'We don’t lose at home': Buffs roll past No. 7 Baylor
On Thursday night, the No. 24 Colorado Buffaloes (9-3-1, 3-2-0 Big 12) beat the No. 7 Baylor Bears (10-2-1, 3-1-1 Big 12) 3-0 in a bounce-back win after a 2-0 loss to UCF the previous week.
Colorado’s win marks its second victory versus a top-10-ranked opponent this season and extends the program's record winning streak at home to 14 games.
For the Bears, the loss ended a nine-game unbeaten run and was their first game without scoring a goal since Nov.5, 2025.
Colorado got the ball rolling early on the back of a Hope Leyba goal in the 11th minute.
Graduate Forward Berkley Mensik played the ball back to senior Midfielder Reaganen Kotschau, who launched a dangerous through ball over the top of the defense into the area of Leyba. Leyba made her way through two defenders to finish the play with a strong right-footed finish into the back of the net.
From there, it was all Buffaloes.
In the 43rd minute, CU found another goal. Kotschau played the ball into junior Jace Holley, who headed it into the direction of Leyba. The striker then headed the ball into the net to extend the lead.
The Buffs went into the half with a 2-0 lead.
“In the locker room we were saying how we needed to get the early goal to set the tone for the game,” Leyba said following her two-goal performance. “So, it just helps us to have pressure and win the games if you score early.”
Out of the break, Baylor looked aggressive. Senior Forward Lauren Omholt was booked with a yellow card in the first minute of the second half.
The Bears attempted to crawl back into the game by putting up seven shots, six of which were on target, but it wasn’t until the 60th minute when they saw their best chance.
Junior Midfielder Sather Noelle put a howitzer from outside the box onto frame but Colorado freshman Brooke Goerish made a diving save.
Goerish finished the game with six total saves and the clean sheet, the Buffs’ seventh clean sheet of the season, and held Baylor to its first zero-goal performance all season.
CU’s final goal came in the 68th minute off of a curling cross from freshman Sloane Phillips that found Holley in the box. Holley tucked the header into the bottom left corner to take the wind out of Baylor's sails.
Holley, who recently came back from injury, said the goal came straight out of a practice drill.
“We get a cross in, and at the very end of the drill, it’s like first diving header wins the game,” Holley said. “And I was like, ‘wow, if I was in practice right now, I would win’…I just did it and went for it.”
Colorado moves to 9-3-1 on the year and will take a leap in the Top 25 rankings after the upset victory. The win marks its third in conference play, good enough for sixth in Big 12 standings. CU is yet to lose at home this season.
“We don't lose at home,” Leyba said. “We know we're going to win every single time, and I think you can tell by the way we play.”
The Buffaloes remain at home, and on Sunday will take on the Kansas Jayhawks (9-3-1, 3-1-1 Big 12). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT (ESPN+).
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