Buffs defeat West Virginia in top-15 showdown
The No. 13 Colorado Buffaloes (8-1-1, 2-0 Big 12) defeated the No. 10 West Virginia Mountaineers (5-1-2, 0-1-1 Big 12) 2-0 in their Big 12 home opener on Thursday night at Prentup Field. Colorado has not lost a home game since Oct. 5, 2024, and is now 7-0 at Prentup this season.
The defeat also marked West Virginia’s first conference loss in a regular-season game since October 2024.
West Virginia had most of the attacks early and pressured Colorado goalie Brooke Goerish into three first-half saves.
Buffs midfielder Michaela McGowan forced the first save of the game from Mountaineers’ goalie Bailey Herfurth 11 minutes in. Six minutes later, Goerish saved a point-blank shot from West Virginia midfielder Maya Leoni.
Despite constant possession from the Mountaineers, Colorado’s Hope Leyba opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a first-time volley from a set piece. The goal marked her seventh of the season, which leads the team. She almost made it 2-0 shortly after, but Herfurth stood tall to keep it 1-0 going into halftime.
“We’ve been practicing volleys a little bit recently, and I was making some, so I guess it just carried into the game,” Leyba said after the victory.
McGowan could’ve made it 2-0 right after the intermission, but she missed a sitter from three yards out. Leyba was then denied by Herfurth in the 56th minute.
In the 68th minute, West Virginia defender Mia Paugh committed a foul inside the penalty area, and midfielder Reagan Kotschau converted the ensuing spot kick to double the Buffaloes’ lead. Kotschau has converted all three penalty kicks she has attempted this season.
Goerish kept her fifth straight clean sheet after earning Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors. The keeper made nine saves en route to yet another standout defensive performance and victory.
“We talked about giving them no corners and set pieces in the second half, and we didn’t give them any corners or set pieces in the second half,” Colorado head coach Danny Sanchez said.
The Buffs return to action on Sunday, Sept. 27, when they travel to face the undefeated No. 25 Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-0-4, Big 12 0-0-0). Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. MT. (ESPNU).
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