Thursday, August 22
7 p.m.
Colorado
2-1-0, 0-0-0
5
vs
1
Wyoming
0-1-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Wyoming
0
1
1
Colorado
1
4
5
Photo by: Tyler Davis
James Sets Record in Buffs' Rout Over Wyoming
August 22, 2024 | Soccer
Shyra James scored three goals on the night on her way to becoming the program’s career goal-scoring leader
BOULDER — Shyra James entered Thursday night one goal shy of tying the school record for career goals. Not only did she tie the record in Colorado's 5-1 win over Wyoming, but she shattered it in a memorable three-goal night at Prentup Field.
Colorado (2-1-0) didn't take long to bounce back from last Sunday's heartbreaking loss to then-No. 8 North Carolina. Hope Leyba opened the scoring in the 8th minute and led Colorado 1-0 at the half.
James came in as a sub in the second half and put in three goals in a span of 10:24 to surpass Nikki Marshall's previous record of 42 career goals. James' hat trick was the seventh all-time by a Buff and the first for Colorado since Tatum Barton scored three goals against Missouri in 2018.
"It was definitely exciting," James expressed after the record-setting night. "In the beginning, I was kind of, like, 'Man, come on. I'm right there every single time.' Once I scored the first one, it just kept happening. I started getting more adrenaline and more excitement. Being able to experience this with my team was just insane."
Marshall, who was in attendance on Thursday night, scored 42 goals from 2006-09. The Hall of Fame Buff was also a volunteer assistant coach for the Buffs in James' junior season.
"It means a lot [to pass her]," James explained. "We're actually very close. I would say to beat her record and knowing her in that aspect is exciting. She even texted me, 'Good luck. I'm going to be there,' and stuff like that. It kind of makes me excited that I could actually be with the person that I beat for the record and have it happen in front of her with the way I played today."
Lola Stanley added the Buffs' fifth goal late in the match. The five-goal effort on Thursday marks the most goals CU since putting five past Omaha in the 2022 season.
Wyoming (0-1-1) outshot the Buffs 20-19 on the night. The Cowgirls found the net in the 83rd minute, converting on a penalty kick.
Jordan Nytes and Jamie Campbell combined for 11 saves in the win. For Campbell, Thursday marked her CU debut, making three saves in relief of Nytes.
"You can go a couple ways after that [the loss to UNC]," head coach Danny Sanchez commented. "We really got after it. Tuesday was probably our hardest practice of the season. Even though our legs were still heavy, it was a warm day on Sunday. We really got after it on Tuesday, and after a disappointing ending of a game like Sunday, you just want to play again. I think the team was champing at the bit to get out there."
How it Happened
Colorado scored on its first shot of the night, with H. Leyba finishing a corner serve from Laura Gouvin in the 8th minute. The goal was Leyba's second of the season and the assist marked Govuin's first points as a Buff.
Nytes and the Buffs kept Wyoming at bay despite the Cowgirls' threats throughout the first half. Wyoming's Raegan Richardson fired a long shot in the 25th minute that Nytes stabbed over the top of the crossbar. The junior goalkeeper also battled off a pair of chances in the 45th minute to close the half.
Nytes made six of her eight saves in the first half.
"I thought credit to Wyoming," Sanchez added. "They easily could have had a goal right at the end of the first half, and 1-1 at halftime is a different game."
James returned to the game at the 56:57 mark of the second half and scored less than two minutes later to tie the record.
A Wyoming handball in the box sent the Buffs to the penalty spot, and James stepped up and placed her shot inside the crossbar in the upper right corner, picking up the eventual game-winner in the 59th minute.
James added to the CU lead six minutes later with the record-breaking goal. Juliauna Hayward started the leadup to the goal, hitting a shot on net that slipped away for Wyoming keeper Haley Bartel. The rebound went on to Emerson Layne, who put a shot back on Bartel. The second rebound came back to a wide-open James, who stepped into a right-footed blast.
James struck again for her 44th career tally in the 65th minute, this time off a header at the top of the six-yard box off a ball that was centered off the end line by Layne.
"Once we got the second goal, we felt good about it," Sanchez said. "I really thought that the players we brought in in the second half, as the game started to stretch, really performed well."
The Cowgirls ended the shutout bid after earning a penalty kick in the 83rd minute.
Stanley answered back with her first career goal, launching a shot from 25 yards out in the 88th minute to regain the four-goal advantage.
Up Next
The Buffs return to action on Sunday, hosting Michigan at Noon on ESPN+.
Quotes
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On playing against his old team for the first time since 2012: "They [Wyoming] are coming off a[n] [exhibition] win over BYU and a tie at Washington and you could see their quality in the first half. I think once the game got stretched, it was the Buffs' night. I think we both had an opening [in our schedules]. I set this game up with the old coach. We love Wyoming. We'd love to play Wyoming. It's a first-class place. A place that's special to me and Jason. We wish them nothing but the best. I think they're going to do really well in the Mountain West."
On the team's performance: "I thought everybody contributed. It's hard to get minutes for this team. I thought if you're going to go in, you might as well make an impact. So, make an impact like a lot of players did. They make tough decisions for me. This was a day where we were able to get everybody in and get some decent minutes. It's not always going to be like that. A lot of the players that subbed in early performed in training this week. It's going to be competitive."
Notes
Thursday was NCAA win No. 299 for Sanchez…Thursday's five goals are tied for the 10th most in program history…Colorado scored two more set-piece goals, giving the team four on the season…James now has four goals in the last two games…James' six points in the second half is tied for the second most in program history, along with Marshall's six vs Oklahoma (Oct. 2, 2009)…James is now 2-2 in her career from the penalty spot…Sami Fisher recorded her first career assist on the Stanley goal…Nytes now has 94 career saves at CU.
Colorado (2-1-0) didn't take long to bounce back from last Sunday's heartbreaking loss to then-No. 8 North Carolina. Hope Leyba opened the scoring in the 8th minute and led Colorado 1-0 at the half.
James came in as a sub in the second half and put in three goals in a span of 10:24 to surpass Nikki Marshall's previous record of 42 career goals. James' hat trick was the seventh all-time by a Buff and the first for Colorado since Tatum Barton scored three goals against Missouri in 2018.
"It was definitely exciting," James expressed after the record-setting night. "In the beginning, I was kind of, like, 'Man, come on. I'm right there every single time.' Once I scored the first one, it just kept happening. I started getting more adrenaline and more excitement. Being able to experience this with my team was just insane."
Marshall, who was in attendance on Thursday night, scored 42 goals from 2006-09. The Hall of Fame Buff was also a volunteer assistant coach for the Buffs in James' junior season.
"It means a lot [to pass her]," James explained. "We're actually very close. I would say to beat her record and knowing her in that aspect is exciting. She even texted me, 'Good luck. I'm going to be there,' and stuff like that. It kind of makes me excited that I could actually be with the person that I beat for the record and have it happen in front of her with the way I played today."
Lola Stanley added the Buffs' fifth goal late in the match. The five-goal effort on Thursday marks the most goals CU since putting five past Omaha in the 2022 season.
Wyoming (0-1-1) outshot the Buffs 20-19 on the night. The Cowgirls found the net in the 83rd minute, converting on a penalty kick.
Jordan Nytes and Jamie Campbell combined for 11 saves in the win. For Campbell, Thursday marked her CU debut, making three saves in relief of Nytes.
"You can go a couple ways after that [the loss to UNC]," head coach Danny Sanchez commented. "We really got after it. Tuesday was probably our hardest practice of the season. Even though our legs were still heavy, it was a warm day on Sunday. We really got after it on Tuesday, and after a disappointing ending of a game like Sunday, you just want to play again. I think the team was champing at the bit to get out there."
How it Happened
Colorado scored on its first shot of the night, with H. Leyba finishing a corner serve from Laura Gouvin in the 8th minute. The goal was Leyba's second of the season and the assist marked Govuin's first points as a Buff.
Nytes and the Buffs kept Wyoming at bay despite the Cowgirls' threats throughout the first half. Wyoming's Raegan Richardson fired a long shot in the 25th minute that Nytes stabbed over the top of the crossbar. The junior goalkeeper also battled off a pair of chances in the 45th minute to close the half.
Nytes made six of her eight saves in the first half.
"I thought credit to Wyoming," Sanchez added. "They easily could have had a goal right at the end of the first half, and 1-1 at halftime is a different game."
James returned to the game at the 56:57 mark of the second half and scored less than two minutes later to tie the record.
A Wyoming handball in the box sent the Buffs to the penalty spot, and James stepped up and placed her shot inside the crossbar in the upper right corner, picking up the eventual game-winner in the 59th minute.
James added to the CU lead six minutes later with the record-breaking goal. Juliauna Hayward started the leadup to the goal, hitting a shot on net that slipped away for Wyoming keeper Haley Bartel. The rebound went on to Emerson Layne, who put a shot back on Bartel. The second rebound came back to a wide-open James, who stepped into a right-footed blast.
James struck again for her 44th career tally in the 65th minute, this time off a header at the top of the six-yard box off a ball that was centered off the end line by Layne.
"Once we got the second goal, we felt good about it," Sanchez said. "I really thought that the players we brought in in the second half, as the game started to stretch, really performed well."
The Cowgirls ended the shutout bid after earning a penalty kick in the 83rd minute.
Stanley answered back with her first career goal, launching a shot from 25 yards out in the 88th minute to regain the four-goal advantage.
Up Next
The Buffs return to action on Sunday, hosting Michigan at Noon on ESPN+.
Quotes
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On playing against his old team for the first time since 2012: "They [Wyoming] are coming off a[n] [exhibition] win over BYU and a tie at Washington and you could see their quality in the first half. I think once the game got stretched, it was the Buffs' night. I think we both had an opening [in our schedules]. I set this game up with the old coach. We love Wyoming. We'd love to play Wyoming. It's a first-class place. A place that's special to me and Jason. We wish them nothing but the best. I think they're going to do really well in the Mountain West."
On the team's performance: "I thought everybody contributed. It's hard to get minutes for this team. I thought if you're going to go in, you might as well make an impact. So, make an impact like a lot of players did. They make tough decisions for me. This was a day where we were able to get everybody in and get some decent minutes. It's not always going to be like that. A lot of the players that subbed in early performed in training this week. It's going to be competitive."
Notes
Thursday was NCAA win No. 299 for Sanchez…Thursday's five goals are tied for the 10th most in program history…Colorado scored two more set-piece goals, giving the team four on the season…James now has four goals in the last two games…James' six points in the second half is tied for the second most in program history, along with Marshall's six vs Oklahoma (Oct. 2, 2009)…James is now 2-2 in her career from the penalty spot…Sami Fisher recorded her first career assist on the Stanley goal…Nytes now has 94 career saves at CU.
Team Stats
WYO
COLO
Goals
1
5
Shots
20
20
Shots on Goal
12
11
Saves
6
11
Corners
5
11
Fouls
11
6
Scoring Plays
Hope Leyba (2)
Assisted By: Laura Gouvin
GOAL by COLO Leyba, Hope Assist by Gouvin, Laura.
07:44
Shyra James (3)
COLO Shyra James PENALTY KICK GOAL.
58:47
Shyra James (3)
Assisted By: Emerson Layne
GOAL by COLO James, Shyra Assist by Layne, Emerson.
64:53
Shyra James (3)
Assisted By: Emerson Layne
GOAL by COLO James, Shyra Assist by Layne, Emerson.
69:11
Alyssa Bedard
WYO Alyssa Bedard PENALTY KICK GOAL.
82:26
Lola Stanley (1)
Assisted By: Sami Fisher
GOAL by COLO Stanley, Lola Assist by Fisher, Sami.
87:24
Game Leaders
Shots
5
SOG
4
Goals
3
Assists
0
fwd
Shots
6
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
2
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
M
/ Soccer
M
/ SoccerF
/ SoccerM
/ SoccerF
/ Soccer
GK
/ SoccerM
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