Colorado
8-1-0, 0-0-0
Denver
4-1-4, 0-0-0
Buffs Closeout Non-Conference Strong
September 15, 2023 | Soccer
Colorado downs Denver, 3-1
DENVER – Colorado made the short trip down I-25 and handed in-state rival Denver its first loss of the season, 3-1, at the DU Soccer Stadium.
The Buffaloes capitalized on two penalty kicks to lead the way on Friday. The win extended Colorado's winning streak to seven games and was the 12th consecutive over Denver.
"You have to give credit to Denver," head coach Danny Sanchez said after the win. "I thought they played very well. Having said that, I was really pleased with our resilience. It's tough to go on the road against a very experienced team that was undefeated. They were undefeated for a reason. They've had some very good results. Jordi [Nytes] made the saves she needed to make and we did enough going forward to win the game. It's a great win for the Buffs. We're excited for next week against UCLA."
The first half was controlled by the Pioneers who were primarily on the Buffs' side of the field in the first half. DU put up seven shots in the opening period but CU goalkeeper Jordan Nytes was able to fend off the attack with two first-half saves.
Despite getting outshot, 7-6, the lone goal in the first 45 minutes favored the Buffs. Jade Babcock-Chi scored her first of the season on a penalty kick to send the Buffs to the locker room with the lead.
Penalty kicks continued to be the story of the game with both teams scoring goals off of a penalty kick starting with Colorado's captain Rachel Rosen to extend the lead, followed by a penalty kick for DU to close the gap shortly after.
Statistically, Denver continued to command the game outshooting CU 9-4 with three shots on goal in the second half.
As the game tightened up the Buffs called upon Shyra James once again, converting off a set piece from Rosen to extend the lead for good.
"I thought 2-0 we relaxed again and all of a sudden it is a 2-1 game," Sanchez added. "But it was a great serve by Rachel Rosen to Shyra [James] to kill the game off."
Colorado (8-1-0) wrapped up the non-conference season conceding only four goals. The Buffs did not allow a goal in the run of play in the first nine games and surrendered two penalties.
"We're gonna have to be a little bit better," Sanchez continued. "I thought that the back four [defenders] were good, but I thought in the midfield we got a little disjointed at times. We didn't give up anything from the run of play, which is good. I think we can just clean up some stuff in possession, it will take a little bit of pressure off our defenders."
How it happened
The first shot attempt of the night was taken by Kaitlyn Glover of DU in the 10th minute which nearly went in, hitting off of the right post. The next six shot attempts all tilted toward the Pioneers. CU's first shot wouldn't come until Mallory Allen sent a header wide of the net in the 31st minute.
As the half drew to a close the Buffs were fouled on the way to the goal giving James a chance at a penalty kick. James attempted the kick putting the ball to the bottom left corner, but the Denver goalkeeper had both feet leave the back line which waived off the first attempt. On the second attempt graduate student Jade Babcock-Chi lined it up and put it in the left side of the net, catching DU goalkeeper Molly Wissman guessing the opposite direction.
The Buffs extended the lead early in the second half, getting awarded another penalty kick after Hope Leyba was pulled down in the penalty box. This time Rosen took the lead putting the ball in the top right corner off the right foot in the 50th minute to keep the momentum in favor of CU.
"I'm honored to even be called up to take a PK," Rosen said on her goal. "We've practiced them a little bit, but I'm just happy I got to put one away and score my first goal of the season and help my team win. I think we all just care about each other so much. So, no matter who's taking that kick, it is just winning that matters. I'm just happy it worked out how it did."
Denver got on the board with yet another penalty kick in the 59th minute. Kaitlyn Glover converted the attempt to cut the CU lead down to 2-1.
With the momentum starting to swing back in the Pioneers' favor the Buffs wasted no time taking back control. Rosen stood over a free kick from the far side of the field in the 61st minute. She served the ball towards the back post and James met it with perfect touch, sneaking it off the post and in for her seventh goal of the season.
DU continued to pressure in the final minutes, but the Buffs were able to keep the home team off the board for the remainder of the night.
Upcoming
Colorado will return home to start conference play against No. 5 UCLA next Friday at Prentup Field (7 p.m.)
Quotes
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On the PKs: "Credit to Hope Leyba on both of them. It was really just effort [by Lebya] to win both penalties. This is a very good team we played and it's a very good win for the Buffs, especially on the road. Now it's recovery and we'll get ready for UCLA.
Rachel Rosen\
On the slow start: "Obviously we started a little slow, but the coaches said they had a little bit of possession and at the end of the day those breakaways caused those PKs. Those are what really won the game. I think we were knocking on the door so we deserve those goals."
On the Denver rivalry: "Denver is always a different game. It feels like a Pac-12 game to us and it feels different. We're all very excited, we want to beat this team every single year. They're great, they are really good. I think that intensity is going to carry on into the Pac-12. I'm excited to see how we play."
Notes
CU's seven-game winning streak matches its longest since the 2018 season when the team had an eight-game winning streak……Babcock-Chi and Rosen became CU's tenth and eleventh different goal scorers of the season…Friday was Rosen's second career 1 G/1A game...James' goal was the 32nd of her career, moving into a tie for third on the Buffs' all-time scoring list…This was the first time scoring on multiple penalty kicks since Taylor Kornieck scored two on October 13, 2018...Prior to the game ESPN personality Pat McAfee met the Buffs in Boulder and competed in a crossbar challenge that Nytes would win.
Team Stats
Jade Babcock-Chi
CU Jade Babcock-Chi PENALTY KICK GOAL.
26:30
Rachel Rosen
CU Rachel Rosen PENALTY KICK GOAL.
49:53
Kaitlyn Glover (3)
DEN Kaitlyn Glover PENALTY KICK GOAL.
58:43
Shyra James (7)
Assisted By: Rachel Rosen
GOAL by CU James, Shyra Assist by Rosen, Rachel.
60:53
