No. 15 Buffs Blank Iowa State In Big 12 Opener

Thursday, September 17

Ames, Iowa

5 p.m.

Colorado

7-1-1, 1-0-0

Iowa State

4-3-2, 0-1-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Colorado	1	0	1
Iowa St.	0	0	0

September 17, 2026 | Soccer

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By: Iseck Hurtado, Athletic Communications Associate

AMES, Iowa — The No. 15 Colorado Buffaloes soccer team defeated Iowa State, 1-0, on Thursday night at Cyclone Sports Complex, opening Big 12 play with a road victory.

Colorado improved to 7-1-1 overall and 1-0-0 in conference play, extending its winning streak to four matches and earning its first road win of the season.

"I thought we really managed the second half well," said head coach Danny Sanchez. "We could have found a second goal, which would have let us relax a little bit, but having said that, we really limited their opportunities."

Senior captain Reagan Kotschau supplied the match's lone goal, converting a penalty kick in the 41st minute. Her sixth goal of the season moved her into the team lead with 17 points.

"I take a lot of PKs. I just kind of try and stay calm, cool and collected, and kind of just stick to where I'm gonna put it," Kotschau said. "Not really much to it, just get it past the keeper."

Freshman goalkeeper Brooke Goerish finished with three saves as Colorado recorded its fourth consecutive shutout and sixth of the season. The Buffs have outscored opponents 12-0 during their four-match winning streak.

"I just think we know how to stick together when things get scrappy and hard," Kotschau said. "We know how to manage the game when it's tight like this."

Kotschau's ninth career game-winning goal at Colorado tied Brie Hooks for seventh in program history. The victory also marked CU's seventh straight against Iowa State, the longest winning streak by either team in the series.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Goerish handled Iowa State's first shot on goal in the 20th minute, saving Morgan Goodman's attempt following a free kick just outside the Colorado box.

The Buffs increased the pressure after the half-hour mark, forcing Iowa State goalkeeper Eme McClenahan into four saves between the 33rd and 36th minutes. Kotschau put two attempts on frame, while Michaela McGowan and Jordan Whiteaker each added one.

Colorado broke through in the 41st minute after an Iowa State foul inside the box. The opportunity arose when ISU's Makenna Marshall went in for a hard tackle, fouling Hope Leyba as she marched towards the goal. Kotschau stepped to the spot and finished into the bottom-left corner, giving the Buffs a 1-0 lead.

CU entered halftime with a 9-3 advantage in shots and a 5-1 edge in shots on goal.

The Buffs searched for a second goal after the break, with McClenahan denying Berkley Mensik in the 59th minute and Leyba in the 79th. At the other end, Goerish stopped Izzy Kapanke's attempt in the 71st minute to preserve the lead.

Goerish delivered her biggest save in the 85th minute, getting a hand to Cassidy Corcione's shot and tipping it off the crossbar. Colorado's defense blocked another Corcione attempt in the 88th minute and held the Cyclones without another shot to secure the win.

The Buffs finished with advantages in shots (13-8), shots on goal (7-3) and corner kicks (4-0).

UP NEXT: Colorado returns home to Prentup Field on Thursday, Sept. 24, to host West Virginia at 7 p.m. MT. Tickets for the Buffaloes' first home conference match 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.