Colorado Buffaloes advance to Sweet Sixteen for first time in 12 years

Jordan Nytes' 12 saves marked a Buffs NCAA Tournament record. (Photo by Fidel Gonzales/Sko Buffs Sports)

The No. 3-seeded Colorado Buffaloes (17-3-3, 8-1-2 Big 12) played the No. 6-seeded Xavier Musketeers (16-4-2, 8-1-1 Big East) in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 on Thursday afternoon in a game that resulted in a historic 4-1 win for the Buffs.

This game took place on a neutral site at DeMartin Stadium on Michigan State University’s campus in East Lansing. It started slowly for Colorado, as 10 first ten minutes held a few chances from Xavier. 

Goalkeeper Jordan Nytes made the save on all of those chances, the first few of a CU tournament record-setting 12 saves throughout.

Xavier held most possession in the first 15 minutes until Colorado’s offense started to heat up and create some chances of its own.

In the 18th minute, Colorado was awarded a corner kick. Defender Jordan Whiteaker took the kick and crossed it into position inside the box, where fellow defender Faith Leyba headed it into the top left corner of the net for the opening goal.

Colorado was awarded another corner kick in the 31st minute. Whiteaker delivered beautifully again for another Leyba header. The ball hit the crossbar and bounced back out for a Lexi Meyer header into the back of the net, giving Colorado a 2-0 lead.

For the rest of the first half, possession was back and forth with both teams creating chances, but none were converted. Colorado went into halftime up two.

At the start of the second half, Xavier was starting to feel the pressure of the clock. The Musketeers pushed the ball further downfield to create more chances, but still converted none. Colorado’s defense remained strong, not letting anything through. 

Nytes recorded her ninth save of the game in the 72nd minute. This save tied the program record for the most saves in an NCAA tournament match. 

Shortly after, she broke that record and recorded her 10th save.

"I think something I've kind of prided myself on for a while is just being able to perform under pressure," Nytes said postgame on her 12-save performance. "Being a captain on the team, it's kind of my job to keep everybody else in front of me composed. I can't take any of the credit for the saves without the four people in front of me and the rest of the team.”

In the 82nd minute, midfielder Reagan Kotschau set up forward Jace Holley for a shot, which she shot just over the crossbar. But in the 87th minute, forward Hope Leyba drilled the goal of the game, a shot from nearly 40 yards out. It was her 22nd goal of the season.

Shortly after, Xavier forward Presley Pennekamp found the back of the net, making the score 3-1. 

And the 89th minute, CU forward Riley MacDonald scored the dagger for the Buffs. She megged the keeper off a pass from forward Josie Master, making the score 4-1. 

That score remained as the Buffs secured the win, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2013.

"I'm so excited for this group," head coach Danny Sanchez said after the win. "You set goals in July and early August, when you're up in the mountains and doing team bonding, and we couldn't be more proud of the group tonight for their effort and performance."

The Buffaloes await either the No. 2-seeded Michigan State Spartans or the No. 7 Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the next round. That game will take place on Sunday, with the time to be announced.