Bears fall to CU in season-opener
Published: Saturday, August 18, 2012
Updated: Saturday, August 18, 2012 15:08
The UNC soccer season-opener didn’t go exactly how the team had planned, as it suffered a 3-0 loss to the University of Colorado Friday at Jackson Field in the first game of the Colorado Cup.
The University of Northern Colorado out-shot the Buffalos 15-9 in the game but couldn’t convert on any of their chances.
“I think the team played awesome,” said junior midfielder Chandler Guetz, who led the Bears with four shots. “We maintained the ball. We kept the ball almost the whole game. We just couldn’t find the back of the net.”
CU had no problem scoring, though, as forward Anne Stuller scored five minutes into the game and then scored again on a free kick in the 30th minute.
CU’s third goal game from Nikola Machalek in the 71st minute.
Despite the loss and the three goals allowed, UNC head coach Tim Barrera said he was encouraged with how senior goalkeeper Natalie D’Adamio played.
“Her command back there was pretty good, so we liked that,” Barrera said. “You can’t really fault her on any of the three goals. The last one was struck really well. So, I think for her, one of the new players being out there, even though we gave up three goals, it was a good start for her.”
D’Adamio admitted so some nervousness during the game but said things will get better going forward.
“I think the biggest thing is we need to play with confidence,” she said. “We’re a good team, and we just have to act like we are. We’re timid and scared sometimes, but we just have to show some confidence.”
Playing in her first game as a Bear after transferring from New Mexico, Guetz impressed Barrera with her first real game performance.
“Chandler did well,” he said. “She is an experienced player. Everything Chandler has ever gotten is from hard work.”
The Bears lost senior forward Danielle Birdsall less than 10 minutes into the game with an undetermined leg injury. Barrera said the team would have a couple doctors look at it in the coming days and determine a timetable for her return from there. Birdsall appeared to be walking without assistance by the end of the game.
The Bears have a quick turnaround as they face the University of Denver at 1 p.m. Sunday at Colorado College’s Colorado Springs campus in the second game of the Colorado Cup.
“Denver will be a tough challenge for us, but it will be good,” Barrera said. “Facing all these challenges early in the season will help us in the long run.”
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