Buffs fall in PKs to No. 1 BYU

Freshman goalkeeper Brooke Goerish saved three shots in the game. She also saved BYU’s fourth shot in the penalty shootout. (Photo via CU Athletics)

One hundred ten minutes weren’t enough for the Buffs to find the back of the net more than once. 

The No. 4 (18) Colorado Buffaloes (15-4-2, 8-3 Big 12) drew 1-1 with the No. 1 (14) BYU Cougars (12-3-5, 8-1-2 Big 12) on Wednesday night. The Cougars will move on to the Big 12 Tournament Championship, winning 4-2 on PKs.

"I thought we created a lot of good opportunities," head coach Danny Sanchez said. "But it was small margins tonight, and unfortunately things didn't go our way in the penalties. But that's soccer."

Both teams scored in the first 20 minutes, but it was a defensive match after that. Freshman goalkeeper Brooke Goerish turned aside three other shots on goal on 26 total attempts from the Cougars. 

"I thought we were good defensively… especially after the first 25 minutes," Sanchez said.

BYU out-shot the Buffaloes 26-15, but the Buffs took more quality shots, doubling up the Cougars' attempts on goal, 8-4. 

Senior attacker Hope Leyba scored the lone goal in the seventh minute for the Buffs off a Jordan Whiteaker corner kick, while sophomore attacker Mia Goettsche headed in the only goal for the Cougars, assisted by Sophie Sivulich in the 20th minute. 

Colorado got three shots off in the final two minutes of overtime but couldn’t find nylon, forcing a penalty shootout. 

BYU scored on their first three attempts of the shootout while Colorado got goals from midfielder Regan Kotschau and forward Jace Holley, while Faith Leyba missed on her attempt.

Down 3-2, Goerish made the stop on Afton Perry, giving the Buffs an opportunity to tie with Hope Leyba. Leyba’s shot was saved by Peterson before Emma Neff buried her attempt past Goerish’s outstretched arms to punch the Cougars ticket to the championship game.

Despite not moving on, the result goes in the schedule as a draw.

"We can't forget that tonight was a draw," Sanchez said. "A draw against a team that won the league, so I think we're playing well, and we'll move on from this."

Colorado will wait to see if they continue their season in the NCAA Tournament during the selection show on Monday, November 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. MT (NCAA.com).