Colorado’s unbeaten start gets its first real travel test Thursday, when the Buffaloes head to Kalamazoo, Mich., to face Western Michigan in their first road match of the 2026 season.
The Buffs have opened 3-0 for the first time since 2022, and they’re carrying some momentum after a 3-2 win over Cal State Fullerton at Prentup Field. Michaela McGowan, Ruby Hayward and Reagan Kotschau all found the net in that victory, with Colorado controlling the flow for long stretches and piling up a 22-9 edge in shots.
That match also leaned on the other end of the field. Goalkeeper Brooke Goerish made three key second-half saves to help lock it down, and she has split time in goal with junior Jamie Campbell all season. The two have each played one half in all three matches.
Kotschau has been one of the early drivers of Colorado’s attack. The team captain leads the Buffaloes with seven points and shares the team lead in goals with McGowan, as both have scored three times.
Western Michigan brings a solid résumé into the matchup, too. The Broncos have already played twice in 2026, drawing with Idaho and beating Hawaii. They also won the MAC in 2025 and were picked first in the 2026 conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
For Colorado, the trip marks the start of a two-game swing through Michigan, and head coach Danny Sanchez said the timing is welcome.
"It's a good time to get on the road," head coach Danny Sanchez said. "We're slowly getting a little bit healthier, so that's good. It's a great competition, and couldn't be more excited at the start of the season and the kind of direction of everything."
The Buffaloes and Broncos meet Thursday, Aug. 27, at 2 p.m., before Colorado stays in the Great Lakes State to take on Michigan State on Aug. 30.
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The changes also reach beyond the seating bowl, with a pregame street party called Ralphies Road set to bring food trucks, a giant TV, a DJ and interactive games into the mix. Colorado opens its 2026 season at Georgia Tech before coming back to Boulder, where the program will find out how much these additions can help turn Folsom Field into the kind of edge the Buffaloes want every week. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Suddenly Faces Two Painful Roster Questions After Eligibility Blow
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Deion Sanders also addressed the situation, but the broader concern now stretches beyond one player and into the teams overall depth chart planning. With Christensen out of the equation, Colorado has to keep sorting through other roster issues as well, including potential competition among its kickers, a reminder that even one legal setback can ripple through several parts of a team at once. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados Restored Receiver Group Faces One Big Opener Concern
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The timing also matters because Colorado is turning to new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, whose system should benefit from having more options available on the perimeter. Sanders had already said both receivers would be back in time for the opener, and while their presence at practice is encouraging, the bigger question now is how quickly they can be fully integrated once the full-speed work begins. [Read more 🡒]