Matches thread - Soccer visits #20 Washington (Thurs., 10/31, 8:00 MT) and (RV) WSU (Sunday, 1:00 MT)

[AztecBuff]

A couple chances to get nice wins against high RPI teams, as the Buffs visit the Huskies (#10 RPI) and Cougars (#26 RPI).

Preview -


Direct link - https://cubuffs.com/news/2019/10/30/soccer-buffs-set-to-visit-washington-schools.aspx

"
BOULDER – Head coach Danny Sanchez and the Colorado soccer team are set to close the regular season with three consecutive road matches. The stretch starts on Halloween night when the Buffaloes take on the No. 21 Washington Huskies, before heading to Washington State on Sunday.

Colorado (10-5-2, 2-4-2) wrapped up its home schedule with a 1-1 draw against California in the snow last Sunday. Senior Taylor Kornieck recorded her 10th goal of the season on Senior Day. She now has 25 points this season, adding to her CU record with 97.

"Taylor scored a great goal in the first 15 minutes," Sanchez recalled. "For the most part, I thought we played well in the first half. I thought we dropped a little too much at the start of the second half. Cal scored a very good goal. It could have been a negative turning point for us, but I liked how we bounced back."

Points have been hard to come by for the Buffs of late. The Silver and Gold is currently positioned in a tie for eighth in the Pac-12 with Oregon State with eight points. Colorado has mustered just three points in its last six matches. That recent stretch has featured games at No. 22 UCLA, No. 4 Southern California and No. 2 Stanford at home.

The road does not get any easier for the Buffs. Washington (10-4-2, 6-2) cracked the top-25 for the first time this week, following 2-0 win at No. 7 Southern Cal last week. Washington State (10-5-1, 3-4-1) spent the last nine weeks in the top-25 before dropping out this week.

"Washington is having a great season," Sanchez explained. "They are coming off a nice win over USC over the weekend. Their hall of fame coach, Lesle Gallimore, is retiring so I think they are playing with a little extra oomph. It's a great opportunity for us. They are a great RPI game. There will be no Trick-or-Treating, no candy, no costumes. We aren't going to have a Halloween practice. It is serious for us."

The Buffs swept the Washington schools last season. The week started with CU's 3-1 win over then No. 7 WSU. Kornieck scored the game's first goal in the 2nd minute and the Buffs added another in the 12th. A late goal from Megan Massey helped secure the win. The Buffs needed overtime to beat Washington last season. Jorian Baucom scored in the 104th minute, pushing Colorado to the 2-1 win.

Thursday's match will kick off at 8 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks. Sunday will be at 1 p.m. MT and will be streamed online.
"
________________________________________________________________________

Match Notes - https://cubuffs.com/documents/2019/10/29//week_11.pdf

Match Media links -

Vs. Washington (Thursday, 8:00 PM MT) :
Live video - Match is being shown live on the Pac 12 Mountain channel. For those whose Cable/ Satellite/ Cord Cutting subscription includes access to that Pac 12 channels, assume the match can also be streamed through a link at https://pac-12.com/womens-soccer/event/2019/10/31/colorado-washington .

Live stats - http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=269616

Vs. WSU (Sunday, 1:00 PM MT) :
Live video - Match will be viewable via a free live stream available at https://pac-12.com/live/washington-state-university (as well I assume somewhere on the Pac 12 App?).

Live stats - http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=267440

 

[AztecBuff]

 

[AztecBuff]

 

[AztecBuff]

 

[AztecBuff]

 

[AztecBuff]

HUGE WIN!!!

 

[AztecBuff]

Highlight of the goal.

 

[MarkW]

 

[AztecBuff]

Article after and highlights of yesterday's BIG wins-


Direct link - https://cubuffs.com/news/2019/10/31/soccer-colorado-blanks-no-21-washington.aspx

"
SEATTLE – Colorado sophomore Hannah Sharts picked the perfect moment to score her first career goal on Thursday, helping Colorado defeat No. 21 Washington, 1-0.

Sharts, a transfer from UCLA, had not recorded a point in her collegiate career before notching the game-winner. She has been a solid presence on the Buffs' backline this season, having started every match this season.

The win helps Colorado improve to 11-5-2 overall and 3-4-2 in the Pac-12. Washington falls to 10-5-2 and 6-3 in the conference.
...

BY THE NUMBERS:
Colorado
Goals: 1
Shots: 11
Fouls: 7
Saves: 4

Washington
Goals: 0
Shots: 18
Fouls: 16
Saves: 3

Up Next: Colorado travels to the Palouse to take on Washington State on Sunday.

Notes: The shutout was the seventh of the season for CU…it was also the 24th career solo shutout for Tompkins who is now one shy of tying the CU record…CU is now 2-4 this season against ranked opponents.

Quotes
Head coach Danny Sanchez
Overall thoughts
"I thought the first 20 minutes Washington had the run of play. I think we were playing a little tentative. I thought towards the end of the first half, we played better. In the second half, I was really pleased. I don't know how many saves JJ made but she made a couple. I thought we were playing high up the field playing smart. I want to shout out to some of the players. I thought the back four were fantastic today, not just because Hannah Sharts scored but Hannah Cardenas, Kelsey [Aaknes] and Gabbi [Chapa] were awesome. Taylor was her usual self. Kaylee Webb was not 100 percent but an absolute war to gut it out. A lot of great individual performance today so it's a great result and we're excited to get up to a Pullman on Sunday to keep it going."

On scoring the goal
"Well you know we talked about you know sometimes the goals aren't the prettiest things, but you have to put pressure on. Fortunately, for us, one fell to us in the box and Hannah, did what you have to do. You have to kick it off and give yourself a chance and it's a nice finish. I want to give a lot of credit to that Washington team. That is a very good team as a team that is going to be in the tournament. It was a very good win for the Buffs as we get ready for Sunday."

On starting the weekend with a win
"Well, I think it hopefully gives us some momentum. Obviously, we're pretty dinged up. We have two, two and a half days to recover as we get ready for Sunday. It's some good momentum. It's a great group of young women and we're excited to see where the weekend can take us."
"

 

[Bmixer]

nice win. now need to win at WSU.

 

[AztecBuff]

 

[AztecBuff]

 

[AztecBuff]

One of the more lopsided losses of the year, but still a good weekend overall for the Buffs after the win at udub. Just need to bring their "A game" when they finish the regular season this Thursday in Salt Lake City.

 

[AztecBuff]

A few things about the Buff soccer team's tournament selection chances:

• In the latest RPI ratings released today (https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-women/d1/ncaa-womens-soccer-rpi), the team is in MUCH better shape this year to earn an NCAA berth, as they are at RPI #31 with only one week/ match to go. (Last year when the Buffs disappointingly did NOT get selected in spite of their 13-4-3 record, the Buffs had a #48 RPI at tournament selection time.)
• I assume the team will still be desperate for a win this Thursday, however, if they want to have any chance at hosting any tournament. The Buffs will also need to bring their best as Utah will also be (probably more) desperate, as they are at #55 in RPI so assume they are currently, at best, on the tournament bubble.
• Per an analysis I found (https://sites.google.com/site/rpifordivisioniwomenssoccer/predicting-the-bracket), an RPI of #26 is the worst RPI typically needed to earn a #4 regional seed to host a 1st round match. That analysis also says the RPI bubble zone for at-large selection is 31-57. I'd assume the Buffs having some quality wins, highlighted by Friday's win over RPI #22 Washington in Seattle, would give them a little leeway to have a slightly higher RPI and still be selected, but I assume they don't want to have ANY doubt heading into next Monday's tournament selection show.
• After writing the above, found a bracketology analysis released today (http://www.allwhitekit.com/?m=201911) that seems to be written by someone who also seems to be at least one of the people who runs the website in the 1st link above ,and it says the Buffs still could have a slight chance of not making the tournament if they lose this match. It also doesn't even mention Utah as being a bubble team.
• I also found a bracketology on the (premium) topdrawersoccer.com website, and it has the Buffs quite a ways up (10 teams below them) from the bubble.

 

[MarkW]

 

[AztecBuff]