November 12, 2026 | Soccer
BOULDER – The first shot didn't go in. It bounced back out, the snow kept falling, and freshman Nikki Marshall hit it again.
It was Nov. 12, 2006, at Prentup Field, and Colorado was tied 1-1 with Denver. Senior Allie True's through ball put Marshall in position, and the freshman stayed with the play to score with 11 minutes remaining, just three minutes after the Pioneers had equalized. On an afternoon that had gone from sunshine to heavy snow, the Buffaloes secured a 2-1 victory and their first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.
"We're making history right now, and it's amazing," senior Katie Griffin said afterward.
Twenty years later, as Colorado celebrates the program's 30th anniversary, that postseason run offers a timely reminder. The 2006 team's most memorable achievement came after the disappointment of a conference tournament shootout defeat.
Wednesday brought a similar result for the 2026 Buffs, who pushed top-seeded BYU through 110 minutes before falling 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout in the Big 12 semifinals. The match officially ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving Colorado at 15-4-2 with six wins and a draw in its last seven matches as it awaits NCAA Tournament selections.
The 2006 Buffs had also walked a similar late-season path. After three straight conference losses in October, they won their final four regular-season matches without allowing a goal. They advanced past Kansas on penalties following a 1-1 quarterfinal draw, then produced an even bigger response against Texas A&M.
Down 2-0 less than 12 minutes into the semifinal, Colorado rallied behind Brittany Dornseif's goal and Marshall's equalizer with 3:30 left in regulation. Marshall scored again in the second overtime, giving the Buffs their first victory over the Aggies in 16 meetings.
"That's the biggest goal I've ever scored, for sure," Marshall said afterward.
Colorado reached its second straight Big 12 championship match, where Alex Cousins headed in Griffin's free kick to pull the Buffs even with Texas. The teams finished tied 1-1 through double overtime before the Longhorns won the title in a 5-4 shootout.
"It was a hard way to end the week," Griffin said after the final. "But I'm very proud of my team and how we all played together this tournament. Now it's time to move forward and prepare for the NCAA Tournament."
Five days later, Griffin helped Colorado do exactly that.
The Buffs hosted NCAA Tournament play for the first time, opening against Colorado College at Prentup. Trailing 1-0, Griffin scored twice in 90 seconds, with Allison Kidd assisting both goals, to send Colorado through with a 2-1 win.
Griffin added a penalty kick against Denver two days later before Marshall delivered the winner in the snow. The senior scored three of Colorado's four goals that weekend, while the freshman's decisive finish was her 17th goal of the season.
The run ended with a 3-0 loss at top-ranked Notre Dame in the Sweet 16, leaving Colorado at 14-6-4. Seniors Griffin, Laura Munnelly and True finished their careers with 56 victories and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
"I think throughout this season and especially after we got into that slump, it was all about playing for your seniors," Marshall said after the Notre Dame match. "I think that's going to be there forever; play for these guys, even though they're not here. We're going to carry on their legacy because they've taught us so much."
Two decades later, the record book provides another connection. Hope Leyba's equalizer in Monday's 2-1 quarterfinal win over Kansas was her 43rd career goal, moving her past Marshall into second place in Colorado history. Reagan Kotschau followed with the winner with 1:07 remaining to send the Buffs into the semifinals.
Hope's goal against BYU brought her career total to 44, three behind Shyra James' school record of 47. She nearly supplied another late winner Wednesday, but BYU goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson stopped her header with 28 seconds remaining in the second overtime.
Colorado held the Cougars scoreless for the final 90 minutes and allowed just one shot on goal after halftime, with freshman Brooke Goerish making a save in the second overtime to keep the Buffs level.
The Buffs now await the NCAA Tournament field announcement Monday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. MT.
"But like I told the team, we got plenty to play for, and we're excited for the NCAA tournament," Sanchez said.
TICKETS: Stay up to date on Colorado Buffaloes Soccer postseason tickets on CUBuffs.com.
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.
It was Nov. 12, 2006, at Prentup Field, and Colorado was tied 1-1 with Denver. Senior Allie True's through ball put Marshall in position, and the freshman stayed with the play to score with 11 minutes remaining, just three minutes after the Pioneers had equalized. On an afternoon that had gone from sunshine to heavy snow, the Buffaloes secured a 2-1 victory and their first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.
"We're making history right now, and it's amazing," senior Katie Griffin said afterward.
Twenty years later, as Colorado celebrates the program's 30th anniversary, that postseason run offers a timely reminder. The 2006 team's most memorable achievement came after the disappointment of a conference tournament shootout defeat.
Wednesday brought a similar result for the 2026 Buffs, who pushed top-seeded BYU through 110 minutes before falling 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout in the Big 12 semifinals. The match officially ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving Colorado at 15-4-2 with six wins and a draw in its last seven matches as it awaits NCAA Tournament selections.
The 2006 Buffs had also walked a similar late-season path. After three straight conference losses in October, they won their final four regular-season matches without allowing a goal. They advanced past Kansas on penalties following a 1-1 quarterfinal draw, then produced an even bigger response against Texas A&M.
Down 2-0 less than 12 minutes into the semifinal, Colorado rallied behind Brittany Dornseif's goal and Marshall's equalizer with 3:30 left in regulation. Marshall scored again in the second overtime, giving the Buffs their first victory over the Aggies in 16 meetings.
"That's the biggest goal I've ever scored, for sure," Marshall said afterward.
Colorado reached its second straight Big 12 championship match, where Alex Cousins headed in Griffin's free kick to pull the Buffs even with Texas. The teams finished tied 1-1 through double overtime before the Longhorns won the title in a 5-4 shootout.
"It was a hard way to end the week," Griffin said after the final. "But I'm very proud of my team and how we all played together this tournament. Now it's time to move forward and prepare for the NCAA Tournament."
Five days later, Griffin helped Colorado do exactly that.
The Buffs hosted NCAA Tournament play for the first time, opening against Colorado College at Prentup. Trailing 1-0, Griffin scored twice in 90 seconds, with Allison Kidd assisting both goals, to send Colorado through with a 2-1 win.
Griffin added a penalty kick against Denver two days later before Marshall delivered the winner in the snow. The senior scored three of Colorado's four goals that weekend, while the freshman's decisive finish was her 17th goal of the season.
The run ended with a 3-0 loss at top-ranked Notre Dame in the Sweet 16, leaving Colorado at 14-6-4. Seniors Griffin, Laura Munnelly and True finished their careers with 56 victories and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
"I think throughout this season and especially after we got into that slump, it was all about playing for your seniors," Marshall said after the Notre Dame match. "I think that's going to be there forever; play for these guys, even though they're not here. We're going to carry on their legacy because they've taught us so much."
Two decades later, the record book provides another connection. Hope Leyba's equalizer in Monday's 2-1 quarterfinal win over Kansas was her 43rd career goal, moving her past Marshall into second place in Colorado history. Reagan Kotschau followed with the winner with 1:07 remaining to send the Buffs into the semifinals.
Hope's goal against BYU brought her career total to 44, three behind Shyra James' school record of 47. She nearly supplied another late winner Wednesday, but BYU goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson stopped her header with 28 seconds remaining in the second overtime.
Colorado held the Cougars scoreless for the final 90 minutes and allowed just one shot on goal after halftime, with freshman Brooke Goerish making a save in the second overtime to keep the Buffs level.
The Buffs now await the NCAA Tournament field announcement Monday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. MT.
"But like I told the team, we got plenty to play for, and we're excited for the NCAA tournament," Sanchez said.
TICKETS: Stay up to date on Colorado Buffaloes Soccer postseason tickets on CUBuffs.com.
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.
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, November 11
Tuesday, November 10
Monday, November 09
Monday, November 09
