Buffs fall to pro club Calgary Wild FC in spring game clash

The Colorado Buffaloes soccer team came up just short against the Calgary Wild, a pro club, in Monday's spring-ball clash. (Photo by Aspen Doust/Sko Buffs Sports)

The Colorado Buffaloes soccer team lost a hard-fought battle to the Calgary Wild, a professional club from Canada’s newly formed Northern Super League, 3-2 on Monday in Boulder.

The Wild’s experience over the younger Buffs squad was apparent from the get-go. Within 65 seconds, Calgary had already put a goal on the score sheet after a cross from the club’s defender rolled past Colorado keeper Jordan Nytes and found a poacher with a wide-open net. The striker's first shot was somehow saved by the reigning Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year, but the rebound hit the back of the net.

The pros dominated most of the first half as their gegenpress style of play, an extreme pressing tactic that requires all players to pressure after losing the ball, flustered the Buffaloes. 

In the 20th minute, a Nytes cross from the halfway line found sophomore Lexi Meyer above the box. The midfielder’s shot blew past the keeper but hit off of the woodwork and bounced back into the field of play.

Nine minutes later CU junior defender Ava Priest won a penalty after she was pushed to the ground in the box while trying to control the ball.

Colorado newcomer Reagan Kotschau stepped up to the spot and blasted the ball to the left side of the goal. The Calgary keeper got a glove on it but the shot was too powerful and still ended up hitting the back of the net.

Through the first of three 30-minute periods, the Buffs stood level with the pro club.

Five minutes into the second period, Calgary regained the lead after a defender crossed a ball into a dangerous area in front of the goal line past Nytes. Once again, the Wild’s striker tapped it in for an easy goal.

Calgary’s experience was getting the better of Colorado. The Buffs struggled to maintain possession, let alone get the ball past their own half.

Fifteen seconds before the end of the second period, the Wild extended their lead to two after a run up the left side of the pitch resulted in a shot that ricocheted off of Nytes and into the goal.

CU picked up its pace for the last period, but the Calgary defense was not giving the Buffs any shots.

In the 73rd minute of play, Priest flipped and threw in a ball that found the heads of many players before junior defender Faith Leyba bicycle-kicked it into the net to cut into the deficit.

The Buffs maintained possession for most of the third period but the Wild backline stood firm and didn’t allow another clear-cut chance for the remainder of the game.

Colorado will host its fourth spring game against BYU on April 5th. Gametime is set for 4 p.m. MT at Prentup Field.