COLLEGE STATION, Texas – An unfortunate bounce was the catalyst for Texas A&M and ended Colorado’s season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ellis Field on Friday.
Colorado finishes the season 13-5-3 after returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2020 season.
Friday’s conditions worsened as the night went on as the two teams played in a constant mist. Colorado led in shots on goal 5-4 and out-chanced the Aggies 3-1 in the second half, but couldn’t come up with the equalizer to force overtime.
“First off, congratulations to Texas A&M for advancing,” head coach Danny Sanchez commented after the match. “I told the team [after the game] that this is a team of great teammates and our success this year was because of great teammates and how much everybody cares for each other. I told them that’s what we’re choosing to focus on. It hurts for the players who don’t get another opportunity, but we have zero to hang our heads about. Tonight’s performance was absolutely fantastic. It was tough conditions on the road in a tough environment. We did not back down from the challenge at all. It just wasn’t our night.”
Senior Shyra James and freshman Hope Leyba led the Buffs in shots with three apiece. Sophomore Juliauna Hayward accounted for two of CU’s five shots on target. Sophomore Jordan Nytes made three saves on the night.
Texas A&M (10-7-4) advances to the second round and will play No. 1 Florida State. Mia Pante was credited the goal in the 22nd minute.
How it happened
The Aggies registered the first shot of the game, forcing Nytes to make a diving save to her right in the 9th minute, but it was the Buffs who came back and flipped the field early on.
H. Leyba had CU’s first shot, a sliding attempt chasing down a free kick from midfield. Ava Priest had a bullet of a shot on net in the 15th minute, but A&M goalkeeper Kenna Caldwell deflected it out of play leading to the Buffs’ third corner kick of the half.
A&M’s goal came off an unfortunate bounce in the 22nd minute, shifting momentum away from Colorado. Faith Leyba had a sliding clear attempt and went right into Mia Pante’s shins and backward towards the CU net. The ball floated backward 25 yards over Nytes’ head and under the crossbar.
“I’ve been coaching for a long, long time and have never had a goal like that scored against us,” Sanchez expressed. “That’s soccer. We had plenty of time to…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Colorado Athletics…