Soccer Returns to the NCAA Tournament
CU soccer advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling 1-0 to top-seeded North Carolina Nov. 22 at Chapel Hill. Benefiting from a difficult non-conference schedule and regular season wins against No. 24 Texas and No. 21 Washington, the 12-8-2 Buffs avenged the previous season’s tournament snub. CU opened the postseason by routing Northern Colorado 6-0 at Prentup Field Nov. 16. Two senior captains led the squad: Midfielder Taylor Kornieck (IntPhys’19) and goalkeeper JJ Tompkins (Psych’19). Kornieck set CU’s all-time points (102) record on her way to being named to the All-Pac-12 First Team. Tompkins became CU’s all-time leader in both wins (49) and saves (369) and was named to the Second Team. Additionally, forward Tessa Barton (Psych’22) earned a spot on the conference Freshman Team. With six seniors graduating, head coach Danny Sanchez signed 10 new recruits to CU’s 2020 class, which is ranked 10th best in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer.
Buffs Bits
With a team-leading 37th overall finish at Cross Country Nationals, Sage Hurta (ChemBioEngr’20) joined Shalaya Kipp (IntPhys, Psych’14) as the second four-time All-American recipient in school history. Overall, the CU cross-country women finished 10th, and the men finished third. … The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame named CU athletic director Rick George to the prestigious “Team of Excellence” in October. … In December, junior wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (Ethnic, Film’21) declared for the 2020 NFL Draft. … Senior Daniel O’Loughlin (Geog’20) closed CU’s fall golf season by tying for second at the inaugural Les Fowler-CU Invitational in October. … Emma Coburn (Mktg’13) earned a silver medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships. … Antonio Alfano, five-star prospect and 2018’s top-ranked high school football recruit in the nation, signed with CU this fall after transferring from Alabama.
Coach Talk
Looking back now, am I surprised that I didn't get fired along the way somewhere, or that I kept my mouth shut? A little bit, yes."
— Eight-time national champion cross-country and track head coach Mark Wetmore on 25 years at CU.
