Sunday, August 25
Noon
Colorado
3-1-0, 0-0-0
2
vs
0
Michigan
0-3-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Michigan
0
0
0
Colorado
2
0
2
Photo by: Gavin Crowson
Colorado Tops Michigan, 2-0
August 25, 2024 | Soccer
Sunday’s win marked NCAA win No. 300 for head coach Danny Sanchez
BOULDER — Colorado wrapped up its four-game homestand with a 2-0 win over Michigan on Sunday. The Buffaloes closed their opening stretch with a 3-1 record.
Sunday's win marked a milestone for head coach Danny Sanchez, who picked up his 300th NCAA win. It was win No. 136 at CU, adding to his program lead.
"I normally joke that it just makes I've been coaching a long time, but I think between Metro State, Wyoming and CU it's just been a special places with special people. What it means is, I've coached some really talented players. I'm excited for it. I'm not going to lie, but it's the fourth game of the season, so it's all about getting to North Carolina next week."
Boulder native Ava Priest set up two first-half goals that held to the final whistle. Juliauna Hayward slotted the opener in the 17th minute and Hope Leyba put home her third goal of the season three minutes later in the 20th minute.
"I love playing with Ava," Hayward said after the win. "She's vital to this team. She came off the bench and was like, 'Oh, I'm so tired.' I'm like Ava, 'You just go two assists for us. Without you, we wouldn't have won that game.' I'm very proud of how she stepped up, even as a leader on this team, she's stepped up a lot."
Junior Jordan Nytes made four saves in her 10th career shutout as a Buff. The win was the 14th of her career, moving her into a tie with former Buff Danielle Bassett for the eighth most in CU history.
"I thought we played a professional game," Sanchez expressed. "We didn't make a big deal out of it, but they [Michigan] didn't play on Thursday. They came in here fresh on Friday. We had a hard match on Thursday until the very end. I thought that was a professional approach. I really like how we defended. Didn't give up many shots inside the 18. It was a quality shutout. A very good 2-0 win on Sunday."
Michigan falls to 0-3 on the season.
How it Happened
The Wolverines started on the attack right out of the gate. Michigan put the game's first shot on goal in the 1st minute and outshot CU, 2-1, in the first five minutes.
Shyra James had a chance to build off her three-goal night on Thursday, getting CU's first look on net in the 4th minute. James led the Buffs with a game-high seven shots, including a rocket off the crossbar midway through the second half.
Colorado got the scoring going in the 17th minute, with Priest cutting towards the middle of the box. She wove in and out of the UM defenders and slipped the ball off to an open Hayward at the top of the 18-yard box. Hayward one-timed it from the top of the box, glancing off a Michigan defender and past Stephanie Sparkowski for the eventual game-winner.
"I don't know if anybody saw, but I kind of stopped for a second because I was like, 'Wait me? I scored?' I just love spending that time with my teammates [celebrating]. I think regardless of who scores, it's so important and vital moment for all of us, especially coming off playing on Thursday, we were a little bit tired. We needed that momentum. I'm glad that I was able to get that first goal for us."
Laura Gouvin drew a foul in the 20th minute that set up Colorado's second goal. Gouvin got tackled between the CU bench and the penalty area, creating a free-kick chance for the Buffs. Priest stepped up and chipped the ball to the center of the box, and H. Leyba soared above everyone and headed the ball to the far corner for the 2-0 lead.
The Buffs outshot the Wolverines 12-8 in the first half and 18-12 for the game.
CU kept on the attack in the second half, nearly getting goals from James and Mallory Allen. Allen's shot from distance in the 88th minute banked off the bottom of the crossbar and looked like it might have crossed the goal line, but officials on the field ruled no goal, and play continued.
Up Next
Colorado hits the road for the first time this season, heading east to North Carolina. The Buffs will square off with UNC Greensboro on Thursday and NC State on Sunday.
Quotes
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On Juliauna Hayward – "Jay's been playing great. She does a lot of work off the ball that people don't see. It was a great layoff from Ava and a quality finish from Juliauna."
On not getting breaks – "Like I tell the team, those things tend to even out over the year. Mal's shot looked like it was in, but we didn't need it today. Maybe we'll get it when we need it later in the year."
On the homestand – "We did, for the most part, what we needed to do. Took care of business today and Thursday with Wyoming. Now, it's about going on the road, traveling over two time zones, and getting into different weather and humidity—all the challenges of that. But we're excited. School just started, so we don't have a lot of pressure with that, but we're excited to get on the road and see what we can do."
Junior Juliauna Hayward
On contributing to the team – "However, I can help the team. I tell Danny all the time, however I can help. Today, I was able to score for my team, which I was super happy about. Hope had a really good goal that helped put us ahead even more. That was also awesome."
On playing with Ava Priest – "Maybe it's that Colorado chemistry, I'm not sure. I just love playing with her. Like I said, she's able to attack the end line. She's able to cut inside. She's so crafty with what she does. We had that connection there and again when she came off the bench, she had one too, but she was offiside that I gave to her. I think that we just love playing together and we've really created a good friendship, which shows on the field."
On Coach Sanchez's 300th win – "I've known him since I was a little kid when I was coming to the little kid camps. I think just seeing how much he's done for this program is super inspiring. I'm very proud of him for that as well."
Notes
Leyba's goal came off another set-piece, giving the team five on the season…Nytes made four more saves, giving her 98 as a Buff…Sunday was the second consecutive game a CU player had multiple assists, with Priest picking up both (Emerson Layne, 2 vs Wyoming)…Hayward became CU's seventh different goal-scorer this season…CU has outscored its opponents 12-4 this season…1,751 fans were in attendance on Sunday.
Sunday's win marked a milestone for head coach Danny Sanchez, who picked up his 300th NCAA win. It was win No. 136 at CU, adding to his program lead.
"I normally joke that it just makes I've been coaching a long time, but I think between Metro State, Wyoming and CU it's just been a special places with special people. What it means is, I've coached some really talented players. I'm excited for it. I'm not going to lie, but it's the fourth game of the season, so it's all about getting to North Carolina next week."
Boulder native Ava Priest set up two first-half goals that held to the final whistle. Juliauna Hayward slotted the opener in the 17th minute and Hope Leyba put home her third goal of the season three minutes later in the 20th minute.
"I love playing with Ava," Hayward said after the win. "She's vital to this team. She came off the bench and was like, 'Oh, I'm so tired.' I'm like Ava, 'You just go two assists for us. Without you, we wouldn't have won that game.' I'm very proud of how she stepped up, even as a leader on this team, she's stepped up a lot."
Junior Jordan Nytes made four saves in her 10th career shutout as a Buff. The win was the 14th of her career, moving her into a tie with former Buff Danielle Bassett for the eighth most in CU history.
"I thought we played a professional game," Sanchez expressed. "We didn't make a big deal out of it, but they [Michigan] didn't play on Thursday. They came in here fresh on Friday. We had a hard match on Thursday until the very end. I thought that was a professional approach. I really like how we defended. Didn't give up many shots inside the 18. It was a quality shutout. A very good 2-0 win on Sunday."
Michigan falls to 0-3 on the season.
How it Happened
The Wolverines started on the attack right out of the gate. Michigan put the game's first shot on goal in the 1st minute and outshot CU, 2-1, in the first five minutes.
Shyra James had a chance to build off her three-goal night on Thursday, getting CU's first look on net in the 4th minute. James led the Buffs with a game-high seven shots, including a rocket off the crossbar midway through the second half.
Colorado got the scoring going in the 17th minute, with Priest cutting towards the middle of the box. She wove in and out of the UM defenders and slipped the ball off to an open Hayward at the top of the 18-yard box. Hayward one-timed it from the top of the box, glancing off a Michigan defender and past Stephanie Sparkowski for the eventual game-winner.
"I don't know if anybody saw, but I kind of stopped for a second because I was like, 'Wait me? I scored?' I just love spending that time with my teammates [celebrating]. I think regardless of who scores, it's so important and vital moment for all of us, especially coming off playing on Thursday, we were a little bit tired. We needed that momentum. I'm glad that I was able to get that first goal for us."
Laura Gouvin drew a foul in the 20th minute that set up Colorado's second goal. Gouvin got tackled between the CU bench and the penalty area, creating a free-kick chance for the Buffs. Priest stepped up and chipped the ball to the center of the box, and H. Leyba soared above everyone and headed the ball to the far corner for the 2-0 lead.
The Buffs outshot the Wolverines 12-8 in the first half and 18-12 for the game.
CU kept on the attack in the second half, nearly getting goals from James and Mallory Allen. Allen's shot from distance in the 88th minute banked off the bottom of the crossbar and looked like it might have crossed the goal line, but officials on the field ruled no goal, and play continued.
Up Next
Colorado hits the road for the first time this season, heading east to North Carolina. The Buffs will square off with UNC Greensboro on Thursday and NC State on Sunday.
Quotes
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On Juliauna Hayward – "Jay's been playing great. She does a lot of work off the ball that people don't see. It was a great layoff from Ava and a quality finish from Juliauna."
On not getting breaks – "Like I tell the team, those things tend to even out over the year. Mal's shot looked like it was in, but we didn't need it today. Maybe we'll get it when we need it later in the year."
On the homestand – "We did, for the most part, what we needed to do. Took care of business today and Thursday with Wyoming. Now, it's about going on the road, traveling over two time zones, and getting into different weather and humidity—all the challenges of that. But we're excited. School just started, so we don't have a lot of pressure with that, but we're excited to get on the road and see what we can do."
Junior Juliauna Hayward
On contributing to the team – "However, I can help the team. I tell Danny all the time, however I can help. Today, I was able to score for my team, which I was super happy about. Hope had a really good goal that helped put us ahead even more. That was also awesome."
On playing with Ava Priest – "Maybe it's that Colorado chemistry, I'm not sure. I just love playing with her. Like I said, she's able to attack the end line. She's able to cut inside. She's so crafty with what she does. We had that connection there and again when she came off the bench, she had one too, but she was offiside that I gave to her. I think that we just love playing together and we've really created a good friendship, which shows on the field."
On Coach Sanchez's 300th win – "I've known him since I was a little kid when I was coming to the little kid camps. I think just seeing how much he's done for this program is super inspiring. I'm very proud of him for that as well."
Notes
Leyba's goal came off another set-piece, giving the team five on the season…Nytes made four more saves, giving her 98 as a Buff…Sunday was the second consecutive game a CU player had multiple assists, with Priest picking up both (Emerson Layne, 2 vs Wyoming)…Hayward became CU's seventh different goal-scorer this season…CU has outscored its opponents 12-4 this season…1,751 fans were in attendance on Sunday.
Team Stats
UM
COLO
Goals
0
2
Shots
12
18
Shots on Goal
4
8
Saves
6
4
Corners
2
7
Fouls
13
15
Scoring Plays
Juliauna Hayward (1)
Assisted By: Ava Priest
GOAL by COLO Hayward, Juliauna Assist by Priest, Ava.
16:39
Hope Leyba (3)
Assisted By: Ava Priest
GOAL by COLO Leyba, Hope Assist by Priest, Ava.
19:53
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
fwd
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
def
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
2
Shots
7
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
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GK
/ SoccerD
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