Colorado’s regular-season finale brings together a few things the Buffaloes have earned the hard way: a senior-night celebration, a postseason berth and a chance to keep a hot run rolling into November.
The Buffs host Oklahoma State on Thursday, Nov. 5, at Prentup Field, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
Colorado enters at 13-4-1 overall and 7-3-0 in Big 12 play, riding a four-match winning streak that includes three straight shutouts. The Buffs have already locked up a spot in the Big 12 Tournament and sit fifth in the league with 21 points, one behind Baylor and Houston.
“We want to keep the momentum going,” Head Coach Danny Sanchez said. “We've had a good run of games, and we want to finish the regular season strong, especially with it being Senior Day on Thursday.”
Colorado has been especially tough at home, going 9-1 at Prentup Field this season. Sanchez said he wants the crowd there early for a night that will also honor the program’s seniors.
“The fans have been fantastic this year,” Sanchez said. “The support we've received has been the best since I've been here, and this is my 15th season. We know they'll be out early and loud on Thursday to show their respect, acknowledge the fantastic seniors we've had in this program and hopefully send us out with a win on Senior Day.”
Oklahoma State arrives with plenty to play for as well. The Cowgirls are 7-7-4 overall and 3-5-2 in the Big 12, good for 11 conference points, and their postseason hopes are still alive. They’re unbeaten in their last three, starting with a 2-2 draw against Utah before beating West Virginia and Iowa State.
“Oklahoma State is on a great run of their own. They're undefeated in the last three games and still have a shot to make the Big 12 tournament,” Sanchez said. “We know they're going to come out and play their best soccer on Thursday, so I expect a great match.”
The Cowgirls picked up their first road win of the season on Oct. 29, a 2-0 result at Iowa State. Emma Jensen and Sonora DeFini scored in the opening 15 minutes to set the tone.
Colorado also won in Ames this year, getting a lone goal from Reagan Kotschau in a 1-0 victory on Sept. 17.
DeFini leads Oklahoma State with eight goals and 19 points, while Jensen and Emmy Hedden are tied for the team lead with five assists. Through 18 matches, the Cowgirls have scored 34 goals and conceded 27.
Colorado has had the upper hand in the series overall, leading 11-4-3. The Buffs are also unbeaten in nine meetings in Boulder at 7-0-2. The last matchup went Colorado’s way too, a 2-1 win in Stillwater on Sept. 19, 2024, when Hope Leyba opened the scoring and Jace Holley headed home the winner.
The Buffs are coming off Friday’s 1-0 win over Cincinnati, a game decided late when Michaela McGowan buried a rebound at 79:24 after Hope Leyba worked the end line and hit the crossbar. Leyba picked up the assist, and McGowan moved to seven goals on the season.
Colorado controlled that match from start to finish, outshooting Cincinnati 15-2 and allowing just one shot on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Brooke Goerish made the save she needed for her seventh solo shutout, and the Buffs finished with their 11th team shutout of the year.
That win extended Colorado’s scoring drought on the other side of the ball to zero over its last three matches. The Buffs have outscored Arizona, Arizona State and Cincinnati by a combined 7-0 during the streak. Goerish enters Thursday with a 0.67 goals-against average and an .861 save percentage in 18 appearances.
At the top end, Leyba leads Colorado with 10 goals, while Kotschau has a team-best 28 points on nine goals and 10 assists. Kotschau is one assist away from owning Colorado’s single-season record outright; she currently shares it with Taylor Kornieck, Shanade Hopcroft and Emerson Layne.
In Other News...
Former Buff Could Test Colorados Biggest Defensive Weakness
Arizona State wide receiver Omarion Miller has an unusual edge heading into the matchup with Colorado, and it comes from his past. The former Buffalo spent time in Boulder before moving on to become a key target for the Sun Devils this season, and now he gets a crack at a Colorado defense that has had trouble holding up in pass coverage.
For Colorado, that makes the trip to Tempe feel a little more personal than a typical conference game. The Buffaloes are trying to tighten up a secondary that has been vulnerable, while Millers familiarity with the program adds another layer to an already interesting matchup between two teams that have plenty of familiarity and plenty on the line. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona State Faces A Personal Colorado Challenge For Kenny Dillingham
Arizona States trip to face Colorado comes with a few familiar faces for Kenny Dillingham, and not just on the opposing sideline. The Sun Devils coach had plenty of praise for Buffaloes assistants Chris Marve and Brennan Marion, two coaches he knows well from past stops, and he also pointed to the pro-ready talent Colorado has assembled as part of the challenge waiting in Boulder.
There is another layer here for Dillingham, too, because Arizona State wide receiver Omarion Miller has become a key part of the offense after originally being recruited by Colorado. With coaching ties and roster connections running through the matchup, this one carries a little more personal weight than a typical Big 12 game, even before the ball is kicked off. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Faces A Brutal Defensive Question In Must Win Road Game
Colorados defense could be walking into a tough road test without a couple of familiar pieces, as the Buffaloes head to Arizona State with some real uncertainty in the middle of the lineup. Starting safety Naeten Mitchell is doubtful because of injury, while defensive tackle Dylan Manuel is also on the doubtful list, leaving Colorado with the possibility of reshuffling key spots at a time when every possession matters.
If Mitchell is unable to go, it would mark his first missed game of the season and put more pressure on the depth behind him. Colorado may have to lean on backups such as Ben Finneseth and Samu Taumanupepe to absorb those snaps, a challenge that only adds to the stakes in a game the Buffaloes need to have. [Read more 🡒]