No. 21 Buffs outlast late Utah surge and reach five conference wins

Jace Holley also recorded a goal in Colorado's 2-0 win against Arizona State on Friday. (Photo by Remi Krupinski/Sko Buffs Sports)

The No. 21 Colorado Buffaloes (11-2-2, 5-1-1 Big 12) defeated the Utah Utes (7-6-3, 2-3-2 Big 12) 2-1 on Thursday night despite facing 17 second-half shots. With the win, the Buffs reached five conference victories, which surpassed last year’s total of four. 

Eight minutes after the first whistle, CU’s sophomore striker Jace Holley charged up the right side of the pitch and blasted the ball into the net to give her team the lead. The striker has scored in back-to-back games.

Following the goal, the Utes controlled possession for the majority of the first half, but were unable to level the game. 

The Buffs' backline weathered the storm, and in the 43rd minute, striker Hope Leyba nearly willed the ball into the goal, but her shot bounced off the woodwork and went wide.

Heading into halftime, Holley’s goal was the only thing that separated the conference foes. Both teams had only produced five shots, but CU had the only two shots on goal through the first 45 minutes.

In the 58th minute, Leyba went down with a non-contact knee injury and did not return to the match. The striker came into the night with 14 goals,  good for the second-most in the country.

Despite missing its leading goal scorer, CU was able to score its second goal of the night in minute 68. Midfielder Ava Priest shot a ball towards the net that was spilled back into play by the keeper. Forward Emerson Layne corralled the ball and played it to junior Lexi Meyer, who tapped it into the net.

In the 77th minute, Utah defender Callie Blaylock redirected a cross past the goal line to reduce Colorado’s lead to one.

After the score, the Buffs went on the offensive for the first time all night and ran the clock out to secure the victory.

Utah’s second-half surge saw it create seven shots on target. Thanks to the Colorado defense led by goalkeeper Jordan Nytes, none of those shots were the equalizer. 

"I thought we were playing well,” head coach Danny Sanchez said after the game. “The second goal really is what won us the game."

The Buffs will take the 45-minute trip down to Provo to take on the BYU Cougars (7-4-2, 2-3-1 Big 12)on Monday at 6 p.m. MT (ESPN+).