McGowan's Late Winner Lifts Buffs Past Cincinnati - University of Colorado Athletics

Friday, October 30

Boulder, Colo.

7 p.m.

Colorado

13-4-1, 7-3-0

Cincinnati

4-8-5, 2-6-2

Team	1	2	Final F
Cincinnati	0	0	0
Colorado	0	1	1

October 30, 2026 | Soccer

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By: Iseck Hurtado, Athletic Communications Associate

BOULDER — Senior forward Michaela McGowan broke a scoreless deadlock in the 80th minute, lifting the No. 17 Colorado Buffaloes Soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Cincinnati Friday night at Prentup Field.

The Buffaloes improved to 13-4-1 overall and 7-3-0 in Big 12 play with their fourth consecutive win. Cincinnati fell to 4-8-5 overall and 2-6-2 in the conference.

After Cincinnati kept Colorado off the scoreboard for more than 79 minutes, Hope Leyba fought past two defenders along the end line and sent an attempt off the right goalpost. McGowan collected the rebound and finished into the upper-left corner at 79:24 for her career-high seventh goal of the season. Leyba earned the assist.

McGowan credited her persistence after several earlier chances missed the mark.

"I think you miss the shots you don't take, and yes, I had six off frame. But what if the seventh is on frame? And it ended up being the game winner, which is so cool," McGowan said. "So it's just important to keep going, even though the first six don't work."

Colorado finished with 15 shots, including two on goal, while limiting Cincinnati to two attempts and just one on target. Freshman goalkeeper Brooke Goerish made one save over 90 minutes to earn her seventh solo shutout as the Buffs recorded their third consecutive team shutout and 11th of the season.

Colorado head coach Danny Sanchez praised the Buffs' second-half response but said the team needed to do more with its scoring opportunities.

"I'm pleased with our resilience in the second half. I thought we played really well in the second half," Sanchez said. "But we need to play better going forward for sure."

The night also marked a milestone in the program's 30th anniversary celebration. At halftime, Colorado unveiled its permanent Soccer Wall of Honor on the north side of Prentup Field. Fran Munnelly, Laura Munnelly and Nikki Marshall returned for the ceremony, joining fellow inaugural honoree Taylor Kornieck as the first four players recognized on the wall.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Colorado created the first two opportunities, with Reagan Kotschau forcing a save from Cincinnati goalkeeper Amber Brandon at 2:07 before McGowan fired wide in the fifth minute. At the other end, Goerish turned away Joy Kimwemwe's 14th-minute attempt, Cincinnati's only shot on goal.

McGowan sent a second attempt wide in the 18th minute, while Hope Leyba missed left in the 36th. Cincinnati earned four first-half corner kicks, but neither side broke through. The Buffs carried a 4-1 advantage in shots into halftime, with one attempt on target apiece.

The Buffs picked up the pace after halftime. McGowan had an attempt blocked at 46:15 before Hannah Healy fired wide in the 47th minute. McGowan had two more attempts miss the frame in the 53rd and 60th minutes, and Sloane Phillips sent a shot high in the 62nd.

Colorado continued to create chances in the box, with shots by Leyba and Kaia Santomarco-King blocked one second apart in the 69th minute. Another McGowan attempt was blocked less than a minute later, and Kotschau missed wide in the 74th as Cincinnati held on to the scoreless tie.

The breakthrough came in the 79th minute, just 89 seconds after McGowan checked back into the match. Leyba worked her way past two Cincinnati defenders along the end line and hit the top post with a shot. McGowan reacted first to the loose ball, sending the rebound into the upper-left corner to put the Buffs in front, 1-0.

McGowan had taken six shots without scoring before re-entering at 77:55. Sanchez said he kept his message to the senior simple as he sent her back onto the field.

"The only thing I said to Mac was, when you go back in, just shoot it on frame," Sanchez said.

"She is the grittiest player I've ever played with, and I know no matter what she would give 100%," McGowan said of Leyba. "And on that play specifically, I give all credit to her because she did all the work. I just happened to be there to finish it."

Colorado protected the one-goal advantage through the final minutes to secure its fourth straight victory.

UP NEXT: Colorado closes the regular season against Oklahoma State on Thursday, Nov. 5, at Prentup Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT, with the match streaming on ESPN+. Tickets for the Buffs final home match of the regular season 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.