Photo by: Grey Gibbs
Buffs Close Spring with a Draw
April 29, 2019 | Soccer
Colorado and Wyoming finish scoreless
BOULDER – The spring soccer season came to close for the Colorado Buffaloes this past Saturday. The Buffs played to a scoreless draw against Wyoming to finish the short season with a 2-1-1 record against Division I opponents.
Colorado and Wyoming played a tight contest from start to finish. Each team was able to threaten at different times during the match. Wyoming parlayed its chances in the first half, while Colorado was able to challenge in the second half.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Cowgirls controlled the play their offensive end early on, setting up two early corner kicks. Neither set-piece resulted in a shot on goal for Wyoming. Instead, CU keeper Jalen Tompkins navigated traffic to clear the ball out to safety.
Shortly after, the Buffs flipped the field creating their own offensive opportunities. A run by Camilla Shymka helped CU get the ball in deep. Sophomore-to-be Emily Groark stepped up for a direct kick in the 13th minute. Her shot was unable to penetrate the Wyoming wall from 20 yards out.
Shymka and Groark continued to threaten for the Buffs. Shymka put a one-touch effort high over the Wyoming net in the 15th minute, while Groark fired a shot off a Wyoming defender in the 18th minute.
Wyoming pushed back, forcing Tompkins to keep the game scoreless. Wyoming's best chance came in the 24th minute. The Cowgirls played the ball across the goal box, sending Tompkins into a sprint from right to left across the goal line to make a leaping one-handed save.
The forward combo of Shymka and Groark continued to pressure Wyoming in the second half. Shymka put a point-blank shot on net, forcing a Wyoming save in the 48th minute. Groark set up Shymka in the 56h minute, resulting in a one-handed save by the Wyoming keeper.
The Buffs controlled play the majority of the second half, getting a few more looks on net. Taylor Kornieck, Kayleigh Webb and Kelsey Aaknes each recorded scoring-chances, while Tompkins was called up for a few more saves.
Wyoming almost found the back of the net in the 85th minute. The Cowgirls managed to get the ball through the hands of Tompkins. The shot continued on its way into the net when Aaknes flew across the goal line to kick the ball out of mid-air.
Colorado responded with a late chance of its own. Groark ripped a one-timer through a cluster of bodies inside the box in the 88th minute. The shot made it cleanly through the traffic and the Wyoming keeper deflected it out of harm's way.
QUOTABLE:
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On CU's overall performance
"I thought it was a good match. Credit to Wyoming. I thought they played really well. They had the run of play in the first half. I thought we did much better in the second half. We didn't have enough quality in the final third and then the game got stretched. Both teams were going for it. It was a really good spring match for us to test ourselves against a good team. It was a good way to finish the spring as we gear towards France and the preseason."
On the entire spring season
"I think it was a good spring. I thought all the players got a lot of minutes since we had limited numbers. I think they got an opportunity to show what they can do. I some players performed very well. Like I told the team, I thought Gabbi Chapa was exceptional today with her fitness and her ability to get up and down the field. We had other good performances as well. We will take the positives from the game, evaluate it and get focused on France."
France 2019: The march to the fall will continue this summer. CU will have additional opportunities train in preparation for its trip to France in June. The Buffs will play four matches over a 10-day span in France.
Donations to help fund the team's trip are still welcome: Donate
Colorado and Wyoming played a tight contest from start to finish. Each team was able to threaten at different times during the match. Wyoming parlayed its chances in the first half, while Colorado was able to challenge in the second half.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Cowgirls controlled the play their offensive end early on, setting up two early corner kicks. Neither set-piece resulted in a shot on goal for Wyoming. Instead, CU keeper Jalen Tompkins navigated traffic to clear the ball out to safety.
Shortly after, the Buffs flipped the field creating their own offensive opportunities. A run by Camilla Shymka helped CU get the ball in deep. Sophomore-to-be Emily Groark stepped up for a direct kick in the 13th minute. Her shot was unable to penetrate the Wyoming wall from 20 yards out.
Shymka and Groark continued to threaten for the Buffs. Shymka put a one-touch effort high over the Wyoming net in the 15th minute, while Groark fired a shot off a Wyoming defender in the 18th minute.
Wyoming pushed back, forcing Tompkins to keep the game scoreless. Wyoming's best chance came in the 24th minute. The Cowgirls played the ball across the goal box, sending Tompkins into a sprint from right to left across the goal line to make a leaping one-handed save.
The forward combo of Shymka and Groark continued to pressure Wyoming in the second half. Shymka put a point-blank shot on net, forcing a Wyoming save in the 48th minute. Groark set up Shymka in the 56h minute, resulting in a one-handed save by the Wyoming keeper.
The Buffs controlled play the majority of the second half, getting a few more looks on net. Taylor Kornieck, Kayleigh Webb and Kelsey Aaknes each recorded scoring-chances, while Tompkins was called up for a few more saves.
Wyoming almost found the back of the net in the 85th minute. The Cowgirls managed to get the ball through the hands of Tompkins. The shot continued on its way into the net when Aaknes flew across the goal line to kick the ball out of mid-air.
Colorado responded with a late chance of its own. Groark ripped a one-timer through a cluster of bodies inside the box in the 88th minute. The shot made it cleanly through the traffic and the Wyoming keeper deflected it out of harm's way.
QUOTABLE:
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On CU's overall performance
"I thought it was a good match. Credit to Wyoming. I thought they played really well. They had the run of play in the first half. I thought we did much better in the second half. We didn't have enough quality in the final third and then the game got stretched. Both teams were going for it. It was a really good spring match for us to test ourselves against a good team. It was a good way to finish the spring as we gear towards France and the preseason."
On the entire spring season
"I think it was a good spring. I thought all the players got a lot of minutes since we had limited numbers. I think they got an opportunity to show what they can do. I some players performed very well. Like I told the team, I thought Gabbi Chapa was exceptional today with her fitness and her ability to get up and down the field. We had other good performances as well. We will take the positives from the game, evaluate it and get focused on France."
France 2019: The march to the fall will continue this summer. CU will have additional opportunities train in preparation for its trip to France in June. The Buffs will play four matches over a 10-day span in France.
Donations to help fund the team's trip are still welcome: Donate