Buffs Fall To BYU In Penalty-Kick Shootout - University of Colorado Athletics

Wednesday, November 11

Mansfield, Texas

3:30 p.m.

Colorado

15-4-2, 8-3-0

BYU

12-3-5, 8-1-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Colorado	1	0	0	0	0	1
BYU	1	0	0	0	0	1

November 11, 2026 | Soccer

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By: Iseck Hurtado, Athletic Communications Associate

MANSFIELD, Texas — Colorado pushed top-seeded BYU through 110 minutes and nearly found a winner in the final seconds Wednesday, but the fourth-seeded Buffaloes soccer team's Big 12 Tournament run ended with a 4-2 penalty-kick shootout loss in the semifinals at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium.

The match officially ended in a 1-1 draw, moving Colorado to 15-4-2 and BYU to 12-3-5. The Buffs head toward NCAA Tournament selections with six wins and a draw in their last seven matches.

"I thought we created a lot of good opportunities," head coach Danny Sanchez said. "But it was small margins tonight. And unfortunately, things didn't go our way in the penalties. But that's soccer."

Colorado's defense held the Cougars scoreless for the final 90 minutes and allowed just one shot on goal after halftime. Faith Leyba and Emma Thielbahr played all 110 minutes, while Brooke Goerish made three saves.

"I thought we were good defensively. I thought we kept our shape, especially after the first 25 minutes," Sanchez said.

Hope Leyba scored her 12th goal of the season. Her 44 career goals rank second at CU, three behind Shyra James' school record of 47. Hope also reached 97 career points, which remains third in program history.

The Buffs finished with a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal despite BYU's 26-15 edge in total attempts. Michaela McGowan led Colorado with six shots, while Hope added five, including four on target.

"We can't forget that tonight was a draw," Sanchez said. "A draw against a team that won the league. So I think we're playing well, and we'll move on from this."

HOW IT HAPPENED

BYU recorded the match's first four shots, with Goerish denying Mika Krommenhoek twice in the opening five minutes.

Sloane Phillips put Colorado's first shot on target in the seventh minute, forcing a save from BYU goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson. Just 44 seconds later, Hope met Jordan Whiteaker's corner from the right side with a header, giving the Buffs a 1-0 lead.

The Cougars answered in the 20th minute, advancing up the right side and sending a cross into the middle of the box. Mia Goettsche headed the service into the left side of the net to level the score.

Colorado recorded the final four shots of the half, with McGowan and Hope each forcing another save as CU searched for a second goal. BYU held a 13-11 edge in shots at the break, while the Buffaloes led 5-3 in shots on goal.

Faith helped the Buffs withstand BYU's early second-half pressure, getting her right thigh in front of one attempt. Hope then drew a foul on the right side in the 54th minute. The play went to review, and BYU's Avery Frischknecht received a yellow card, but Colorado could not convert the ensuing set-piece opportunity.

Faith got a touch on another BYU attempt to send it over the crossbar, while Thielbahr later headed the ball clear. At the other end, a foul on McGowan led to a corner from the left, but Kai Santomarco-King's 69th-minute attempt was blocked.

The Buffaloes kept the Cougars off the scoreboard through the rest of regulation. Bella Woods sent BYU's final attempt off target with 34 seconds remaining, and the teams entered overtime tied 1-1.

BYU held much of the possession in the first overtime period, but CU kept both of the Cougars' attempts off target. Colorado regained possession after a BYU corner midway through the period, then blocked an Afton Perry shot before Sophie Sivulich sent an attempt off target. Fog rolled into the stadium with about two minutes remaining, and neither team could find a winner.

Goerish denied Krommenhoek in the 103rd minute to keep the Buffs level. BYU also threatened on a break upfield in the second overtime, but an attempt from the right side of the box went narrowly wide to the left.

Colorado made the final push. McGowan had an attempt blocked before forcing a save with 1:15 remaining. Phillips then supplied Hope for a header in the box, but Peterson stopped the chance with 28 seconds left to send the match to penalties.

Reagan Kotschau converted Colorado's opening kick, and Jace Holley kept the Buffs within 3-2 after the third round. Goerish made a sensational diving save to deny BYU's fourth attempt, but CU could not draw level. Emma Neff converted the Cougars' fifth kick to clinch the shootout, 4-2.

UP NEXT: Colorado awaits the NCAA Tournament field announcement Monday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. MT.

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.