The Colorado Buffaloes (12-4-5, 4-2-5 Big 12) traveled to Athens and defeated the Georgia Bulldogs (8-7-6, 3-3-4 SEC) 3-2 in impressive fashion Friday. The Buffs were down at half, but resurrected in the second and held the lead.
Traveling south, the Buffs played on a pitch blanketed with trees. The gentle sun hid behind a fierce night, accompanied by rowdy fans, setting the environment for a first-round showdown. Fifth-year forward Shyra James was the first aggressor for Colorado with her first shot attempt being saved in the 3rd minute.
Colorado kept the pressure on early. Defender Ava Priest missed a shot left at the 8th-minute mark, but shortly after she was given another chance on a penalty kick and cashed in for Colorado in the 23rd minute. The score was 1-0 in favor of the Buffs, but the Bulldogs would not go down without a fight.
Graduate forward Hannah White was impressive throughout the contest for Georgia. She helped generate their first goal as she pressured down and passed it to fellow graduate forward Margie Detrizio. Her header off the pass sent the ball zipping out of reach of junior goalie Jordan Nytes in the 29th minute.
With momentum on their side, Georgia was able to score again seven minutes later. This time White was able to put in one of her own off an assist from midfielder Aly Akers. The Bulldogs had a 2-1 lead with less than ten minutes left in the period. With a home crowd ignited, they sat on the lead up until half. Georgia had the advantage on shots 9-6.
Coming out of the break, Colorado had to come up with an answer. The Buffs remained calm and didn't rush any offensive attacks. Eventually, sophomore forward Hope Leyba took matters into her own hands aggressively attacking the defense. Rebounding her miss she quickly kicked the ball back into the net for the tying goal. Fifty-four minutes in, the Buffaloes were in good shape with a 2-2 tie.
The tide had turned in favor of Colorado in a hurry. Although it was an even score, the demeanor of the Georgia players would say otherwise. While Georgia players attempted to pass the ball in the backfield, Shyra James stepped in front and intercepted it. After one move to free up a shot, she sent it in for her 100th career point. In the 62nd minute, the score read 3-2 in favor of Colorado.
With their season quickly fading, The Bulldogs tried desperately to find a look. They would accumulate 10 shots on goal for the remainder of the game. Whether it was a slight miss or a Nytes save, they could not find the back of the net. Colorado’s defense remained strong securing the upset victory.
Fueled by their top three leading scorers, James, Leyba and Priest, the Buffaloes put on an impressive showcase in Athens. The rest and time off for James and others were shown to be valuable later in the game. Colorado's endurance and will were stronger than Georgia’s when it mattered most.
The Buffs advance to the second round to face #2 Wake Forest. The game will be played in Winston-Salem, and the time and date will be announced later.
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