Kennedy’s career night powers CU past Pioneers
- Peighton Lemp
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
In a top-20 rival match-up between the No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes (9-3, 2-1 Big 12) and the No. 18 Denver Pioneers (11-2, 4-0 Big East), the Buffaloes came up victorious 9-6 on Wednesday.
Colorado had more steals (24), groundballs (15), draw controls (10) and caused turnovers(12) than Denver.
The standout player of the game was redshirt junior attacker Rachel Kennedy, who had a career-high five of CU’s nine goals.
Senior attacker Maddie Shoup, freshman attacker Rowan Edson, senior midfielder Lily Assini and junior attacker Teagan Ryan each had one goal on the night as well.
“I think our offense did a really good job,” Colorado head coach Ann Elliot Whidden said. “I’m really proud of that group and Rachel for stepping. This was a full team effort.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Elena Oh had five saves on 10 shots on goal.
The Pioneers opened the game with a bang, collecting two goals. The first came from redshirt sophomore attacker Caroline Keil, who fired it past Oh into the top right corner. Then, freshman midfielder Karleight Mutch sent one right over the stick of Oh.
Colorado answered with its first goal of the evening, 10 minutes into the game, out of a timeout, with a goal from Ryan, assisted by Kennedy. Kennedy tried another goal before the end of the quarter, but it was stopped by sophomore goalkeeper Lexi Gwaku.
Kennedy went on a two-goal run for CU in the first three minutes of the second quarter to put the Buffs up 3-2. The first was assisted by Edson, and the next by junior midfielder Averi Gardener.
Denver picked up another goal from Keil, who snuck in a low shot. Both teams went on a seven-minute scoring drought, which the Pioneers ended with a quick goal with 1:33 remaining. Edson attempted to tie it up heading into the half with a free position opportunity, but could not connect.
Out of halftime, Gwaku saved two CU shots but could not prevent a goal by Assini during a power play to tie up the game once again. Soon after, Assini stole a pass from DU and assisted Kennedy on her third goal of the night.
In the last two minutes of the third quarter, Kennedy picked up another goal during a power play when she came up behind the net and cut across it to drill the ball into the nylon.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Kennedy had a very similar opportunity, and junior attacker Jaimey Hill hit her with the pass for Kennedy’s fifth goal to put CU up 7-4.
Colorado and Denver then traded goals, both off free position chances. Sophomore attacker Eva Thomsen-Marr capitalized on a free position attempt for a Denver goal before Edson shot it to the net for the Buffs.
Thomsen-Marr picked up another goal for the Pioneers, cutting their deficit to two with three minutes left in the game.
Out of a Denver timeout, Colorado controlled the draw and was content to run out the clock. However, Shoup found herself with an open lane and took it to secure the Buffaloes 9-6 victory.
This win comes off a conference win against the Cincinnati Bears (10-5), extending their home record to 6-0. Kennedy led the game with five goals, her second consecutive hat-trick. Edson and Ryan each had a goal of their own. Oh had three saves.
The Buffaloes will jump back into conference play on April 19 against UC Davis in Davis, California. First draw is set for 1 p.m. MT and will be streamed on YouTube.