Colorado
10-2-3, 4-1-3
UCF
3-4-5, 1-3-3
Colorado, UCF Play to a Scoreless Draw
October 13, 2024 | Soccer
The Buffaloes record their second consecutive draw
BOULDER — The Colorado Buffaloes doubled up the UCF Knights in shots, but neither side could break through, resulting in a 0-0 scoreless draw Sunday at Prentup Field.
The Buffs fired off 24 shots on the day and limited UCF to just 12. Colorado ended the day with a season-high 14 shots on goal but couldn't get anything past UCF's Genesis Perez Watson, who made 14 saves, including a penalty stop in the 7th minute.
The Black & Gold dominated the day's possession, holding the ball for 62% of the day. CU had 10 corner kick chances in the 90 minutes and
"I told the team that sometimes a draw feels like a win, and sometimes you feel like maybe you left some points out there," head coach Danny Sanchez explained in the postgame. "I think that was the case today. Our movement and attack and the amount of quality chances—we created probably more [chances today] in two of three games combined. It just didn't fall for us today, but it wasn't for a lack of execution. It wasn't from a lack of movement. It just didn't happen [today]. Scoring goals is tough, and we have to take the point and get ready for next week."
CU goalkeeper Jordan Nytes was equal to the task, making four saves in her ninth shutout of the season.
The draw keeps the Buffs in the top four of the Big 12 standings. Colorado is 10-2-3 overall and 4-1-3 in Big 12 play, with three games to go before the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.
"If we weren't creating chances today, that'd be a problem," Sanchez continued. "I think we created a lot of really good chances. We had 10 corner kicks. We have to take advantage of these situations. It just didn't happen for us today. We have to get ready for Thursday."
How it happened
Hope Leyba got the Buffs' offensive barrage started early on Sunday, putting CU's first shot on goal in the 2nd minute. Juliauna Hayward attempted a shot from just outside the 18 in the 3rd minute to keep UCF on its heels early.
The game's biggest moment may have come in the opening minutes, with H. Leyba getting tackled from behind by Perez Watson inside the penalty area, giving CU a penalty kick in the 7th minute. Michaela Rosenbaum was elected to take the penalty and tried to beat Perez Watson to the far post, but the UCF keeper guessed correctly on the shot and made the save.
Colorado kept on the attack, with Jace Holley putting a header chance from six yards out on net in the 10th minute, forcing another UCF save. Holley had an equally dangerous one-touch volley that ricocheted off the far post in the 22nd minute. The freshman recorded a season-high six shots on the day.
The Buffs had seven shots on goal in the first 45 minutes, with Holley, H. Leyba and Hayward accounting for two each.
Each team received a yellow card in the first half, but the cards flew in the second half. The Buffs and Knights each received three more cautions in the final 45 minutes.
"I thought that whatever the flow of the game was, we had plenty of chances to win this game today," Sanchez stated.
Rosenbaum, H. Leyba and Jenny Beyer each had prime chances to get the Buffs on the board in the second half.
Rosenbaum dropped a defender with a move inside the box and cut in towards the near post, firing a shot that was deflected high over the crossbar in the 50th minute.
Emerson Layne centered a pass that was deflected and bounced around traffic in the 74th minute. H. Leyba was the beneficiary of a scramble in front of the UCF net that pulled Perez Watson off her line. Leyba blasted a shot into the pileup, and it went right in the direction of sliding Perez Watson.
Moments later, Hayward centered a ball from the far corner to a wide-open Beyer, just off the six-yard line on the near post. Beyer one-touched the ball right back into Perez Watson.
Up Next
The Buffs will travel for the last time in the regular season next week. CU will travel to Cincinnati on Thursday (Oct. 17) and West Virginia on Sunday (Oct. 20).
Notes
Sunday was the first meeting between Colorado and UCF…It was the first scoreless shutout since tying California on Oct. 8, 2023, and the 11th since 2012…The Buffs have now had 20+ shots in six matches this season…Sunday was the sixth time this season CU has had 10+ shots on goal…Hayward's seven shots tied for the most by a Buff this season…It was the second time this season Hayward has had four shots on goal…Nytes moved into a tie with Jalen Tompkins (2017), Annie Brunner (2013) and Jessica Keller (2003) for most shutouts in a season (9)…She now has 17 career shutouts at CU…The Buffs were again without the services of Shyra James for the fourth straight game.
