Top 25 Showdown Set for Saturday

BOULDER — The No. 14 Colorado women's soccer team concludes its three-match home stand on Saturday, hosting No. 23 TCU (Noon/ ESPN+).

The battle between the two ranked teams will be the first of the year at Prentup Field. The Buffs are 1-1-0 this season against ranked opponents, picking up their first ranked win on the road over then No. 12 Oklahoma State.

Colorado (10-1-1, 4-0-1 Big 12) continued its unbeaten streak last week, earning a draw with Baylor and a 1-0 win over Kansas. The results boosted CU two spots in the United Soccer Coaches rankings, jumping from 16 to 14. This week's ranking is the highest Colorado has climbed since opening the 2007 ranked No. 14 in the preseason poll.

It's also the highest the Buffs have been ranked in head coach Danny Sanchez's 13-year tenure.

"It's a really good group, and we knew it coming into preseason," Sanchez explained. "I think we have really good leadership. We have depth in all three lines and in goal. We knew we would have quality, but we're doing a good job of winning tight games. We're doing a good job of defending collectively as a group, limiting the other team's opportunities."

The Buffs sit tied with Texas Tech and West Virginia atop the Big 12 standings with 13 points. Colorado has an even split with three home and three away matches left in the regular season. CU will have UCF and Utah remaining at home after Saturday's match. The Buffs will go on the road against Texas Tech, Cincinnati and West Virginia.

"We realize it's a tough stretch coming up with TCU, at Texas Tech and then UCF at home next weekend," Sanchez continued. "It was good to have the single-game weekend this weekend, but we realize that all the teams with us in the standings, including WVU, are all to come. It's been a good start, but we realize the meat of conference play is still in front of us."

TCU (8-2-2, 3-0-2 Big 12) played to a 1-1 draw last time out against Baylor. The Horned Frogs are on a six-match unbeaten, having not dropped a match since a 2-0 loss at Texas A&M on Sept. 5. Caroline Kelly ranks fifth in the Big 12 with her six goals this season.

Fans can purchase tickets and a scarf for $25 at CUBuffs.com/SocScarf. The scarf is for sale for $10 at CUBuffs.com/CUScarf.

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