Colorado
BYU
November 10, 2026 | Soccer
The fourth-seeded Buffs (15-4-1, 8-3-0 Big 12) enter Wednesday riding six consecutive wins, outscoring opponents 17-3 during that stretch. Top-seeded BYU (12-3-4, 8-1-2 Big 12) won the regular-season conference title with 26 points, two ahead of Colorado.
Colorado is one win from its first Big 12 championship appearance since 2008. The Buffs earned their return to the semifinals by coming back to defeat Kansas 2-1 Monday, with Hope Leyba scoring the equalizer before Reagan Kotschau delivered the winner with 1:07 remaining.
"I thought we made some really good adjustments at halftime," head coach Danny Sanchez said after the win. "First half wasn't our best half of soccer this year, but I thought the second half we played much better."
BYU brings a seven-match unbeaten streak (5-0-2) into the semifinal as it pursues a second consecutive tournament title. The Cougars advanced Monday after a 1-1 draw with West Virginia, winning the penalty shootout 4-2. Sophie Sivulich scored in the first half before the Mountaineers equalized with nine seconds remaining in regulation.
The Cougars have spread their scoring across the attack, with Emma Hamberlin, Mia Goettsche and Mattyn Summers-Oviatt each scoring five goals. The trio accounts for 15 of BYU's 29 goals, while Sivulich and Bella Woods have added three apiece. Summers-Oviatt has supplied her five goals despite making just one start in 19 appearances.
First-team All-Big 12 midfielders Mika Krommenhoek and Lucy Kesler help create those opportunities. Krommenhoek leads BYU with five assists, while Kesler, Afton Perry and defender Presley Freeman have four each. The Cougars have scored 20 of their 29 goals after halftime, making Colorado's ability to sustain its defensive work a necessity as the match progresses.
BYU has also kept opponents to one goal or fewer in six of its last seven matches. Chelsea Peterson and Paiton Collins have shared most of the minutes in goal, with Peterson posting a 0.85 goals-against average and Collins a 1.10 mark. The Cougars have six team shutouts and allow 10.7 shots per match.
Wednesday will be the teams' first meeting this season. BYU holds a 4-3-3 advantage in the series, with the last two matchups ending in 2-2 draws. Faith and Hope Leyba scored 39 seconds apart in last season's draw at South Field, briefly putting Colorado ahead before the Cougars responded.
"Sometimes a 2-2 feels like a 2-2 game. This one felt like a 5-5 game," Sanchez said after last season's meeting at BYU. "I thought both teams were really going after the victory all the way to the 90th minute, but neither side was able to find that game-winner."
BUFFS TAKE MOMENTUM INTO SEMIFINALS
Kotschau has fueled Colorado's attack with her ability to score and set up her teammates. The Big 12 Midfielder of the Year has 11 goals and a school-record 12 assists, with her 34 points setting a new CU senior-class record. Her game-winner against Kansas moved her past Shyra James' previous senior mark of 32, set in 2023.
Hope shares the team lead with 11 goals after moving into sole possession of second on Colorado's career goals list Monday. Her 43 career goals put her four behind James' school record of 47. Hope and Kotschau have combined for 22 goals this season, while Michaela McGowan has added seven.
Freshman Sloane Phillips gives the Buffs another productive midfield option with two goals and seven assists. She remains tied with Kate Russell and Emily Groark for the CU freshman assists record, needing one more to take sole possession. Colorado's 48 goals are already the second-most in a season in program history, behind last year's 59.
The Buffs have paired that production with 12 team shutouts and a 0.75 goals-against average. Big 12 Defender of the Year Faith anchors the back line, while Big 12 Freshman of the Year Brooke Goerish has a 0.67 goals-against average. Goerish has contributed to all 12 clean sheets, recording seven solo shutouts and sharing five.
"I think we're able to be more consistent and stick to our game plans, and we all just stick together and work really hard to win," Hope said after Monday's victory. "And I think a lot of it is attitude and willingness to work hard, and we're getting better at that. Just staying mentally locked in the full 90."
Wednesday's winner will face either second-seeded Texas Tech or third-seeded Baylor in the championship match Saturday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. MT. All tournament matches stream on ESPN+.
Tickets for Wednesday's semifinal session at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium are available here. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
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.
