.
"We're excited to announce our first four alums that will be recognized on the Wall of Honor," head coach Danny Sanchez said. "Nikki Marshall, Fran Munnelly, Laura Munnelly and Taylor Kornieck are all well-deserving of being the first ones. Colorado soccer has a rich tradition, and there are many other alums that deserve to be and will be recognized in the coming years. We appreciate all the support we get from our alums, and we hope to continue to build a program that makes them proud to have been part of our history."
The four names tell the story of different eras at Prentup, but each left an indelible mark on the program.
Fran Munnelly
Fran Munnelly helped establish the standard for Colorado soccer during her career from 2002-05.
The Arvada, Colo., native started all 87 matches of her career and totaled 84 points on 30 goals and 24 assists. She became one of the most decorated players in Big 12 history, earning First Team All-Big 12 honors in each of her four seasons and being named the conference's Player of the Year in 2003.
Munnelly's impact came as Colorado began collecting program firsts. Her goal against Missouri in the 2002 Big 12 Tournament delivered CU's first postseason victory. A year later, she helped the Buffs capture their first Big 12 regular-season championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Colorado went on to reach the NCAA Tournament in each of her final three seasons.
Munnelly also became the first player in Colorado soccer history to earn All-America recognition. Her No. 13 was the first jersey formally honored by the program, and she was inducted into the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
Laura Munnelly
A year after Fran arrived in Boulder, younger sister Laura Munnelly began building a legacy of her own on the back line.
Laura became one of the most dependable players in program history, starting all 91 matches of her Colorado career from 2003-06 and logging 8,430 minutes. She led CU's field players in minutes in each of her four seasons.
The center back earned All-Big 12 recognition all four years, including First Team honors in 2004, and was named the NSCAA Central Region Freshman of the Year in 2003.
Munnelly helped anchor the Buffs to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Her career began with Colorado's 2003 Big 12 championship and concluded with the 2006 Buffaloes advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16.
She joined her sister in the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023.
Nikki Marshall
Nikki Marshall wasted little time putting her name in the Colorado record book.
Making her Prentup Field debut as a freshman in 2006, Marshall scored four goals in a 5-1 win over Clemson, setting program records for goals and points in a single match.
It was the beginning of one of the most prolific careers in Colorado history.
Marshall finished her four seasons from 2006-09 with 42 goals, nine assists and 93 points. Her 18 career game-winning goals remain a Colorado record. She earned First Team All-Big 12 honors in all four seasons and was named the conference's Newcomer of the Year as a freshman.
That freshman season saw Marshall score 17 goals and total 37 points while helping the Buffaloes reach the NCAA Sweet 16.
Marshall's success stretched well beyond Prentup. She helped the United States win the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and was selected seventh overall by the Washington Freedom in the 2010 professional draft. She later joined Portland Thorns FC and helped the club win the inaugural NWSL Championship in 2013.
Marshall was inducted into the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2021.
Taylor Kornieck
The most recent era represented among the inaugural honorees belongs to Taylor Kornieck, whose four seasons in Boulder from 2016-19 rewrote the Colorado record book.
Kornieck became the first player in program history to eclipse 100 career points, finishing with a Colorado-record 102 points on 39 goals and 24 assists. She was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2016, earned All-Pac-12 honors in each of her four seasons and became a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American.
Kornieck claimed Colorado's career points record at Prentup Field during her senior season.
She entered an October 2019 match against Oregon tied with Marshall at 93 career points. Less than three minutes into the match, Kornieck found the back of the net to move past Marshall and into sole possession of the record.
Following her Colorado career, Kornieck was selected third overall by the Orlando Pride in the 2020 NWSL Draft.
Now known as Taylor Flint, she continues to represent the Buffaloes at the highest level of the sport. Flint currently plays for Racing Louisville FC and is under contract with the NWSL club through 2028. She has also earned 12 caps with the U.S. Women's National Team, scoring twice.
Honoring Colorado's Past
Friday's recognition is part of a season-long 30th anniversary celebration designed to honor the players who laid the foundation for the program and connect Colorado soccer's past with its present and future.
When CU announced its 30th anniversary plans in March, the Wall of Honor was introduced as a way to pay tribute to the legendary players who have represented Colorado. Munnelly, Munnelly, Marshall and Kornieck will make up its inaugural group of honorees, with additional Buffaloes set to be recognized in future years.
The four will be honored at midfield during halftime on Friday when No. 19 Colorado hosts in-state rival Denver at Prentup Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
Other Buff Alumni who will be attending the game — Amy Barzcuk, Lauren Briggs, Alex Cousins, Caroline Danneberg, Suzy DeStefano, Aimée Duplessie (Bugay), Elizabeth Fliegelman, Zoe Giraudo, Kat Grandinetti, Ashley Grosh, Devan Haas, Heather Hawkins, Hayley Hughes, Jessica Keller, Nikki Keller, Jenny Kirkpatrick, Quinn Krier, Melissa Larson, Jen Lehman, Andrea Maliska, Nikki Marshall, Ellen McCready, Fran Munnelly, Laura Munnelly, Sarah Marie Nowfel, Lindsey O'Donnell, Whitney Peterson, Tricia Reagan, Kate Russell, Darci Smerchek, Meghan Swanzy-Foster, Kenzie Tillitt, Kyley Zimmerman
SOCIALS: For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.
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