Buffs Off to Washington for Two
Watch Friday Live | Match Notes
SEATTLE — The 3-0-0 Colorado soccer team is on the road for the first time this season, heading to Washington for a pair of matches. The Buffaloes will open Pac-12 Conference play on Friday (4 p.m. MT) against the Huskies and then prepare for a non-conference rematch on Sunday (1 p.m. MT).
The Buffs have had a solid start to the season, outscoring teams 5-0 this season. CU has had three shutouts to start the season, two by reigning Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week, Dani Hansen. Hansen, a transfer from Washington, has made six saves in both her wins this season.
"Sometimes when you don't get a lot of action, it's hard to make those [big] saves," head coach Danny Sanchez recalled of Hansen's performance. "She managed the game well. Her distribution was good. It was a little unfortunate on our backs that the ball squirted through, but she made herself big and made the save that we had to have. There will be more of those in Pac-12 play, but I'm pleased with her play so far."
The Buffs have gotten four goals this season from three different scorers. Junior Hannah Sharts has scored back-to-back game-winners and leads the team with four points. Sharts provided one of the biggest goals of the 2019 season, notching the game-winner the last time the Buffs visited Washington.
"It was almost kind of a must-win for us [last season]," Sanchez recalled. "We had a good resume, but Washington had a great year last year. Their Hall of Fame coach [Lesle Gallimore] was retiring and they put it all out there. They were a top 100 RPI team and we got that win which really catapulted us to the tournament. We're excited to get back. We'd love to spread the goals around, hopefully, that'll start to click a little bit."
The trip is the first for CU since the team traveled to North Carolina for the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Since then, the Buffs have transformed as a unit, adding plenty of new faces.
"It's almost surreal," Sanchez added. "The team hasn't really been able to hang out. They are at practice [together] but then they head back to their dorm rooms, they grab their food to go – we never had a preseason trip, we haven't had any team meals. We're still limited, but the fact that we actually get to spend time together and some of the players can actually introduce themselves to each other and say, 'How are you doing? Where are you from?' I think that part of this weekend is going to be good."
A weekend sweep against the Huskies would mark another milestone for Sanchez. Already the team's winningest coach with a .621-win percentage, Sanchez is just two wins away from 100. Sanchez, who took over the Buffaloes in 2012, boasts a 98-56-20 record in his ninth season.
This weekend's matches will both be live-streamed. You can follow along at CUBuffs.com/WatchSoc.