Kotschau Lifts Buffs in Double OT

Friday, November 14

7 p.m.

Colorado

16-3-3, 9-1-2

Utah Valley

14-5-3, 9-1-1

Utah Valley

Colorado

Reagan Kotschau header for the win vs UVU

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

November 14, 2025 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Colorado advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years

By: Seth Pringle, Athletic Communications

BOULDER — Reagan Kotschau flew through the air like Supergirl Friday night at Prentup Field, extending Colorado's season and punching the team's ticket to the second round of the NCAA Tournament all in one swoop. Her diving header in double overtime completed Colorado's comeback, defeating Utah Valley in dramatic fashion, 2-1.

The double-overtime win is the team's first in extra time in its 15 NCAA Tournament appearances. It was also CU's 16th win of the season, marking the most in a season in program history.

"I feel great," Kotschau said after her winner. "I'm kind of relieved that it's over, because we're all so dead [at that point of the night]. It just feels really good that we grinded out that win."

Utah Valley (14-5-3) got on the board early with a goal from Bailey Peterson. Leah Wolf was solid all night for the Wolverines, making four saves.

Freshman Vivi Zacarias got Colorado back on track with her second goal of the season. Kotschau's game-winner was her sixth goal of the year. She now has five game-winners this season.

Jordan Nytes recorded six saves over 105 minutes, recording her 41st career win as a Buff. Ava Priest sent in the ball on Kotschau's game-winner for her sixth assist of the season.

"What a match," head coach Danny Sanchez expressed. "Maybe the most special atmosphere since I've been here. I want to give a shoutout to everyone who helped put this together tonight. You have to enjoy special nights like this. I want to give a lot of credit to Utah Valley. They came out and played great soccer and really put us under pressure the whole match."

Colorado advances in the bracket for the second consecutive year and is now 12-14-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

How It Happened
The first half began with the Buffs facing an early challenge as Bailey Peterson scored in the fifth minute, putting the visitors ahead.

Colorado responded with multiple attempts on goal, including shots by Jace Holley and Hope Leyba, keeping the pressure on Utah Valley's defense.

The Buffs almost got the equalizer in the 30th minute when a bit of controversy struck. UVU's Wolf attempted to clear the ball from the Wolverine backfield, but it caught Lebya directly in the face and trickled into the empty net. The play was whistled dead for a handball and was not reviewed following discussion of the field.

Play resumed after the ruling, and the Buffs continued to push for the equalizer and found it off the foot of Zacarias in the 39th minute. The CU freshman threaded a ball back across the UVU box and into the net to go into the break all-square.

"I know we were a little frustrated with the first half, giving up that goal," Kotschau explained. "We obviously grinded out, coming back and tying it at halftime. We were really just trying to grind out through tired legs and just kind of stay positive, stick together, and it worked."

The second half began with Colorado pressing forward, creating early opportunities. Kotschau and Priest each took shots within the first two minutes.

Nytes made one of her best saves of the night off a strike from Ruby Hladek in the 54th minute, punching the ball over the crossbar. The Buffs countered with Zacarias almost picking up her second goal of the night, putting a header off the crossbar in the 63rd minute.

Colorado totaled 15 shots and had seven corner chances in the second half, but couldn't end the night in regulation.

The first overtime period began with Colorado and Utah Valley locked in a tense session. Early on, it was Faith Leyba who took the Buffs' first shot of the period, heading a Priest throw over the net.

Nytes provided a critical save on Faith Webber in the 92nd minute, maintaining the stalemate. But the biggest save of the night came from F. Leyba in the 95th minute, clearing a ball that got behind Nytes and headed for the net.

"What a warrior," Sanchez said of Leyba's effort. She was cramping and could barely move. We stopped sending her up on set pieces. She couldn't run. She saved the season. That's what she does. It was a game-saving play. Reagan will get all the props as she should, but Faith that play and then Greer [Maguire] made a block on No. 2 [Faith Webber], their All-American striker in the second overtime as well."

As the overtime wound down, Zacarias came close, striking the left post with her attempt right before the buzzer.

The second overtime period began with Utah Valley pressing forward, as Webber took two shots early in the period. Colorado responded with back-to-back corner kicks. The second one sent in from the far corner by Priest was cleared out and chased down by Priest, who again sent the ball back into the UVU box. Kotschau's header beat the charging Wolf for the game-winner.

Up Next
Colorado will head to East Lansing, Mich., next week for its second-round match. The Buffaloes will play the winner of Saturday's match between Dayton and Xavier. That match will be on Thursday, Nov. 20.

Notes
Colorado is now 2-0-0 all-time against UVU…CU extended its home-unbeaten streak to 15 games (11-0-4) …The Buffs have not lost consecutive games since Oct. 14 and Oct. 20, 2023…CU now has 54 goals, 59 assists and 167 points this season, all single-season program records…Nytes now has 102 saves this season…Nytes has 23 career saves for CU in the NCAA Tournament...CU's 28 shots were the most in an NCAA Tournament match in program history.

For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Facebook.