University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, September 1
Greeley, Colo.
7:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
vs
University of New Hampshire
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Formidable foes on tap for @UNCBearsSoccer at home this weekend
8/30/2017 10:41:00 AM | Women's Soccer
GREELEY, Colo. – Another weekend, another pair of tough opponents.
UNC's soccer team (3-1-0, 0-0 Big Sky) continues its non-conference home schedule this week, with a Friday night contest against New Hampshire (7 p.m.) and a Sunday afternoon tilt with New Mexico State (12 p.m.). Both matches are free to the public at Jackson Stadium.
"Two teams that have had good starts to the season, similar to us," said Bears head coach Tim Barrera. "It's fun to play some different teams from different conferences. This will be a good challenge for us."
The challenge will be to drop some adversity in the paths of those opponents. UNH and NMSU are a combined 7-1-1 this year. The homestand starts with New Hampshire (3-1-0), which like the Bears opened 2017 with three consecutive wins before sustaining its first loss Sunday. Barrera this week prepares his team for a Wildcats foe that advanced to the America East Conference semifinals last year.
Plus, it's an opportunity to welcome a team that doesn't normally visit Colorado.
"For us, it's always fun to play teams from the East," Barrera said. "Last year we played Drexel University. That was a very good game for us, just a little bit of a different style from a team we don't normally play. So, we're always excited to play those kinds of teams. And, I know for those teams it's always a big trip for them."
That trip for UNH includes a stop at Colorado State on Sunday. Fourth-year head coach Steve Welham, who like Barrera competed and coached in New Jersey and New York before earning his current job, brings to Colorado a squad that includes leading-scorer Brooke Murphy, a senior forward who owns three goals this year.
While only four Wildcats have scored this season, New Mexico State (4-0-1) enters the weekend with seven goal-scorers. The Aggies rudely dispatched Alcorn State, 8-0, on Monday. Junior Audriana Chavez paces NMSU with four goals.
"New Mexico State," Barrera said, "we know a little bit better because they were up here a couple years ago. They've had a pretty good start, too."
UNC also is off to a pretty good start. Mariel Gutierrez leads the Bears in both goals (3) and points (7). Maddie Roberts paces UNC with nine shots on goal, along with her two goals. Plus, senior co-captain Madeline Burdick is 3-1 with 17 saves and one shutout. The Bears have scored goals in all four games, and six straight dating to last season. The last time UNC failed to find the net was a scoreless tie Oct. 23 at Montana. That's not all, Barrera said.
"We've created chances. On Sunday against TCU, a Pac-12 team, we created enough chances to score goals, so we're happy with that."
But there's always room for improvement. Barrera said his team need to play better in the second half, and play better when protecting a lead. The Bears in their head coach's eyes also need to better use both sides of the field.
No question, this weekend figures to feature some exciting soccer.
"We had some really good crowds last weekend, and we hope that people can keep coming out."
UNC's soccer team (3-1-0, 0-0 Big Sky) continues its non-conference home schedule this week, with a Friday night contest against New Hampshire (7 p.m.) and a Sunday afternoon tilt with New Mexico State (12 p.m.). Both matches are free to the public at Jackson Stadium.
"Two teams that have had good starts to the season, similar to us," said Bears head coach Tim Barrera. "It's fun to play some different teams from different conferences. This will be a good challenge for us."
The challenge will be to drop some adversity in the paths of those opponents. UNH and NMSU are a combined 7-1-1 this year. The homestand starts with New Hampshire (3-1-0), which like the Bears opened 2017 with three consecutive wins before sustaining its first loss Sunday. Barrera this week prepares his team for a Wildcats foe that advanced to the America East Conference semifinals last year.
Plus, it's an opportunity to welcome a team that doesn't normally visit Colorado.
"For us, it's always fun to play teams from the East," Barrera said. "Last year we played Drexel University. That was a very good game for us, just a little bit of a different style from a team we don't normally play. So, we're always excited to play those kinds of teams. And, I know for those teams it's always a big trip for them."
That trip for UNH includes a stop at Colorado State on Sunday. Fourth-year head coach Steve Welham, who like Barrera competed and coached in New Jersey and New York before earning his current job, brings to Colorado a squad that includes leading-scorer Brooke Murphy, a senior forward who owns three goals this year.
While only four Wildcats have scored this season, New Mexico State (4-0-1) enters the weekend with seven goal-scorers. The Aggies rudely dispatched Alcorn State, 8-0, on Monday. Junior Audriana Chavez paces NMSU with four goals.
"New Mexico State," Barrera said, "we know a little bit better because they were up here a couple years ago. They've had a pretty good start, too."
UNC also is off to a pretty good start. Mariel Gutierrez leads the Bears in both goals (3) and points (7). Maddie Roberts paces UNC with nine shots on goal, along with her two goals. Plus, senior co-captain Madeline Burdick is 3-1 with 17 saves and one shutout. The Bears have scored goals in all four games, and six straight dating to last season. The last time UNC failed to find the net was a scoreless tie Oct. 23 at Montana. That's not all, Barrera said.
"We've created chances. On Sunday against TCU, a Pac-12 team, we created enough chances to score goals, so we're happy with that."
But there's always room for improvement. Barrera said his team need to play better in the second half, and play better when protecting a lead. The Bears in their head coach's eyes also need to better use both sides of the field.
No question, this weekend figures to feature some exciting soccer.
"We had some really good crowds last weekend, and we hope that people can keep coming out."
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
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