Soccer Faces No. 6 North Carolina In NCAA Second Round
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Colorado women’s soccer team will square off against No. 6 North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. MT in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Buffaloes (14-6-1) advanced to the Round of 32 for a second straight season after defeating No. 15 BYU, 2-0 last weekend on a cold and snowy afternoon at Prentup Field. Junior Olivia Pappalardo scored the game-winner in the seventh minute and junior Madison Krauser added another goal for the Buffs in the second half.
Colorado enters Friday’s contest on a four-match winning streak and will look to earn its first victory against the Tar Heels. CU and UNC (13-3-2) have met three times prior and it will be the first time the two programs face each other since the 2005 season.
The match will be streamed online through ESPN3 at the following link: http://es.pn/1uQnfwG. Live stats will also be available by visiting CUBuffs.com.
QUICKLY: The University of Colorado women’s soccer team has advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year after defeating No. 15 BYU 2-0 in the first round last weekend. The Buffaloes (14-6-1) travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. to face No. 2 seed North Carolina in the Round of 32 on Friday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. MT. The winner will battle either South Carolina or Seattle.
DON’T MISS IT: Friday’s match will be streamed online through ESPN3 at the following link: http://es.pn/1uQnfwG. Live stats will also be available online by visiting CUBuffs.com.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: For those members of the media wishing to interview the women’s soccer team during the season, please contact Assistant Sports Information Director/Soccer Contact Ashley Braun at (303) 492-7525 or ashley.braun@colorado.edu.
COLORADO VS. NORTH CAROLINA: The Buffaloes and Tar Heels (13-3-2) have met three times prior. It has been nearly 10 years since the two programs last faced each other. Colorado will look to pick up its first win against North Carolina as CU holds an 0-3 all-time series record. The 2005 season was the last time the two schools squared off on the pitch, in a neutral site match the Buffs fell 3-0 in Topeka, Kan. Their other two meetings came in back-to-back seasons from 1998-99. CU hosted the Tar Heels in 1998 and then played at UNC’s Fetzer Field in 1999. Friday’s contest will be the first postseason match between Colorado and North Carolina and only the second time CU has played in Chapel Hill.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS: North Carolina is ranked No. 6 in the latest NSCAA poll and is a No. 2 seed in the tournament after finishing tied for first in the Atlantic Coast Conference with Florida State. UNC defeated South Dakota State 2-0 in round one last week to advance to the second round. The Tar Heels are the only team in the country to have qualified for every NCAA Tournament (33) and have at least one win in every NCAA Tournament appearance. Emily Bruder and Paige Nielsen each have a team-leading five goals this season. Nine Tar Heels have scored at least two goals this year, while Joanna Boyles leads North Carolina with eight assists and 14 points. Every player on the UNC roster has seen playing time in 2014. Goalkeepers Lindsey Harris and Bryane Heaberlin have only allowed 14 goals combined and have combined for seven shutouts.
LAST WEEK: The Buffs defeated No. 15 BYU 2-0 at home on a cold (16 degrees at kickoff) and snowy afternoon in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament last week. It was the second consecutive year Colorado eliminated the Cougars from postseason competition. CU took the early lead when Olivia Pappalardo scored her second goal of the season to put the Buffs up 1-0 in the seventh minute. Colorado struck again in the second half behind a goal from Madison Krauser. She found the back of the net after receiving a nice crossfield pass from sophomore Morgan Stanton. It was Krauser’s third goal of the year and Stanton’s first point as a Buffalo.
SCHEELE’S SHUTOUTS: Goalkeeper Kate Scheele earned her 11th clean-sheet in Colorado’s 2-0 win over BYU last Saturday, which ranks second all-time for the most clean sheets by a CU goalkeeper in a single season. In just her first year with the Buffs, Scheele already ranks fifth all-time in career shutouts. Jessica Keller holds the record with 25 from 2003-05. Scheele ranks third in the Pac-12 in total shutouts.
HOOKS’ SUPERB SEASON: Hooks has started all 21 matches this season and has tied her career-high with eight goals, while setting a new personal best with seven assists, 23 points and 58 shots. In Colorado’s sophomore offensive record books, she ranks first in points, tied for second in goals, second in shots and tied for second in assists. She finished the regular season in the Pac-12’s top seven in assists, goals, points and shots, and led the Buffs in the same respective categories. During CU’s four-match winning streak, she recorded at least one point in each contest. Over the four matches Hooks had two goals (one game-winner) and three game-winning assists.
JERMAN’S CAREER YEAR: Senior Darcy Jerman has set a new single-season career-high in goals (5), assists (4) and points (14). She is tied with Brie Hooks for the most game-winners (3) on the team and is a perfect 2-2 on CU’s only penalty kicks.
NO. 200 FOR SANCHEZ: Colorado head coach Danny Sanchez earned his 200th career NCAA win in last week’s victory over BYU. Sanchez in his third season at CU is now 36-21-7, including a 3-1 record in NCAA postseason play. Sanchez recorded his 300th career victory earlier in the season when the Buffs defeated Arizona State 2-0 at Prentup Field. His all-time career record is 303-81-30.
ALL-PAC-12 TEAM: Brie Hooks and Tori Cooper earned all-conference honors as they were named to the All-Pac-12 Conference Second Team for their impressive performances during the regular season. Hooks, selected for her significant contributions on offense and Cooper was honored for her outstanding play on defense. Cooper began the season as a forward and then made the transition to the CU backline. It was the first-all conference honor for Cooper and second for Hooks, who was selected to the Freshman Team last season.
WINNING: The Buffs’ 14 total wins in 2014 is tied for third-most in program history. The 28 wins over the last two seasons is second-most in back-to-back years since the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Their six conference victories this year is the most they have ever recorded while a member of the Pac-12 and first time CU has posted a winning Pac-12 Conference record. The last time Colorado finished with at least a .500 conference record or better was in 2009 when they were part of the Big 12.
HOME SWEET HOME: Colorado recorded its 10th win at home last week. It is the first time in program history the Buffs have reached that mark, breaking their previous record of nine, which happened four times, twice while playing at Prentup Field (their current venue) and two times at their previous field, Pleasant View Soccer Complex.
SHUTOUTS: CU has recorded 12 shutouts in 21 matches in the this season, five of which came against Pac-12 opponents. It is the first time in program history CU held five Pac-12 teams scoreless in a single season. Its 12 shutouts is tied for the most all-time, last accomplishing the feat in 2004. Also, nine of their clean sheets were at home.
SHARING THE BALL: Colorado has recorded 35 assists as a squad setting a new record for most all-time in a single season. CU ranks fourth among the Pac-12 schools in assists.
FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET: Ten different Buffaloes have tallied at least one goal this season, bringing the team’s total to 33, which is tied for sixth most all-time in a single season. The last time CU has tallied the same mark was 2013.
SANCHEZ IN POSTSEASON: This year is head coach Danny Sanchez’s second NCAA Division I Tournament appearance with the Buffs and second of his career as a coach. He holds a 3-1 postseason record while at CU. He also achieved tournament success earlier in his career while coaching at Denver’s Metro State where he led the team to five DII Elite Eights, including two National Championships. As a player, he helped lead the University of Connecticut to the 1989 Big East Conference Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth.
LEADERS OF THE PACK: The Pac-12 Conference had a league-record nine teams, the most of any conference in the nation to compete in the Division I College Cup. The conference went 7-2 and outscored the opponent 23-8 in the first round. The other Pac-12 schools who were selected to the tournament are UCLA and Sanford who earned two of the four top seeds, Arizona, Arizona State, California, USC, Washington and Washington State. The only two conference losses in round one was USC and Washington State.
BUFFS IN THE NCAA:
2003: 2003 was a season of firsts for the Buffs. On Sept. 8, the Buffs earned their first national ranking, coming in at No. 16 in the NSCAA poll after defeating No. 9 Denver 3-0 the prior week. CU peaked at a No. 5 ranking during the Big 12 Conference Tournament. The Buffs broke 14 records that season on their way to the Big 12 regular season title. Fran Munnelly was named the conference’s Player of the Year, Bill Hempen the Coach of the Year and Katie Griffin the Rookie of the Year. In their first NCAA Tournament, the No. 11 Buffs fell 2-0 to BYU.
2004: After an impressive 2003 campaign, the Buffs entered 2004 ranked No. 23 in their first four games. CU went on two separate six-game winning streaks on their way to 15 wins on the season. After a 3-1 loss to No. 10 Texas A&M in the Big 12 Tournament, the Buffs bounced back in their second consecutive NCAA appearance. CU defeated Utah 3-0 in the first round before falling 3-0 to No. 6 Portland in the Round of 32.
2005: The Buffs once again impressed on the national stage in 2005. CU played seven games as a ranked team and advanced to its first Big 12 Championship game, where it fell to No. 10 Texas A&M. Entering the conference tourney, CU led the conference defensively, with a Big 12 play-best goals allowed (eight), goals-against average (0.78) and shutouts (six). CU advanced to the second round of NCAAs after a 4-3 shootout win over UC Riverside. The Buffs fell in the Round of 32 to No. 4 UCLA, an eventual College Cup finalist.
2006: With the help of Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Nikki Marshall (who set 21 class records in her debut season), the Buffs had another historic season. Upsets over two top 15 teams helped lead the Buffs to their second straight Big 12 championship game and their best ever postseason finish (a record that holds to this day). The Buffs beat in-state rivals Colorado College and Denver 2-1 in the first two rounds of the NCAA tourney before falling to No. 1 ranked Notre Dame 3-0 in the Sweet 16.
2007: Ten shutouts helped a strong CU squad to its sixth consecutive 10-win season. The Buffs advanced to the second round of NCAA Tournament the fourth consecutive year. In the opening round, the Buffs defeated Hawaii 2-0. In the next, No. 3 Portland again ended CU’s season, handing the Buffs a 1-0 defeat.
2008: CU once again had a record-breaking season in 2008, taking a program-best 472 shots and 191 shots on goal. CU recorded 14 wins in a single season for just the third time in program history and placed a record eight Buffs on All-Big 12 teams. In the first round of NCAA play, the No. 15 Buffs faltered in a 1-0 loss to South Dakota State.
2013: Colorado earned a spot in the tournament for the first time in five years and reached the Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history, knocking off two ranked opponents to get there. In the first round, the Buffs shut out No. 15 Denver 1-0 on the Pioneers’ home turf and then defeated No. 19 BYU 2-1 in Tallahassee, Fla. during the round of 32. CU’s historic run ended in the Sweet 16 when they fell 4-0 to the third-ranked Florida State Seminoles.
COLORADO'S RECORD WHEN:
Home..............................................................10-3-1
Away.................................................................4-2
Neutral..............................................................0-1
Leading at halftime.........................................9-0
Tied at halftime...............................................4-4-1
Trailing at halftime.........................................1-2
In Overtime......................................................0-1-1
Against ranked opponents...........................2-4-1
Scoring first.....................................................13-1
Opponent scores first....................................1-5
2014 SEASON AWARDS:
Carly Bolyard
UNLV Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team
Tori Cooper
All-Pac-12 Conference Second Team
Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week
UNLV Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team
Kahlia Hogg
CU Athlete of the Week
Brie Hooks
All-Pac-12 Conference Second Team
College Sports Madness All-Pac-12 First Team
UNLV Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team
Darcy Jerman
CU Athlete of the Week
UNLV Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team
Bianca Jones
CU Athlete of the Week
Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week
Morgan Stanton
Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week
Head Coach Danny Sanchez Press Conference Quotes (Nov. 18):
General
“I don’t know if anyone here braved the snow on Saturday or just watched it on Pac-12 Network. (Silence) I’ll take that as you just watched the game on Pac-12 Network. It was a great game on Saturday against BYU, the West Coast Conference champs in women’s soccer. The West Coast Conference is an elite conference in women’s soccer. It was the third year in a row that BYU had won that conference. So, it was a great win over a great team that hadn’t been shutout since late August, 15 consecutive games. So, we played well. I thought we deserved to win and we’re excited to move on to play the perennial powerhouse North Carolina at their place on Friday.”
On Whether The Trip To Tallahassee During Last Year’s Tournament Might Help The Team Prepare For This Year’s Trip
“Well, I think what we talked about last year after the Florida State game, who were co-ACC champs with North Carolina this year, was we got run over that game. I don’t know that we were ready. So, I’m hoping that experience will help. I don’t feel that our team will be intimidated. We played the top two teams in the country this year in RPI rankings, Stanford and UCLA. We had decent moments against them this year. We except a similar quality team on Friday and I think we’ll be prepared.”
On Senior Team Captains Darcy Jerman And Bianca Jones And What They Mean To The Program’s New-Found Level Of Success
“Well, we (this coaching staff) got here in the spring of their freshman year and they were coming off a four-win season and a last place finish in the Pac-12. I was familiar with them, being in the region, and they’ve pretty much been starters since day one. The thing that we’re real pleased with is that those two, along with (senior) Carly Bolyard out of Louisville, Colo. are players that could have packed up shop and went and tried to find something easier, but they’re Buffs thru and thru and Colorado kids. They were committed to the cause. It wasn’t easy. We challenged them a lot going forward and they’ve responded and I think they’ve been rewarded the last couple years. Darcy and Bianca are senior captains and have done a great job and have been great leaders for our team and have really pushed the program back in the right direction. We’re not re-inventing the wheel, Colorado soccer has a great tradition and had a lot of success. So, now I think we’re where we’re supposed to be and I think a lot of it is because of those seniors.”
On What Has Made North Carolina The Powerhouse That They Are
“Well, 21 national championships. I think a lot of people ask the question ‘Why can’t (we) do it?’ You look at dynasties of any collegiate sport, you talk about the different basketball (programs), you talk about my alma mater UConn and their women’s basketball team, Iowa wrestling….But, at the end of the day, there’s nothing that can touch North Carolina women’s soccer. Obviously, great coaching, a great tradition, a great culture of how they do things…..They haven’t changed a lot what they do. They announce it, they write books on it, people come watch it and people still can’t do it. So, I think it’s a lot of that. I think what we’ve found though in the last few years is a lot more parody than there was in the past. But, we’re facing a team on Friday that’s never not reached the third round of the NCAA tournament, ever. So, you can look at it two ways: One, is that going to continue? Or is that due to end? I think that our team looks at it as an exciting challenge and if you’re going to go across the country to play a team, let’s play the best. Over time, North Carolina has proven that they’re clearly the dominant program. No one else has more than two national championships. But, having said that, our players have never played them, have never been there and they’ve never played us. So, let’s go ahead and roll the ball out and see what happens.”
On Defending Against The North Carolina Offense
“I think we’re going to need a similar type of performance from our back four. Our back four has been awesome the last few weeks. Brooke Rice, Tori Cooper, Bianca Jones, Kahlia Hogg and I’ll throw Morgan Stanton in there as well, as our holding center…They’ve been great. They’ve given up one goal in the last, I think it’s, four or five games now and that was a penalty kick to Arizona. So, we’re going to need a similar type of performance. We’re going to need to be at the top of our game and perform. But, having said that, we’ve faced a lot of the top strikers in the country in our league and we’ve had moments when we’ve been very good. So, we’re going to need a similar type of performance. The thing with North Carolina is, getting back to the question about what makes them so special, they replace a ton of players, they sub everybody and they play at a high tempo. One of their objectives is to play at a sprint, so there’s high pressure all over the field all the time. We’re going to have to withstand that first wave of pressure and let the game settle down where last year, at Florida State, we didn’t. We got run over and ‘deer in the headlights’ and all the clichés. So, we’re going to have to play well early to identify those players that we know about, to shut them down and really, to give ourselves a chance.”
On Friday’s Game Plan
“I don’t think we’re going to change a lot of what we do. We’re just going to have to do it better and we’re going to have to do it faster. They’ll be a big crowd. There’s a local youth tournament, one of the biggest in the country, going on this weekend in that area. So, it’ll be a huge atmosphere, but that’s why we came to Colorado. This coaching staff and players came here to play in these types of environments and these types of games. So, we’re going to match that intensity and we’re going to have to play well and we’re going to have to play confident. Having said that, we have five senior starters who have all come from different backgrounds. There’s a couple transfers in there, so I think we’re an experienced group that has kind of gone thru the rigors and I think we’ll be up for the challenge.”