Friday, November 22
Winston-Salem, NC
4 p.m.
Colorado
12-5-5, 4-2-5
1
at
3
Wake Forest
14-3-3, 7-2-1
1
2
F
Colorado
0
1
1
Wake Forest
1
2
3
Photo by: Gavin Crowson
Colorado's Run Ends at No. 3 Wake Forest
November 22, 2024 | Soccer
The Buffs' season ends in the second round of the NCAA Tournament
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – An Ava Priest second-half goal gave Colorado life in the Buffaloes' NCAA Tournament bout with No. 3 Wake Forest Friday night at Spry Stadium. In the end, it was the second-seeded Demon Deacons that advanced with a 3-1 result.
Colorado finishes the season 12-5-5, its second consecutive season with over 10 wins. The Buffs survived a tough 0-2-4 stretch to finish the regular season, using a win over Utah in the Big 12 Tournament to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.
The Buffs' resiliency was on display throughout the post-season. They came from behind against Utah and then in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Georgia to advance to Friday. Colorado was again playing from behind against Wake Forest, getting down 2-0 before finding the back of the net.
"I told the team I was really proud of what they did when we went through that rough stretch," head coach Danny Sanchez said about the team's resiliency throughout the season. 'They could have been pointing fingers and making excuses, but we continued to battle because we knew the quality of this group, and especially when you look at the seniors that went through a couple for our standards, average seasons, winning seasons, but not NCAA Tournament bids to getting us to two straight bids. They should be really proud of the direction they're sending the program."
Jordan Nytes made seven saves on the night, giving her 17 in three NCAA Tournament games as a Buff. Priest ended the season with a four-match point streak, scoring goals in both NCAA Tournament matches. Her two goals tie her with Taylor Kornieck for second in NCAA Tournament goals in CU history.
Colorado's core from this season lines up to return for a third straight NCAA Tournament bid in 2025. Looking ahead, the Buffs will be without Shyra James, who finishes her CU career as the program's all-time leading goal scorer with 47 and is second in all-time points at 101.
"We're losing some fantastic seniors and real contributors, whether they're one year or five years," Sanchez noted. "However, we have a fantastic core of young players that really performed and performed at a high level and now have, in most cases, two years of NCAA Tournament experience under their belt. We could not be more excited about the future of CU soccer."
How it happened
Colorado was under pressure early on from the Demon Deacons. The Buffs were outshot 5-0 in the game's first 13 minutes. Wake Forest pressed from the opening whistle and scored in the 6th minute on its first shot on goal. Nytes was busy early, directing traffic, punching out crosses, and getting credited for one save on two shots on goals in the half.
"It would have been easy for us to hang our heads or pack it in with the early goal," Sanchez added. "I was really pleased with how we responded the rest of the first half. We didn't create a lot, but we held them at bay and really limited their opportunities. So, going into halftime, down one, we felt pretty good about it."
Shyra James almost tied the game up in the 14th minute, marking CU's best chance of the first half. She headed a shot just wide off the net off a corner kick from Rachel Rosen, picking up the Buffs' only shot of the half.
Things settled in later in the opening half, but the Buffs struggled to keep possession, getting outshot 6-1 at the break.
Nytes came up big again for the Buffs right out of the gate to start the second half. The Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year made three saves in the first five minutes of the half to keep the Buffs within one.
Wake Forest threatened in the 54th minute, earning a free kick from just outside the penalty area. Faith Leyba's header blocked the shot, which led to a WFU corner kick.
The Demon Deacons struck again in the 57th minute, with Emily Morris beating Nytes from 20 yards out. Wake Forest almost got the third goal of the night in the 67th minute off a deflected shot by Sierra Sythe, but Nytes changed directions and saved the ball off the line.
The Colorado goal came in the 74th minute, following Lola Stanley getting tackled just outside the 18-yard box. Priest took the ensuing free kick and WFU goalkeeper Valentina Amaral didn't even move as the ball cleared the defensive wall and found the nylon on the Buffs' first shot on goal of the night.
"I thought the beginning of the second half, we really started to press and create some opportunities," Sanchez continued. "We were defending higher up the field, making it a little more difficult on Wake. The second goal could have been a back-breaker [for us], but to be honest, this team is so resilient this year, especially the last few games where we had our backs against the wall. I was really pleased with how we responded. Ava's free kick was absolute first-class and now it's 2-1."
Colorado threw everything forward following Priests' goal, which almost paid off. Michaela Rosenbaum was alone on the near post as the ball from Priest slipped through to her. Rosenbaum one-timed her shot, and Amaral saved it and the rebound came right back to her, but she couldn't will the ball into the net.
Wake Forest's third goal came on a counter to a free kick in the 88th minute that saw the Buffs put everyone inside the box. The ball bounced out to Emily Murphy, and she won the race down the field for the score.
Notes
CU falls to 11-14-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament…Priest finished the season with career-highs in goals (6) and points (17)…Nytes' 17 NCAA Tournament saves ranks second in CU history behind JJ Tompkins' 30 in six NCAA Tournament games...CU has finished with 10 or more wins in eight of Sanchez's 13 seasons…Colorado's four combined goals in the NCAA Tournament are its most since scoring six (all in one game) in 2019.
Colorado finishes the season 12-5-5, its second consecutive season with over 10 wins. The Buffs survived a tough 0-2-4 stretch to finish the regular season, using a win over Utah in the Big 12 Tournament to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.
The Buffs' resiliency was on display throughout the post-season. They came from behind against Utah and then in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Georgia to advance to Friday. Colorado was again playing from behind against Wake Forest, getting down 2-0 before finding the back of the net.
"I told the team I was really proud of what they did when we went through that rough stretch," head coach Danny Sanchez said about the team's resiliency throughout the season. 'They could have been pointing fingers and making excuses, but we continued to battle because we knew the quality of this group, and especially when you look at the seniors that went through a couple for our standards, average seasons, winning seasons, but not NCAA Tournament bids to getting us to two straight bids. They should be really proud of the direction they're sending the program."
Jordan Nytes made seven saves on the night, giving her 17 in three NCAA Tournament games as a Buff. Priest ended the season with a four-match point streak, scoring goals in both NCAA Tournament matches. Her two goals tie her with Taylor Kornieck for second in NCAA Tournament goals in CU history.
Colorado's core from this season lines up to return for a third straight NCAA Tournament bid in 2025. Looking ahead, the Buffs will be without Shyra James, who finishes her CU career as the program's all-time leading goal scorer with 47 and is second in all-time points at 101.
"We're losing some fantastic seniors and real contributors, whether they're one year or five years," Sanchez noted. "However, we have a fantastic core of young players that really performed and performed at a high level and now have, in most cases, two years of NCAA Tournament experience under their belt. We could not be more excited about the future of CU soccer."
How it happened
Colorado was under pressure early on from the Demon Deacons. The Buffs were outshot 5-0 in the game's first 13 minutes. Wake Forest pressed from the opening whistle and scored in the 6th minute on its first shot on goal. Nytes was busy early, directing traffic, punching out crosses, and getting credited for one save on two shots on goals in the half.
"It would have been easy for us to hang our heads or pack it in with the early goal," Sanchez added. "I was really pleased with how we responded the rest of the first half. We didn't create a lot, but we held them at bay and really limited their opportunities. So, going into halftime, down one, we felt pretty good about it."
Shyra James almost tied the game up in the 14th minute, marking CU's best chance of the first half. She headed a shot just wide off the net off a corner kick from Rachel Rosen, picking up the Buffs' only shot of the half.
Things settled in later in the opening half, but the Buffs struggled to keep possession, getting outshot 6-1 at the break.
Nytes came up big again for the Buffs right out of the gate to start the second half. The Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year made three saves in the first five minutes of the half to keep the Buffs within one.
Wake Forest threatened in the 54th minute, earning a free kick from just outside the penalty area. Faith Leyba's header blocked the shot, which led to a WFU corner kick.
The Demon Deacons struck again in the 57th minute, with Emily Morris beating Nytes from 20 yards out. Wake Forest almost got the third goal of the night in the 67th minute off a deflected shot by Sierra Sythe, but Nytes changed directions and saved the ball off the line.
The Colorado goal came in the 74th minute, following Lola Stanley getting tackled just outside the 18-yard box. Priest took the ensuing free kick and WFU goalkeeper Valentina Amaral didn't even move as the ball cleared the defensive wall and found the nylon on the Buffs' first shot on goal of the night.
"I thought the beginning of the second half, we really started to press and create some opportunities," Sanchez continued. "We were defending higher up the field, making it a little more difficult on Wake. The second goal could have been a back-breaker [for us], but to be honest, this team is so resilient this year, especially the last few games where we had our backs against the wall. I was really pleased with how we responded. Ava's free kick was absolute first-class and now it's 2-1."
Colorado threw everything forward following Priests' goal, which almost paid off. Michaela Rosenbaum was alone on the near post as the ball from Priest slipped through to her. Rosenbaum one-timed her shot, and Amaral saved it and the rebound came right back to her, but she couldn't will the ball into the net.
Wake Forest's third goal came on a counter to a free kick in the 88th minute that saw the Buffs put everyone inside the box. The ball bounced out to Emily Murphy, and she won the race down the field for the score.
Notes
CU falls to 11-14-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament…Priest finished the season with career-highs in goals (6) and points (17)…Nytes' 17 NCAA Tournament saves ranks second in CU history behind JJ Tompkins' 30 in six NCAA Tournament games...CU has finished with 10 or more wins in eight of Sanchez's 13 seasons…Colorado's four combined goals in the NCAA Tournament are its most since scoring six (all in one game) in 2019.
Team Stats
COL
WFU
Goals
1
3
Shots
11
21
Shots on Goal
5
10
Saves
7
4
Corners
3
7
Fouls
10
6
Scoring Plays
Emily Colton (7)
Assisted By: Emily Murphy , Caiya Hanks
GOAL by WFU Colton, Emily Assist by Murphy, Emily and Hanks, Caiya.
05:10
Emily Morris (3)
GOAL by WFU Morris, Emily.
60:24
Ava Priest (6)
GOAL by COL Priest, Ava.
73:12
Emily Murphy (6)
Assisted By: Abbie Colton
GOAL by WFU Murphy, Emily Assist by Colton, Abbie.
87:43
Game Leaders
Players
def
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
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