In their long-awaited return home, the No. 16 ranked Colorado Buffaloes (9-1-1, Big 12 3-0-1) kept their unbeaten streak alive, but ended up splitting points with the Baylor Bears (6-4-2, Big 12 1-2-1).
Though the Buffs came into the game heavy favorites, they struggled to capitalize on the chances they had, and the Bears were on the offensive more than CU anticipated.
The game started off slow for both teams, but it was clear that Baylor was having more offensive productivity at the beginning of the game.
The first real Baylor chance came when midfielder Ashley Merril unleashed a power shot after an amazing run towards goal, which was tipped over the crossbar by Colorado co-captain Jordan Nytes.
Most of Colorado’s offense was generated by junior co-captain Juliauna Hayward. The midfielder had two amazing chances midway through the first half, but both narrowly missed the net. One was inches away from opening the night’s scoring, but instead it ended up soaring over the crossbar.
A golden opportunity came the Buffs’ way when sophomore forward Claire Curran entered the box and shot the ball across her body towards the top left corner of the net, but it would hit the crossbar and come back into play to merely result in another missed opportunity.
Baylor was looking to break through Colorado’s defense, and forward Tyler Isgrig gave Baylor a clear chance to take the lead over the Buffs. She played a perfectly placed cross which Baylor defender Marissa Gray only got a small piece of to push it wide, instead of into the back of the net like she intended.
Shaken, the Buffs needed to get back on the attack fast, and they hoped that subbing on star forward Shyra James would do the trick.
In the 42nd minute, CU sophomore defender Ava Priest played a beautiful through ball up the left side of the pitch to redshirt junior midfielder Jenny Beyer who crossed the ball into the box for James. The all-time leading goal scorer in the Buffs’ history tapped the ball in, past a Baylor defender and keeper to score her sixth goal of the season.
Going into halftime Colorado was up 1-0, and looked to bring their win streak to ten.
Early in the second half the Bears were knocking on the door, narrowly missing the back of the net various times.
Hayward had another amazing shot on goal after the ball was poked away from forward Hope Leyba, but once again her shot was denied by the post.
On a counterattack, Baylor midfielder Skye Leach played a dangerous cross into the box, which was punched out by Nytes. But the save bounced off of senior defender Phoenix Dawn Miranda and ended up in the back of the net in the 61st minute.
The Buffaloes responded to the goal well, created numerous chances, but none of them found the back of the net.
Near the 80th minute Nytes took a freekick near midfield, and it seemed CU would find its second goal of the night. After a series of bounces, punch outs and passes across the net, the ball was cleared out by a Baylor defender.
A desperate Buffs team spent the final minutes in search of the game-winner.
In the last ten seconds of the game, Priest took a rushed corner that found the head of Colorado forward Jace Holley, who tried to head the ball into the top right corner but was denied by a Baylor defender.
As the final whistle blew the Buffs and the Bears stood level, each getting a point for their efforts. The tie is Colorado’s first of the year.
Missed opportunities was the story for Colorado on Thursday night.
“We have to finish better. At the end of the day, we’re getting at good spots,” Colorado head coach Danny Sanchez said. “We had a lot of opportunities where we didn’t test the keeper… We just have to be better.”
The Buffs have two days of rest before they host the Kansas Jayhawks (5-3-3, Big 12 2-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. M.T. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Cover photo by Brody Rector/Sko Buffs Sports
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