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Buffs fall to Boilermakers
Colorado dropped its second straight 1-0 game, falling to Purdue in the first match of the Illini/Boilermaker Cup.
Purdue was coming off a three-game losing streak, but opened the game with a great scoring chance. The Boilermakers tested Colorado’s defense early, when they put a header on goal after a corner kick, but CU’s defense cleared it for a team save.
Colorado responded and was able to flip the momentum midway through the first half. The Buffs didn’t get their first shot on goal until 23 minutes in. Kate Russell blasted a shot from 30 yards out and though it didn’t go in, it changed the ball possession to CU’s favor.
CU had a big scoring opportunity 32 minutes in when sophomore sparkplug Hayley Hughes shot a ball wide from just outside the box. Colorado outshot Purdue 6-2 and won the majority of the 50-50 balls to close out the first 45 minutes of play.
When CU took the pitch to start the second half, it looked as though the team was going to dominate again. The Buffs had five shots in the opening 13 minutes with Hughes leading the way. She would finish the night with seven.
“I felt like we had control of the game again,” coach Bill Hempen said.
Purdue didn’t give up, and the Boilermakers caught a break with 27 minutes remaining in the second half. Hempen said Purdue intercepted a pass by the Buffs and counter-attacked hard.
Freshman Chinyelu Asher took the ball down the sidelines, got it by CU’s defense and sent it over to freshman Alex Hairston who was able to bury the ball past CU keeper Annie Brunner.
Colorado must now refocus and prepare for Sunday’s game. The Buffs will head to Urbana-Champaign, Ill., to take on the No. 17-ranked Fighting Illini.
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