Buffs Ready for Season-Opener (Again)

DENVER – Nobody could have foreseen the outcome, or lack thereof, in Colorado's scheduled season-opener that was set for Thursday against Colorado State. Those unique circumstances have now pushed CU's season start by three days against Colorado College. 

The Buffs are down a game in the standings in the Colorado Cup that is set to wrap up this weekend. Colorado hoped to be in contention with a possible tournament championship on the line against CC on Sunday. Instead, the team will take to the pitch at DU with the goal of starting the season 1-0. 

"We are excited to battle Colorado College on Sunday," head coach Danny Sanchez noted. "They are a very good team and well-coached. Our squad is in the proper mindset to compete and we look forward to Sunday to get going again."

The Buffs will be hard-pressed to get a better start than they did against CSU. Sophomore Shyra James scored in the game's third minute and the Buffs got two more highlight goals from Jade Babcock-Chi and Shanade Hopcroft before lightning forced the game into a 129-minute delay that ultimately led to the no-contest. 

Hopcroft had three points in the 51 minutes, adding an assist on Babcock-Chi's goal. Sophomore Rachel Rosen also had multiple points in the glorified exhibition, assisting on the James and Hopcroft goals. 

Colorado College lost its opener on Thursday, 3-1, to Northern Colorado. The Tigers are 0-2 in the Colorado Cup, dropping their exhibition match to Denver by the same result. 

The Buffs and Tigers are the first of three matches at DU on Sunday. Denver and Colorado State will play at 2:30 p.m. and Northern Colorado will take on Air Force at 5 p.m.