Buffs Set For Ranked Rematch At Michigan State

BOULDER – The No. 12/7 Colorado Buffaloes soccer team will close out their two-match Michigan road trip on Sunday with a ranked matchup against No. 3/4 Michigan State at DeMartin Stadium. Kickoff is set for 9 a.m. MT and will be televised nationally on the Big Ten Network. Both teams enter the match 3-0-1.

Colorado heads to East Lansing following a scoreless draw at Western Michigan on Thursday. The Buffs controlled much of the match, outshooting the Broncos 13-8 and putting seven shots on goal compared to Western Michigan's three. Hope Leyba led the attack with eight shots and four on target.

Freshman goalkeeper Brooke Goerish made her first collegiate start and recorded two first-half saves before Jamie Campbell took over for the final 45 minutes. Campbell made one save, denying Western Michigan's final attempt with five seconds remaining to preserve Colorado's second shutout of the season.

"We played really well for long stretches," head coach Danny Sanchez said following Thursday's draw. "We had opportunities to win the game, it didn't happen today. Now we turn our attention to Michigan State."

Vs. Michigan State

Sunday presents Colorado with its first ranked matchup of the season and a familiar foe. The Buffs and Spartans met twice in 2025, first playing to a 1-1 draw in Boulder before meeting again in the NCAA Third Round. Michigan State won the postseason rematch 2-1 at DeMartin Stadium to end Colorado's record-setting 17-win campaign.

"Michigan State's a top-five team in the country," Sanchez added. "It's a huge NCAA Tournament-atmosphere match. We'll turn the page quickly and get ready for Sunday."

Colorado's attack enters the weekend with 11 goals through four matches. Reagan Kotschau leads the Buffs with seven points on three goals and one assist, while Michaela McGowan has also scored three times. Leyba has one goal and two assists and is averaging 5.25 shots per match, which ranks ninth nationally and first in the Big 12.

Michigan State is also coming off a scoreless draw, playing Eastern Michigan to a 0-0 result on Thursday. The Spartans held Eastern Michigan without a shot while producing 22 attempts. Michigan State opened the season with shutout wins over Xavier and Loyola before earning a 3-2 road victory over then-No. 6/7 North Carolina. The Spartans have recorded three shutouts through four matches and have allowed just two goals.

Kennedy Bell leads Michigan State with three goals after notching two goals under her belt in the win at North Carolina. Kayla Briggs has supplied the game-winning goal in each of MSU's first two victories, while Bella Najera enters Sunday with 26 career goals. Najera scored both Spartan goals in last season's NCAA Tournament victory over Colorado.

Following Sunday's match, Colorado will return to Boulder to host New Mexico on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Prentup Field.