The Colorado Buffaloes (10-3-4, 4-2-4 Big 12) fell short in their last road game Sunday against the West Virginia Mountaineers (11-4-2, 7-2-1 Big 12). The 2-0 loss extended the winless streak to five for Colorado.
Heading into Morgantown, the Buffaloes sought a needed conference victory against the Mountaineers. Attempting to spoil their senior day, the stakes were high for the Buffaloes who sat in 6th place in a competitive Big 12.
A lack of offense once again attributed to CU's loss, as this was the third straight game where the Buffs were scoreless. Notably, Shyra James was eased back into the lineup after missing the previous five games because of injury.
It was a defensive battle for both teams. Just five minutes in, WVU’s Lisa Schoppl attempted a shot that missed top right. The aggressive Mountaineers took six more shots on goal than the Buffaloes in the first half. After three misses, WVU cashed in during the 20th-minute mark to take the lead. Schoppl avenged her first miss with a header off a corner kick assist by Lilly McCarthy.
After some substitutions, Colorado tried to push the ball more and Juilauna Hayward attempted a shot that was blocked in the 24th minute. The Buffaloes struggled to keep possession and maintain the ball long enough to get a good look. Within two minutes between the 28th and 30th-minute mark, the Mountaineers responded with two unsuccessful shot attempts.
With just under 10 minutes in the half, Shyra James made her return to the pitch with much-needed energy off the bench. The Buffs were much more aggressive with their leading scorer back on the pitch. James attempted Colorado’s only other shot of the first half on a play where Laura Gouvin kicked an arching ball that dropped in front of the goal allowing her to attempt a header, which was impressively saved by Mountaineer goalie Mackenzie Smith.
WVU was persistent in their offense as the half winded down, taking the last shot in the 42nd minute.
The second half started promising for the Buffaloes as they came out aggressive. Hope Leyba came out striking like a V12 motor with a shot attempt that was blocked in the 48th minute. Leyba was persistent in trying to score and create energy for the team and had a goal that was rescinded due to her being barely offside.
At the 51st-minute mark, she once again tried to secure a goal but was denied by Smith. On her third attempt, she tried to sink one in the 53rd minute but was unsuccessful. It was clear that a fire was lit inside Leyba that fueled the Buffaloes early on in the second half, but her energy wasn’t enough to get the Buffs on the scoreboard. During the 55th minute, Hope Leyba received a free kick which was saved, along with the rebound from her sister, Faith.
When Hope Leyba was substituted out in the 57th minute, Colorado never attempted a shot for the rest of the game. Even when she re-entered the game, the Buffaloes had no answer for the Mountaineers' defense. The Leyba sisters accounted for all five of Colorado's shots in the second half.
In the 66th minute, Phoenix Dawn Miranda was issued a yellow card after holding back an opposing player from getting to a loose ball, the tangle-up caused a Mountaineer to fall, yielding the caution. Eventually, WVU got the final goal of the game at the 73rd-minute mark. Aria Bilal was able to beat Jordan Nytes to the spot and just sneak in the ball. Both teams continued to rotate and play chess as WVU wound down the clock to victory.
It was a frustrating loss for the Buffaloes who needed a victory for tournament seeding. The team will host their final game and honor seniors against Utah on Friday at 7 p.m. MT at Prentup Field. The game will be televised on ESPN+.
Cover photo via Remi Krupinski/Sko Buffs Sports
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