Exciting NCAA Tournament Win for Colorado Buffaloes
The Colorado Buffaloes (15-3) pulled off a thrilling comeback against the Jacksonville Dolphins (13-6), winning 10-9 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The game took place at Prentup Field in Boulder, Colorado.
In a nail-biting fourth quarter, the Buffs started behind, trailing 7-6. Jacksonville’s Maeve Brennan scored early in the quarter, bringing the Dolphins to an 8-6 lead. But Colorado quickly bounced back. Senior Maddie Shoup netted a goal just six seconds later, tightening the score to 8-7. Teagan Ryan then tied the game at 8-8 and scored again, putting the Buffs ahead at 9-8. Jacksonville’s Shae Hagans answered back with a goal to make it 9-9. Ultimately, freshman Rowan Edson secured the win with a final goal to make it 10-9.
The back-and-forth nature of the final quarter featured multiple lead changes and was full of intensity. Coach Ann Elliott Whidden praised her team’s resilience, noting the challenge posed by Jacksonville.
Shoup reflected on the team’s fight, saying, “We weren’t ready to stop. We had a lot of energy and momentum despite being down.”
Interestingly, this win mirrored Colorado’s previous game against Jacksonville on April 6, where they also secured a 10-9 victory in overtime. Now, the Buffaloes have a strong historical record against the Dolphins, winning three of four matchups and remaining perfect in NCAA Tournament games against them.
This victory marks Colorado’s third time reaching the second round in NCAA history, having previously achieved this in 2018 and 2019. Plus, the Buffs are maintaining an impressive home record this season with eight straight wins.
On the stats front, Shoup led the team with three goals and an assist. Ryan, Edson, and Jaimey Hill each contributed two goals. Notably, CU outshot Jacksonville 22-19 and forced 12 turnovers compared to six by the Dolphins. Goalkeeper Elena Oh, who leads the nation with an average of 6.32 goals against, made four crucial saves during the game.
What’s Next?
In the upcoming match, Colorado will face either Florida or Denver. This game is an exciting rematch opportunity since they have already faced both teams this season. Whidden expressed excitement about the team’s progress and the joy of competing again, no matter who their opponent is.
With a strong season behind them, the Buffs are eager to push forward. Their resilience and teamwork in tough moments are qualities fans can feel proud of as they aim for their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals.
As the tournament unfolds, it’ll be interesting to see how Colorado maintains its momentum. The Buffaloes are proving to be a formidable contender, ready to take on new challenges.
