Colorado
10-1-1, 4-0-1
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Kansas
5-5-3, 2-3-0
Holley Scores Late, Buffs Prevail
September 29, 2024 | Soccer
The No. 16 Buffaloes extend unbeaten streak to 10 games
BOULDER — Colorado freshman Jace Holley continued to have a winning touch for the No. 16 Buffaloes on Sunday. She notched her fourth goal of the year in the final 10 minutes of the play, helping the Buffs to a 1-0 win over Kansas at Prentup Field.
All four of Holley's goals this season have been game-winners. She moves into a tie for sixth in CU history for the most game-winning goals in a season.
"It's super cool to score a game-winning goal," the Fort Collins, Colo., native stated. "The energy is just so incredibly high. It's just so fun. I was getting tired at the end, but I scored that goal, and it just brought everyone's energy up, and we were able to pull through."
The win for the Buffs comes off a draw against Baylor on Thursday and extends the team's unbeaten streak to 10 games. Colorado hasn't dropped a contest since Aug. 18, matching its third-longest unbeaten streak in program history.
"We know all these Big 12 games are going to be like it was today and Thursday," head coach Danny Sanchez mentioned. "I think over the course of 90 minutes, we played well. I told the team at half that I thought we lost our way a little bit in the last 15-20 minutes. In the second half, they [KU] got the one big chance, and Jordi [Nytes] came up big. Other than that, I felt all the chances were ours."
Colorado (10-1-1, 4-0-1 Big 12) has now reached double-digit win totals in back-to-back seasons for the first time since doing so in four consecutive seasons from 2016-19. It is the eighth time the Buffs have hit 10 wins under Coach Sanchez.
CU goalkeeper Jordan Nytes made three saves, including back-to-back stops that kept the game scoreless in the second half, for her eighth shutout of the season.
The loss drops Kansas to 5-4-3 and 2-3-0 in the Big 12.
How it Happened
The Buffs pushed early in the first half, opening the game with a shot on goal off the game's first free kick 26 seconds into the contest.
Juliauna Hayward and Nytes also had shots on net in the early portion of the half, forcing saves from KU's Sophie Dawe. Nytes' first save came in the 23rd minute.
The game's physicality highlighted the first half. The teams combined for 17 fouls and a yellow card to Hope Leyba in the first 45 minutes of the scoreless play.
"I thought in the first half we were getting too caught up in things that didn't matter," Sanchez noted. "I thought the second half, we were much smarter with how we played and how we drew fouls. We didn't take advantage of them, but I was pleased with how we professionally handled the second half."
Nytes came up with arguably her two biggest saves of the season in the 53rd minute, stopping KU's Saige Wimes on back-to-back chances. Wimes ran broke through the CU defense and took Nytes on one-on-one. Nytes dropped her knee to the ground to make the first stop, but the rebound popped straight up. Wimes got off the ground and headed the ball toward the far side of the net. Nytes got back to her feet and, took two steps to her left, and met the ball with an outstretched arm, keeping the ball out of the net and the game even.
The Buffs outshot the Jayhawks, 6-3, in the second half but didn't get a shot on goal until Holley's goal in the 81st minute.
Ava Priest sent her signature flip-throw into the 18-yard box from the CU sideline. The ball first found the head of Hope Leyba, who directed it to the top of the six-yard line. Faith Leyba attempted a diving header, but the ball remained surrounded by bodies atop the six. Holley punched the ball with her right foot and bounced once before going into the empty net.
"It was one of Ava's flip throws, which are awesome," Holley recalled. "They always seem to go right in the right place, but they're bouncing around like crazy. I just saw my teammate right behind me for a diving header. Her head was near the cleats, and then it popped straight to me, and I was like, 'If anything, this is for her.' She's putting her body on the line. I just had to finish it off for her and my team."
Colorado killed off the final nine minutes to secure the game's three points.
Up Next
The Buffs have just one match next week, hosting No. 22 TCU on Saturday (Noon).
Notes
Colorado's 4-0-1 start to Big 12 play is its best conference start since going 4-0-2 to start the Pac-12 season in 2018…The Buffs improve to 10-8-1 all-time against KU…CU's 12 total shots were its fewest since having 11 at Oklahoma State…The team's four shots on goal were the fewest since recording three at UNC Greensboro…Holley's goal moves her into a tie with Priest for third on the team with 8 points…Emerson Layne and Juliauna Hayward led the team with three shots apiece…Kansas' 18 fouls were the most by an opponent this season…Nytes now has 16 career shutouts at CU and 22 career wins…CU was without leading scorer Shyra James due to injury.
Quotes
Head coach Danny Sanchez
On the Holley goal – "It was going to be a goal like that, that won it and I'm really proud of the group and the way they battled on a Sunday with some heat. I want to give credit to the great crowd. It was a fantastic crowd out here today. We're really going to need them again next Saturday against TCU."
On offensive pressure – "We moved some people around and we changed tactics halfway through the game. The team really bought in, and we created a lot of chances. It was a great individual effort, but an individual effort from like five people to get that goal. It was a good performance."
On using the momentum – "You have to win in this league, especially at home. We to take advantage of being at home. We'll have to build momentum as it's a single-game week. We have a whole week to prepare. We're excited for next Saturday."
On Holley's knack for game-winning goals – "If you work hard, good things happen. I was really pleased with how we kept the ball alive. I'm not sure if it was Faith on the diving header, but we talk about how sometimes you have to be brave and put your face where other people don't want to put their foot, and kept it alive. Jace just doing the work and putting herself in a dangerous spot. They all count the same, so I'm really proud of the effort, but there were like three or four players on that play that kept it alive to get us the game-winning goal."
Team Stats
Jace Holley (4)
Assisted By: Faith Leyba , Hope Leyba
GOAL by COL Holley, Jace Assist by Leyba, Faith and Leyba, Hope.
80:02
