Buffs split points with No. 12 Spartans in season opener

Colorado Buffaloes striker Hope Leyba celebrates an early goal on Thursday against the Michigan State Spartans at Prentup Field. (Photo by Remi Krupinski/Sko Buffs Sports).

The Colorado Buffaloes drew with the No. 12-ranked Michigan State Spartans 1-1 on Thursday night in a tale of two halves. The first 45 saw a Colorado backline fluster the Spartans' attack, and the second half saw the same backline barely hold on by a shoestring.

Buffs head coach Danny Sanchez elected to use a 4-4-2 formation spearheaded by Hope Leyba and Jace Holley as strikers. Reagan Kotschau and Vivi Sacarias were used as box-to-box midfielders. 

The dual-striker tactic immediately paid off. In the fourth minute, Leyba danced up the left side of the pitch and, after her first shot was blocked, blasted the ball into the roof of the net to score Colorado’s first goal of the season.

“It's a typical Hope Leyba goal, incredible individual effort,” Sanchez said after the game.

The attack was causing Michigan State’s center-backs to come further up, which resulted in their formation being disorganized. Colorado’s strikers were having great success up the side of the pitch, but their crosses were not finding teammates in the 18-yard box.

Through the first half, the Colorado defense held firm and did not allow a single shot on target. 

Six minutes into the second half, MSU forward Kenedy Bell’s shot beat Buffs goalie Jordan Nytes and ended up in the left side of the net, which brought the teams level.

It was clear that the Spartans had the momentum, but stellar goalkeeping from Nytes kept the game tied. In the 68th minute, the reigning Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year nearly scored a goal off a free kick from midfield, but Michigan State goalie Noelle Henning tipped the ball over the crossbar. 

Both teams searched for the winning goal, but neither was successful. Although MSU had possession for most of the second half, it failed to create a clear goal-scoring opportunity following its score. The game ended with back-to-back Spartan corner kicks finding their way into the hands of Nytes.

“Every draw feels like a loss,” Nytes said. “It’s great coming away with a point from them, they are a top 15 team. There's a lot to learn from that… Proud of everyone, I think it was a really good start to the season.”

The Buffs return to host the Air Force Falcons on Sunday at 1 p.m. MT (ESPN+).