Colorado State University Athletics
Thursday, August 22
Fort Collins, Colo.
4 p.m. MT
Colorado State
1-0
2
vs
0
Marquette
0-1
1
2
F
Marquette
0
0
0
Colorado State
1
1
2
Defense takes aggressive approach in win
8/22/2019 7:07:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Lordemann scores twice vs. Marquette
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Addie Wright's body was not very happy with her Thursday evening. It's likely to be downright irate by Friday morning.
It had been at least two years since she'd played a soccer game, and despite being a junior transfer from Wake Forest, the match with Marquette at the CSU Soccer Field was her first as a collegiate player.
Thus, the love-hate relationship she was experiencing at the moment.
"It feels like two years," Wright said. "My body is not happy about it, but I'm happy about it."
Why wouldn't she be, after her return to play coincided with Colorado State's season-opening 2-0 victory over Marquette. The efforts of Wright and the rest of the back row is what head coach Bill Hempen tinkered with most in preseason camp, altering the Rams from a defensive-thinking team to a back row primed to set up the attack.
"The defense was good. We're kind of reconstructing it, but they all did really well," Hempen said. "They stepped in, they challenged players all over the park. When they won it, they were able to get it to KK (Caeley Lordemann), which is what we want.
"We were a perfect pass away from a couple more goals, but we'll take it."
Lordemann was up to her usual tricks in the midfield, scoring both goals. She was already the program's career leader in the category, now pushing the number to 10. That made her the career scoring leader with 20 points, eclipsing Hanna Gerdin (19).
And while Hempen wants Lordemann to direct, the change was he wants is for his backline to dictate. For Halley Havlicek, it's a 180-degree change from CSU teams of the past, but this roster is constructed for the alteration.
"It's very much a change. We've always been a defensive-minded team, just because of the opponents we're playing and we are a new program, and it's hard to get that forward action," she said. "That's what we struggled with in the past. Now that we have those talented people up there, and we have the mindset and the capability, it's so much easier to think offensively."
The Rams started two additional transfers at forward, Kristen Noonan and Gracie Armstrong. Noonan assisted on Lordemann's first tally, while Armstrong had a handful of strong runs.
Deeper yet, freshman Caroline Lucas subbed in, showing off her speed and agility with her feet. At midfield, freshmen Kaitlyn Abrams and Liv Layton showed a flair for pushing the pace, with Layton's free kick in the 53rd minute getting redirected for the second goal.
"I think both of the center backs did a really good job," Hempen said. "They did a real good, calming job. If they won it, it wasn't just crazy. They were connecting passes, and that's what we want from those players, and that's a big deal for us right now."
The more they play, the better it will get in Hempen's book.
Same goes for Wright. After starting and lasting 78 minutes, she was subbed out, went to the sideline and found some shade behind the bench. And some water.
She forgot, she said, how big and physical some of the players were. What she didn't forget is the style of soccer she likes, and at Colorado State, she's found a home.
"I love it. That is always my first look is looking forward. I love playing like this. It's my favorite," she said. "I am especially happy to do it with them, too. It's a special group I think, and we're going to be pretty special this year, too."
CSU Soccer Notebook
It had been at least two years since she'd played a soccer game, and despite being a junior transfer from Wake Forest, the match with Marquette at the CSU Soccer Field was her first as a collegiate player.
Thus, the love-hate relationship she was experiencing at the moment.
"It feels like two years," Wright said. "My body is not happy about it, but I'm happy about it."
Why wouldn't she be, after her return to play coincided with Colorado State's season-opening 2-0 victory over Marquette. The efforts of Wright and the rest of the back row is what head coach Bill Hempen tinkered with most in preseason camp, altering the Rams from a defensive-thinking team to a back row primed to set up the attack.
"The defense was good. We're kind of reconstructing it, but they all did really well," Hempen said. "They stepped in, they challenged players all over the park. When they won it, they were able to get it to KK (Caeley Lordemann), which is what we want.
"We were a perfect pass away from a couple more goals, but we'll take it."
Lordemann was up to her usual tricks in the midfield, scoring both goals. She was already the program's career leader in the category, now pushing the number to 10. That made her the career scoring leader with 20 points, eclipsing Hanna Gerdin (19).
And while Hempen wants Lordemann to direct, the change was he wants is for his backline to dictate. For Halley Havlicek, it's a 180-degree change from CSU teams of the past, but this roster is constructed for the alteration.
"It's very much a change. We've always been a defensive-minded team, just because of the opponents we're playing and we are a new program, and it's hard to get that forward action," she said. "That's what we struggled with in the past. Now that we have those talented people up there, and we have the mindset and the capability, it's so much easier to think offensively."
The Rams started two additional transfers at forward, Kristen Noonan and Gracie Armstrong. Noonan assisted on Lordemann's first tally, while Armstrong had a handful of strong runs.
Deeper yet, freshman Caroline Lucas subbed in, showing off her speed and agility with her feet. At midfield, freshmen Kaitlyn Abrams and Liv Layton showed a flair for pushing the pace, with Layton's free kick in the 53rd minute getting redirected for the second goal.
"I think both of the center backs did a really good job," Hempen said. "They did a real good, calming job. If they won it, it wasn't just crazy. They were connecting passes, and that's what we want from those players, and that's a big deal for us right now."
The more they play, the better it will get in Hempen's book.
Same goes for Wright. After starting and lasting 78 minutes, she was subbed out, went to the sideline and found some shade behind the bench. And some water.
She forgot, she said, how big and physical some of the players were. What she didn't forget is the style of soccer she likes, and at Colorado State, she's found a home.
"I love it. That is always my first look is looking forward. I love playing like this. It's my favorite," she said. "I am especially happy to do it with them, too. It's a special group I think, and we're going to be pretty special this year, too."
CSU Soccer Notebook
- Lordemann played all 90 minutes, Havlicek 86 and Lauren Jones 84.
- Gabi McDonald made her first career start in net, improving to 2-1.
- Six players made their first start for the Rams, including Layton, Abrams, Armstrong, Noonan and Wright.
- CSU returns to the pitch Sunday for a 12 p.m. start against SIU-E at CSU Soccer Field.
Team Stats
MARQ
CSU
Goals
0
2
Shots
7
18
Shots on Goal
4
12
Saves
10
4
Corners
2
3
Fouls
7
8
Scoring Plays
Lordemann, Caeley (1)
Assisted By: Noonan, Kristen
GOAL by CSU Lordemann, Caeley (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Noonan, Kristen, goal number 1 for season.
7:14
Lordemann, Caeley (2)
Assisted By: Layton, Liv
GOAL by CSU Lordemann, Caeley, Assist by Layton, Liv, goal number 2 for season.
53:24
Game Leaders
Shots
4
SOG
4
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
6
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
D
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