EAST LANSING, Mich. — The No. 12 Colorado soccer team advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013 with a decisive 4-1 victory over No. 22 Xavier at DeMartin Stadium on Thursday.
Head coach Danny Sanchez was thrilled with his team’s performance. “Setting goals in July made this victory even sweeter,” he said, clearly proud of his players.
Senior goalkeeper Jordan Nytes had a standout game, making a CU tournament record 12 saves. “It’s my job to keep the team composed,” she shared. “I couldn’t have done it without everyone in front of me.”
Colorado (17-3-3) showed remarkable defense, limiting Xavier’s strong offense to just one goal, matching their performance from the previous week.
“We needed to neutralize their star players,” Sanchez explained. “Having All-American defense and a top goalkeeper made a difference.”
In terms of stats, Kotschau has now scored two game-winning goals in this tournament. Both Faith Leyba and Vivi Zacarias have contributed with goals and assists.
The match started with Xavier applying pressure, but Nytes quickly made multiple saves. Colorado turned the tide, earning their first corner in the 18th minute. Faith Leyba scored from that corner, giving the Buffs an early lead.
By halftime, despite being outshot 12-10, Colorado led 2-0. In the second half, they maintained their composure. Hope Leyba scored a stunning long-range goal in the 87th minute, pushing the lead to 3-0. “That goal took the pressure off us,” Sanchez remarked.
Xavier responded with a late goal from Presley Pennekamp, but just moments later, Riley MacDonald scored to finalize the score at 4-1.
Next up, Colorado will face the winner of the Michigan State vs. Wake Forest match on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 11 a.m. MT.
In terms of team history, Colorado is 13-14-1 all-time in NCAA tournaments and has now scored four goals in a single tournament match, the second-most ever for the Buffs. Nytes has also become the all-time leader in NCAA tournament saves for Colorado, surpassing the previous record with 35 saves.
It’s an exciting moment for Colorado soccer, reflecting their growth and determination.
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