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Matches Thread- SOCCER's last home matches this season hosting Arizona (Thursday, 10/26/23, 7:00 PM MT) & #19/18 ASU (SENIOR DAY! Sunday, 1:30 PM MT)

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Edit -Especially for anyone planning to attend Sunday's Senior Day match, wanted to highlight the time change to 1:30 PM noted in post #17 below.

SOCCER (10-4-3 overall; 2-3-3 in Pac 12 play) finishes off the home portion of their regular season as they host the Desert schools. 1st off is a Thursday evening match against the Arizona Wildcats (4-7-5, 1-5-2), followed up by a Sunday matinee Senior Day match against the #19 (per topdrawersoccer)/ #18 (in the Coaches' Poll) ASU Sun Devils (10-3-4, 5-2-1).
(After these, the only remaining match is next Friday at Utah.)

In the latest official RPI report (https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-women/d1/ncaa-womens-soccer-rpi), the Buffs are at #68, while Arizona is #83 and ASU #22 .
((Not sure if it's a factor in soccer, but as I mentioned in recent weeks' previews, in a volleyball forum I read that a rating/ ranking I hadn't heard of, KPI, is a primary criteria this season in tournament selection in THAT sport. Just in case it (https://faktorsports.com/) is also going to be used in soccer, wanted to note that the Buffs are #71, Wildcats #114 and Sun Devils #31 in KPI right now.))

Thursday's match is scheduled to be shown on on the Pac 12 Networks Mountain Channel, while Sunday's is scheduled to be shown on a CU-provided stream. (See more details and links near the bottom of this post.)

Go Buffs!!!

(Cubuffs.com preview not available as I type this.)
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More on the opponents -

Arizona:
Roster - https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster
Stats - https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/womens-soccer/stats
Schedule/ results for this season - https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/womens-soccer/schedule
Their preview article for the match with the Buffs - Not available as I type this.

ASU:
Roster - https://thesundevils.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster
Stats - https://thesundevils.com/sports/womens-soccer/stats
Schedule/ results for this season - https://thesundevils.com/sports/womens-soccer/schedule
Their preview article for the match with the Buffs - Not available as I type this.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Media links:

Link to links to Live stats for both matches - https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?t=1&gid=colo . Direct links for the matches:
Arizona - https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=469627
ASU -
Live Video:
Vs. Arizona - The match is scheduled to be shown live on the Pac 12 Mountain channel. For those whose Cable/ Satellite/ cord cutting subscription(s) include access to any Pac 12 Network channel, assume it will also be viewable at https://pac-12.com/womens-soccer/event/2023/10/26/arizona-colorado .
Vs. ASU - The match is scheduled to be shown live on a free live stream available at https://pac-12.com/live/cubuffs.

Match notes (If blank below, they weren't available as I type this.) :
Vs. Arizona -
Vs. ASU -
 
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MarkW said:
Unfortunately, that most likely be enough to get an at-large bid to thee NCAA tourney given that the Buffs' RPI is in the 60s.
Click to expand...
I think that is the best they can hope for after not getting 2 wins in Washington or against Cal
 
MarkW said:
Unfortunately, that most likely be enough to get an at-large bid to thee NCAA tourney given that the Buffs' RPI is in the 60s.
Click to expand...
Big OOPS on my part, that should be "most likely NOT be enough to get an at-large bid." Watching the RPI rankings over the last three weeks or so thee Buffs had been within reach, but now I think they are too low even if they win out.
 
Preview (mainly) for tomorrow evening's match -




Direct link - https://cubuffs.com/news/2023/10/25/soccer-buffs-prep-for-final-stretch.aspx

"
BOULDER – Colorado soccer returns to Prentup Field for its final two regular-season matchups this week. The Buffaloes will get the week started with Arizona on Thursday (7 p.m.) and No. 18 Arizona State on Saturday (Noon).

Colorado (10-3-4, 2-3-3 Pac-12) sits sixth in the Pac-12 standings with nine points but has only mustered two points in the last five matches. CU is currently on the wrong end of a five-match winless streak (0-2-3). The Buffs' last win came on Oct. 1 at Oregon State.

CU has been away from Boulder the past two weekends and is looking forward to getting back on the home turf. The Black & Gold is 6-3-1 at Prentup Field this season and has outscored opponents 16-9 in the 10 games. Senior Shyra James has scored seven of her Pac-12-leading 12 goals in front of the home crowd this season.

"We've been on the road the last couple of weeks and had some good results but didn't get quite get all out of it that we wanted," head coach Danny Sanchez commented. "The team knows that it's about getting results. Arizona had a great performance on Sunday against a top-15 team in USC and deservedly got a result. We know the challenge on Thursday night, but it's good to be home in front of our fans."

CU has only scored three goals in the recent stretch with two of them coming from the penalty spot. Colorado's last goal in the run of play came off the foot of James in the 14th minute against Stanford on Oct. 5.

"We didn't create a ton of opportunities on the weekend," Sanchez said about last week in Washington. "I think being at home provides a bit of a park and a little more confidence and comfort level will help. We're healthy and we have the personnel that is 100% capable of it [scoring]. We have confidence in them and these kinds of stretches happen. Fortunately for us, we still have opportunities to have big moments this year."

The Buffs only gave up one shot on goal against WSU last Thursday, but it found the back of the net. Colorado was able to secure a 1-0 advantage at Washington on Sunday, but three minutes after scoring the Huskies got back to even and forced the draw.

"When goals are hard to come by, there's this kind of natural inclination to relax for a second and not go for the second goal," Sanchez explained. "I think we saw that at Washington on Sunday. We've talked about it and we know that we have to continue playing on the front foot, especially when there's still 30 minutes left in the game. If there's no time left, that's a different story. But when there's so much soccer to be played, these teams are so good, you have to keep playing."

Arizona (4-7-5, 1-5-2 Pac-12) is four points back of CU in the standings but is coming off a 1-1 draw against No. 11 USC on Sunday. UofA is in a similar spot as the Buffs, having gone winless in its last seven matches. The Wildcats' last win was back on Sept. 22, opening Pac-12 play with a 3-0 result over Oregon.

Thursday's match will be aired across the Pac-12 Networks. Thad Anderson will be on the call for the 7 p.m. kickoff.
"
 
Still 1-0 CU at the half. (I believe the announcer said that Ms. James just broke a Buff individual record for most shots by an individual player in a half (9).)

Highlight of her goal -

 
Media after tonight's big win:

Article -





Direct link - https://cubuffs.com/news/2023/10/26/soccer-james-f-leyba-lead-buffs-over-arizona.aspx

"
BOULDER – Colorado's return home proved to be just what the doctor ordered as the Buffaloes snapped a five-match winless streak Thursday night at Prentup Field.

Colorado (11-4-3, 3-3-3 Pac-12) picked up its first win since Oct. 1, netting the much-needed three points on the night. Shyra James and Faith Leyba accounted for the Buffaloes' goals and Jordan Nytes recorded her seventh shutout of the season.

"Tonight was a very good performance for the Buffs," head coach Danny Sanchez said after the win. "We created a ton of opportunities. Probably unfortunate not to get a couple more [goals]. We got the two goals we needed and defended well. Jordi [Nytes] dealt with a couple of situations where she needed to stay disciplined defensively. Probably one of the better performances this year by the Buffs."

Colorado matched its season high in shots, finishing with 26. Defensively, the Buffs limited Arizona to 10 shots with six of those attempts coming after gaining the 2-0 advantage.

For James, it was her 38th career goal, inching her closer to Taylor Kornieck (39) for second all-time. She finished the night with a career-high 12 shots, tying Kornieck for the single-game program record.

The win for the Buffs keeps the postseason very much in play with No. 18 Arizona State coming to town on Sunday.

"Like I told the team, we have everything to play for," Sanchez continued. "Sunday is going to be Senior Day against a very good team that's had a very good season. We haven't gotten that big win that we've needed to have in conference play. Sunday we're going to have to be at the top of our game to get a result."
...

"I think we were due for a performance like this," Sanchez expressed. "I thought our movement going forward was great. I thought we created some really good opportunities. Credit their keeper, she really made some good saves to keep them in it. But we got the two goals we needed and that's what's most important."

Nytes made her first save of the night in the 48th minute with Arizona trying to counter right after the Buffs' goal. She made a highlight save in the 89th minute to keep the clean sheet intact, diving to her right and stabbing the ball wide.

Up Next
Eight seniors will play their final regular season game at Prentup Field when the Buffs host No. 18 Arizona State on Sunday (Noon MT).

Quotes
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On Jordan Nytes' play – "It was slick conditions tonight and I thought she dealt with the back passes and her distribution was very good. The couple of times she was called upon she made very good saves."

Notes
CU's 11 wins are the most since 2019 (12-8-2)…James' goal was her 82nd career point, moving two points behind Fran Munnelly (84) for third on CU's all-time points list...James now has a goal in nine of the last 11 games she's played…CU finishes 4-2 under the lights at Prentup Field this season…Rosen's assist was her fifth of the season, marking a career-high.
"
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Box score - https://cubuffs.com/sports/womens-soccer/stats/2023/arizona/boxscore/16481


 
Was at the match Thursday night. There were more families in attendance than I thought given the cold and damp weather. On the pitch any ball traveling on the ground kicked up spray. At the same time the players didn't seem to be having too many issues with traction.

What caught my attention was CU 's formation which looked to be a 3-5-2 rather than the 4-4-2 that they had played previously this season. In the 3-5-2 one of the center backs had the freedom to put pressure on the ball before it got to the back line which helped limit Arizona's possession in the final third. In the first half the Wildcats didn't record a shot on goal.

The starting back line for CU was (L-R) Greer Maguire, Faith Leyba, Lawson Willis. With three in the back the starting wing backs were Rachel Rosen and Ava Priest and they were frequently pushing way up and giving width to the attack.

Of course both of CU's goals came from corner kicks.
 
Preview for tomorrow's Senior Day match - https://cubuffs.com/news/2023/10/28/soccer-buffs-set-for-senior-day-sendoff.aspx

Hope there's a GREAT crowd to recognise the 8 seniors being honored!

(Although there has been a time or two where student-athletes (those who haven't ALREADY utilized their extra Covid-19 year of eligibility) have later changed their minds and decided to stay (or not to stay) current Buffs for another year, I do always like to check and see which rostered seniors are NOT being recognized on Senior Days. This year, I'm only seeing this year solo-captain Rachel Rosen as, per the below, not getting recognized tomorrow, so maybe she's planning on coming back.?.)

"
BOULDER – Eight departing seniors will play their final regular season home match for the Colorado Buffaloes on Sunday afternoon at Prentup Field. Originally set for a Noon MT kick, the game was pushed back to a 1:30 p.m. MT start.

The departing group is made up of three first-year Buffs and five student-athletes who have spent four and five years in the program. Isabelle Eskay, Lila Dere and Ally Clark will conclude their lone season in Boulder, while Lawson Willis, Jade Babcock-Chi, Shyra James, Jayden Newkirk and Amaya Gonzalez are concluding their longer tenures.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the group of seniors," head coach Danny Sanchez stated. "Some of them have been here one year, some have been here five years. The importance of all of them can't be understated. The leadership they provided along with their performance on the field. They all come from different backgrounds and have different paths to get here. It's not easy for any of them. We're really proud of them and we're hoping to send them out with some with another win."

Colorado got a boost on Thursday with a 2-0 win over Arizona. The Buffs fired off a season-high 26 shots against the Wildcats, an effort that the Buffs will want to duplicate come Sunday.

"As coaches and as a team, we want it so bad for them [the seniors]," Sanchez continued. Everybody else is going to get another bite at the apple. This is it for them [the seniors]. We want to send them out battling on the pitch.

The four and five-year Buffs all went through the pandemic in Boulder. Gonzalez and Babcock-Chi had their sophomore years pushed to the spring of 2021, while James, Willis and Newkirk had to wait to get their collegiate careers underway.

"The fact that some got to stay for their fifth year and have that opportunity which was great for them," Sanchez added. "It does seem like it's in the distant past and you're looking especially these last couple of years have flown by and we are here already. It always does go by fast. I think this year, the fact that we still have great opportunities is maybe the difference."

Arizona State (10-4-4, 5-3-1 Pac-12) comes into Sunday ranked No. 18 in the country, but was upset by Utah to start the week on Thursday.

Sunday's game will be streamed online at CUBuffs.com/WatchSoc.
"
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