Buffs tie for most goals in program history in win over UNC Greensboro

Colorado Buffaloes soccer celebrates one of its historic eight goals on Sunday against UNC Greensboro. (Photo by Aspen Doust/Sko Buffs Sports)

The Colorado Buffaloes (3-0-1) blew out the North Carolina-Greensboro Spartans 8-0 on Sunday afternoon. The eight scores tie a program record for most goals in a single game.

Colorado head coach Danny Sanchez once again elected to use a three-striker front: Hope Leyba, Emerson Layne, and Jace Holley. For the second game in a row, all three attackers found the back of the net.

For the fourth game in a row, the Buffs found their first goal within the first twenty minutes. In the 13th minute, Leyba powered her way past the Spartans' defense and blasted the ball past the keeper.

Eleven minutes later, UNCG’s keeper tried to clear a ball, but it bounced off of Layne and rolled into the back of the net to extend CU’s lead to two.

In the 30th minute, a Jordan Whiteaker cross bounced near the penalty area and found Holley, who was able to poke the ball into the net.

Going into the half, the Buffs were up three, but Greensboro had been keeping most of the possession. The Spartans were playing good team soccer, but their lousy play in the final third, combined with inspired play from Colorado on the counterattack, was the reason the score read 3-0.

Six minutes into the second half, junior Caley Swierenga delivered a ball to midfielder Reagan Kotschau, who headed the ball past the keeper to extend the lead to four. Five minutes later, Holley put the ball into the back of the net for the second time in the game and fourth time on the season.

In the 59th minute, Leyba scored her second goal of the game, which marked her second game with multiple scores and her seventh goal of the season overall.

“Every time [Leyba] gets it, I think she's going to score,” Layne said after the game. “She's going to find the back of the net almost every game… To see her shine finally, I'm really happy for her.”

In the 73rd minute, freshman midfielder Maddie Sharrer played a pass that rolled in front of the goal and found Sammi Fisher, who was able to score. The Buffs capped off their record-tying evening in the 83rd minute after Sharrer curled a ball into the top left bin.

“We played well today,” Sanchez said. “Really pleased with how we came out…Of the goals, there were no cheap ones; they were all really well taken.”

The Buffs return to host the New Mexico State Aggies (1-2) on Thursday at 7 p.m. MT.