FORT WORTH, Texas — No. 12 Colorado fell in its Big 12 Semifinal Tournament match against Kansas, 2-1, on Wednesday at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium.
 
Colorado (15-3-3) will now await Monday’s NCAA Tournament selection show to learn its next opponent. Wednesday’s loss snaps the Buffs’ seven-game unbeaten streak.
 
“Like I told the team, it’s been a while since we lost,” head coach Danny Sanchez expressed after the game. “It’s been since the Baylor match [Oct. 5]. So, it’s been a long stretch, and there are fine margins when you start to get to this point. We didn’t play our best soccer tonight. However, we left it all on the field. Anyone who watched this match can’t question our commitment and our willingness to work hard. It just didn’t happen for us tonight.”
 
The Buffaloes took an early lead with a first-half goal from Faith Leyba, but Kansas responded with two goals in the second half to secure the win. Colorado managed 13 shots, with four on target, while Kansas had six shots on goal.
 
Leyba led the Buffs with four shots, putting two on target. Ava Priest contributed with an assist and had a shot on goal. Jordan Nytes made three saves while facing 13 shots in the net.
 
Emerson Layne also recorded an assist on the Buffs’ goal, marking her 10th of the season and tying Shanade Hopcroft and Taylor Kornieck for the most in a single season.
 
“I’m not questioning the effort at all,” Sanchez continued. “The Buffs were all in. They’re up for the big match. It was a great environment. We started fast. We played well. We just didn’t get enough done.”
 
How it Happened
The first half began with the Buffaloes maintaining early pressure, as Kansas goalkeeper Sophie Dawe saved Priest’s opening shot in the 7th minute.
 
Kansas responded, pushing the attack and forcing saves from Nytes in the 13th and 17th minutes. The Jayhawks outshot the Buffs 6-4 in the early portion of the night. But the Buffs earned five corner kicks in the first 27 minutes and finally converted on a serve from Priest that was headed towards the back post by Layne and put home by Leyba for the 1-0 lead.
 
Kansas was unable to solve the Buffs’ defense with Nytes and Co. keeping the Jayhawks at bay in the first 45 minutes.
 
The second half opened with the Buffaloes immediately pushing forward, creating two early corner opportunities and a shot by Layne that was deflected high over the crossbar within the first minute of action.
 
Despite applying pressure, Kansas responded with a goal by Saige Wimes in the 55th minute, leveling the score at 1-1.
 
The Buffaloes continued to attack, with Reagan Kotschau and Hope Leyba both taking shots, but couldn’t get past the KU defense.
 
Leyba almost had her second of the night to give the Buffs a potential 2-1 lead in the 59th minute. Her header was saved at the far post by a KU defender and cleared to safety. Leyba then repaid the favor in the 73rd minute when she got behind Nytes in the goal box and saved a shot by KU’s Emika Kawagishi to keep the score tied at 1-1.
 
Moments later, Kansas took the lead when Lydia Viets’ shot hit off the toe of Leyba and past Nytes in the 74th minute.
 
“I thought our back four were very good again,” Sanchez noted. “The first goal is a counter off a set piece, and we’ll put that a little big on the coaching staff. We had too many numbers forward and then counter, and they get a goal. Then the second goal, you know, Faith’s blocking it and unfortunately, deflects it and goes in. Those are the margins at this level. We didn’t create enough on the other end to get any more out of this game than we deserved.”
 
Colorado maintained its offensive efforts, including a late shot by Hope Leyba followed by a corner kick in the 86th minute, but was unable to equalize.
 
“It’s disappointing,” Sanchez added. “But we still have a ton to play [for]. We’ll be disappointed tonight, but tomorrow, we’ll get back to working, and like I said, we’ll be ready for the NCAA Tournament.”
 
Up Next
The NCAA Selection Show will be live-streamed on NCAA.com at 2 p.m. MT on Monday.
 
For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Facebook.