CORVALLIS, Ore. — Pac-12 play got off to a bang for the University of Colorado soccer team on Friday.
The No. 23 Buffs (9-0-1) recorded their seventh shutout of the season, and poured on the offense in a 6-0 win over the Beavers (1-8-0) at Paul Lorenz Field.
That offense came fast — and early — in the form of scorning on three of their first five shots.
Freshman Emily Groark recorded her first collegiate goal, proving to be the game-winner, in the third minute of play.
Senior Megan Massey sent the ball bouncing into Groark. The St. Louis, Mo., native headed the ball down to herself from the top of the box before play pushed to the front of the net where Groark was able to poke it past the charging goalkeeper.
“We talked as a team and I thought it was really important for us to get off to a fast start,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said. “Pac-12 is a fresh season for everybody. I was really pleased with how we came out, getting the early goal from Emily and just kept the pressure on through most of the first half. It was definitely a good start for us.”
Colorado continued to hold possession and put pressure on the Beavers. The Buffs found paydirt again in the 11th minute off the foot of Jorian Baucom. The senior transfer fielded a pass from Taylor Kornieck and flipped it from the top of the penalty arc past OSU’s Bridgette Skiba.
Just 2:31 later, the Buffs added their third goal of the half when junior Tatum Barton beat her defender to the ball and one-touched it from the penalty spot past a diving Skiba and inside the left post for the 3-0 lead.
CU put five of its nine first-half shots on net. Junior Jalen Tompkins was seldom called into action in the opening 45 minutes. She made two saves in the first half, while the Buffaloes’ defense held OSU to five shots in the period.
Oregon State applied the early pressure in the second half, but it was Colorado that would continue the goal-scoring.
Baucom found the net for the second time in the 52nd minute. Kornieck tackled the ball away from Oregon State and the ball continued toward the Beavers’ net. Baucom won the race to the ball and dribbled in one-on-one against Skiba. The OSU keeper challenged Baucom, but she had no trouble placing the ball inside the right corner for her seventh goal of the season.
Colorado kept up the pressure and it paid off again in the 69th minute. Barton found herself on a breakaway and had just one defender to beat. She got the OSU defender on her heels and turned her inside-out. Barton’s shot from the penalty spot grazed Skiba’s outstretched hand and across the goal line for her 11th goal of the season.
Junior Camilla Shymka wrapped up the scoring in the 79th minute. She made a run down the right-wing going one-on-one with the Oregon State defense. She won the battle and shot across the net from the corner of the six-yard box for her first of the season.
Senior Scout Watson relieved Thompson in net to start the second. She turned away all three of the Beavers’ shots on goal to preserve the shutout.
“Through these first 10 games, we have shown that we are pretty dynamic in the attack,” Sanchez said. “Our players are unselfish. They are getting rewarded for running after the ball. Hopefully, that movement and that combination play continue as we push into the Pac-12 schedule.”
Notable
CU’s six goals were the most against a Pac-12 opponent. … CU’s 3-0 lead at the 12:20 mark is the fourth earliest 3-0 lead in program history. … It was the 14th time CU has had five or more goals in a game. … Kornieck’s three assists move her into fifth all-time in career points with 57. … She is now third all-time in career assists with 17. … Kornieck also tied Kathryn Grandinetti for the most assists in a single season (9, 2003). … Baucom and Barton became the first duo to record two goals in the same game since Nikki Marshall and Kelly Butler in 2009. … Barton became the seventh player in Colorado history to score 10 or more goals in a season. … Her 11 goals are tied for third-most by a Buffalo. … Barton moves into a tie for eighth all-time with 17 career goals. … Baucom’s five points is tied for seventh most in a match. … Tompkins Pac-12 shutout streak is now at 543:05.
Up next
Colorado continues Pac-12 play on the road next week. The Buffs will travel to Arizona State on Thursday and Arizona on Sept. 30.
