The Colorado Buffaloes women’s soccer team are on an incredible winning streak. By taking down the Oregon Ducks 3-1 on Thursday, the Buffs have won their last eight games. This has included their first four games against the Pac-12 Conference. The Buffs (10-3, 4-0 Pac-12) have scored a total of 19 goals and have allowed just three during the hot stretch.
The eight-match winning streak is the longest since 2008. It is also tied for the second-longest streak in school history. The school record is 11 consecutive wins, a feat accomplished by the 2003 squad.
Two things have seemed to stay consistent throughout the win streak: the steady goalkeeping play of redshirt freshman goalie Jalen Tompkins and the electrifying goal-scoring abilities of freshman phenom Taylor Kornieck.
Thursday afternoon against the Oregon Ducks was no different. The Buffs were able to get on the board quickly, scoring in the third minute. The goal came off an awe-inspiring throw in by senior forward Danica Evans that found the head of Kornieck, deflected off an Oregon player and went into the net for an own goal.
The Ducks were able to answer late in the first half off of a header by Oregon’s Kyra Fawcett that Tompkins thought she had saved, but was overruled by the officials. When Oregon scored, it ended Tompkins’ individual shutout streak at 480 minutes and 43 seconds, the longest individual streak in Colorado’s history.
The Buffaloes kept charging after halftime. In the 63rd minute senior forward Emily Bruder was finally able to finish on a beautiful one-touch shot into the back of the net. This gave Colorado the lead.
It was in the 72nd minute when sophomore forward Stephanie Zuniga was taken down inside the box. The Lady Buffs were awarded a penalty and Kornieck netted it, putting the Buffaloes up 3-1. Kornieck has scored a goal in four consecutive matches. This ties the school record set by Nikki Marshall.
The football team isn’t the only Buffs squad to be heating up. It’s starting to feel like a really special year for the Lady Buffaloes. Up next, the soccer team will be taking on the Oregon State Beavers on Sunday at 1 p.m. (MST) at Prentup Field in Boulder.
Contact CU Independent Sports Staff Writer Chase Howell at chho2296@colorado.edu
