Buffaloes Fall At UCF

Friday, October 2

Orlando, Fla.

5 p.m.

Colorado

8-3-1, 2-2-0

UCF

6-3-1, 1-2-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Colorado	0	0	0
UCF	1	1	2

October 02, 2026 | Soccer

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By: Iseck Hurtado, Athletic Communications Associate

ORLANDO, Fla. — The No. 17 Colorado Buffaloes soccer team (8-3-1, 2-2-0 Big 12) fell 2-0 to UCF (6-3-1, 1-2-1 Big 12) Friday night at the UCF Soccer Complex.

Freshman goalkeeper Brooke Goerish recorded a career-high eight saves, surpassing her previous best of seven against Utah State on Sept. 6. She made five stops in the opening half against the Knights and added three after the break.

UCF scored once in each half, with Alysiah Lockette opening the scoring in the 14th minute and Naomi Clark extending the lead in the 51st. UCF goalkeeper Kaina Cesar finished with four saves.

"Very, very disappointed in the start of the match," Head Coach Danny Sanchez said. "UCF's so good on the ball in the possession, and we just made it really easy for them, and they got a well-deserved goal."

Colorado finished with eight shots, including four on target, while UCF totaled 14 attempts and 10 on goal.

"The effort in the second half was good," Sanchez added. "At the end of the day, we didn't create enough in the final third to really get back into it."

HOW IT HAPPENED
Goerish made her first save in the seventh minute, stopping Maria Tregansin's attempt toward the bottom right corner. Jace Holley provided Colorado's first shot on goal just over a minute later, but Cesar kept the Buffs off the board.

"She's still obviously working back to fitness, and she's not 100%," Sanchez said of Holley after the match. "She's a player we're gonna need down the road, so we need to start getting her in there and see what she can do."

UCF broke through in the 14th minute when Lockette finished a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner off an assist from Kalena Bellini, putting the Knights ahead 1-0.

Goerish denied Ella Holloran in the 18th minute to keep Colorado within one. Reagan Kotschau tested Cesar in the 31st minute, while Kai Santomarco-King's attempt went off target in the 35th.

Goerish turned away Gabi Berchon in the 40th and 41st minutes, bringing her first-half save total to five. Ruby Hayward tested Cesar with a low shot in the 44th minute, but the UCF goalkeeper made the stop to preserve the Knights' 1-0 lead.

At halftime, UCF held a 7-4 advantage in shots, including a 6-3 edge in shots on goal. The Knights earned all four corner kicks of the opening half.

Goerish opened the second half with two saves against Clark just 10 seconds apart. Faith Leyba put a shot on frame in the 49th minute, but Cesar stopped the low attempt.

UCF doubled its lead in the 51st minute when Clark struck an unassisted, right-footed shot into the upper right corner. Hope Leyba's first shot of the night went off target two minutes later as Colorado sought to cut into the deficit.

Goerish recorded her eighth save in the 75th minute, stopping a low attempt from Katsi Bengoa. Colorado earned three corner kicks over the closing stretch, but late shots from Emma Thielbahr and Berkley Mensik were blocked in the 83rd and 87th minutes, respectively.

"We did a better job of keeping stuff in front of us, except for their goal," Sanchez said about the second half. "But once again, when you're chasing two goals on the road, it's always gonna be an uphill battle."

UP NEXT: Colorado returns to Prentup Field to host Baylor on Thursday, Oct. 8. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT, with the match streaming on ESPN+. Tickets for the Buffs' return to Prentup Field are available here.

SOCIALS: For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.