Colorado soccer suffers first loss of season at Wisconsin

Colorado's Emerson Layne is denied a header attempt against Wisconsin on Sunday. (Photo via CUBuffs.com)

Changing routine can be rough. Colorado Buffaloes women’s soccer found that out the hard way Sunday. CU (5-1-1) had its first blemish of the season, falling 1-0 to the Wisconsin Badgers (6-1-0) in its opening away trip.

Wisconsin is coming off a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament last campaign and proved to be a tough out as advertised.

The Buffaloes were shut out for the first time this season, only registering five shots on goal. The game was then decided by a 73rd-minute goal when Badger Adee Boer was first to react to a save from CU goalie Jordan Nytes.

Nytes kept the Buffs in contention throughout, finishing with five saves of her own. Head Coach Danny Sanchez praised the veteran keeper’s effort despite the result.

“Jordi was fantastic today,” Sanchez said. “The two saves she made before the goal were world-class. She made another great save on a breakaway when we got stretched at the end and were throwing numbers forward. She gave us a chance to win. She did her job.” 

Sanchez added, “I thought we competed for the most part throughout the match. We lost our way a little bit in the second half, but I was pleased with how we responded after we gave up the goal. It just wasn’t enough.”

Colorado’s attack was led by striker Hope Leyba, who put both of her shots on frame. The Buffs generated four corner kicks and applied pressure late, but couldn’t find an equalizer against UW goalkeeper Drew Stover, who recorded her fourth clean sheet in seven games this season.

The setback comes after CU entered the weekend leading the nation in goals (28) and boasting two of the NCAA’s top scorers in Leyba (nine goals, 18 contributions) and Holley (seven goals, 18 contributions).

Colorado will look to bounce back Thursday when it travels to face a local foe in the Denver Pioneers (2-2-3). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT.