Team Effort Lifts Buffs Over Bears, 3-1

GREELEY, Colo.-The University of Colorado women's soccer team beat the University of Northern Colorado 3-1 Wednesday night at Jackson Soccer Field.

The Buffaloes improve to 3-3-2 this spring after putting together an impressive team performance with three different players scoring. This was the second time CU played UNC this spring, with the last match ending in a 1-1 tie.

"It was a perfect night with no wind at a great facility," assistant coach Tracy Chao said. "We had a small squad that played hard. We were patient and found opportunities to score."

The Bears got onto the scoreboard first, but CU held them scoreless for the remainder of the contest and got its own offense in gear.

Erin Bricker served a great ball to Annie Stuller who redirected it to Shaye Marshall inside the box. Marshall attempted a shot that ricocheted off the UNC goalkeeper. Amy Barczuk managed to get possession and sent it directly into the goal to even the score at 1-1.

Due to CU's small team as a result of injuries during spring play, head coach Bill Hempen subbed in its two reserve goalkeepers Hannah Perry and Kayla Millar giving two of his regular forwards a break.

The second goal started in a similar fashion with Bricker setting it up. She gained possession after beating a defender at the end line. She served the ball to Perry inside the box where she tapped the ball in giving CU a 2-1 lead.

"She [Perry] did a great job for us playing a brand new position," Chao said.

The Buffs have had a difficult time stringing together multiple goals in a game this spring. This is the first time CU scored more than one in a contest, and the team still had more up its sleeves.

Barczuk, who scored CU's first goal, dished the ball to Bricker who cut off a defender and found a lane directly to the goal. She scored the Buffs' final goal of the night securing a 3-1 advantage over the Bears.

"We've had our ups and downs with injuries this spring," Chao said. "We played well tonight, but there's always room for improvement. We are happy with this performance. It's good to see us play the way we wanted to play."

The Buffs travel to Regis University Saturday, April 2 to take on Ft. Lewis College (10:15 a.m.), Wyoming (11:30 a.m.) and host Regis (2 p.m.) to wrap up spring competition.