The University of Colorado was not able to get its second women’s soccer upset against a top-20 opponent, losing 2-1 to No. 13 Illinois in the first game of the DU Invitational on Friday. The Buffs, ranked No. 18, beat No. 11 Oklahoma State last Saturday.
CU coach Bill Hempen lamented his team was not able to capitalize on numerous early chances, but he gave the Illini (2-0) credit for “taking the game away” from the Buffs.
“They connected passes and played smart balls while we were a little more frantic,” Hempen said, “which cost us in the end.”
The Buffs (1-1) got their lone goal with 58 seconds left when sophomore Kassidy Fitzpatick was left unmarked at the top of the box. Her first shot was blocked, but the rebound came right back to her for a one-touch past the goalkeeper.
• In the nightcap, the host Pioneers got a win in their first game in the new University of Denver Soccer Stadium, edging St. Mary’s 2-1.
Freshmen Kalie Vaughn (Rocky Mountain High School) and Katy Van Lieshout (Boulder H.S.) scored their first collegiate goals in the second half, and the defense and freshman goalkeeper Lara Campbell, who made seven saves, made the lead stand up.
The invitational resumes Sunday with Colorado vs. St. Mary’s at 11 a.m., followed by DU and Illinois at 1:15 p.m.
• Jen Thomas scored twice, both on passes from Courtney Ryan, to lead Metro State, ranked No. 3 in Division II, to a 3-1 home win over Nebraska-Omaha.
Irish sweep DU volleyball.
The Denver volleyball team (0-1) lost to Notre Dame in the opening match of the Shamrock Invitational in South Bend, Ind., falling 25-16, 25-18, 25-16.
“It was a great learning experience for our young team,” head coach Beth Kuwata said. “Going into the first match of a season you are always trying to figure out where you are at and what still needs to be tweaked and this was a great test for us.”
Sophomore Jordan Raines led DU with eight kills.
Ziegler done at Amateur.
Legacy High School alumnus Steve Ziegler of Broomfield was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur, losing on the 21st hole to Byeong-Hun An of South Korea, who’s trying to break the record for youngest winner of the event — for the second straight year.
Last year, Danny Lee surpassed Tiger Woods as the youngest winner of the Amateur, at 18 years and one month. An won’t turn 18 until Sept. 17.
An squandered a 3-up lead on the back nine, bogeying the 17th and 18th holes to let Ziegler force a playoff.
An prevailed when Ziegler missed the green with his second shot at No. 3 and An followed by leaving his shot right in the middle of the green. When Ziegler missed a long par putt, he flipped his putter into the air and swatted at it before removing his cap to shake An’s hand.
DU’s Garza on U-20 soccer squad.
The University of Denver’s Sam Garza is one of four forwards named to the U.S. men’s under-20 team that will compete at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt starting Sept. 23.
