Buffs Win First-Ever Big 12 Tournament Championship

Saturday, May 2

Gainesville, Fla.

9:30 a.m.

Colorado

14-3, 4-1

Florida

15-3, 5-0

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Colorado	1	4	2	1	8
Florida	2	1	1	2	6

May 02, 2026 | Lacrosse

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By: Aiden Tank, Athletic Communications

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Colorado found a way to get it done, winning its first-ever Big 12 Tournament Championship over top-seeded Florida, 8-6, Saturday afternoon following a nearly three-hour weather delay at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

Minutes before the game started this morning, a weather delay that lasted two hours and 56 minutes pushed back the start of a historic day, but Colorado (14-3) could not be denied.

"I'm just so proud of this team," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said following the game. "We started off the season with a big win at Northwestern, and we were excited, but partway through the season, I felt like we were still stuck in that moment and not creating new memories. I'm proud of this team for the last third of the season, just battling, showing up, continuing to push each other, and really proud of how we came out today."

BIG 12 CHAMPIONS ??#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/gHPybdyNRy
— Colorado Buffaloes Lacrosse (@CUBuffsWLax) May 2, 2026

As has been the case all season, the nation's top-ranked defense stifled Florida's (15-3) offense, which was averaging 16 goals per game coming in, and the Gators scored only six goals today.

The team was led by Maddie Shoup, who finished with the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, scored four goals on eight shots on goal, including the game-winning goal. She finished the tournament with eight goals, three ground balls, two caused turnovers, and one assist.

"Maddie is just a competitor," Whidden said. "She's such a competitor, and she shows up every day. She knows what she carries on her shoulders for this team, and she's going to give you her best effort every single day."

Most Outstanding Player: Maddie Shoup ??#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/FVVWgGJ7iT
— Colorado Buffaloes Lacrosse (@CUBuffsWLax) May 2, 2026

Shoup was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Lily Assini, Rowan Edson, Elena Oh, and Jess Peluso.

Edson scored two goals in the second quarter, as well as adding two caused turnovers. The other two goals were scored by Assini and Teagan Ryan.

Colorado's defense, led by Oh and Peluso, made life difficult for Florida all day. They forced the Gators into 17 total turnovers, with 12 credited to the Buffs.

"Jess Peluso is the best defender in the country, hands down," Shoup said. "No one can get by that girl. I'm really proud of our defense. Elena Oh had some amazing saves that kept us in this game."

This will be Colorado's fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, the first since 2019.

"It's not like you get to play in May all the time," Whidden said. For this special group to be together and enjoy those moments has really been our focus."

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first quarter opened with Florida getting on the board first. Colorado responded when Shoup netted an equalizer at 9:32, tying the game 1-1. The Gators reclaimed the lead with 1:02 remaining, ending the quarter with Florida leading 2-1.

Edson opened the scoring in the second quarter for the Buffs with a goal at 9:43, tying the game back up at two goals apiece. Colorado continued to capitalize on opportunities, with Teagan Ryan scoring a free position goal at 5:27, giving CU its first lead of the game.

The lead was short-lived. Florida responded with a free position goal of its own to tie the game back up, 3-3, with 3:28 left until halftime. However, Edson struck again at 2:47, and Shoup added a free position goal with nine seconds left, giving Colorado a 5-3 lead heading into the break.

Shoup continued her stellar play after halftime. Following a Florida goal to cut the lead to 5-4, Shoup rattled off two more goals to take a 7-4 lead into the fourth quarter.

Colorado entered the fourth quarter needing to withstand a final rally from Florida. The Gators scored the first goal of the quarter to cut the lead to two, 7-5. Assini, who finished with eight shots on the day, finally got one to go, giving Colorado an 8-5 lead with five minutes left.

The Gators scored another goal with 3:24 left in the game to cut the lead to 8-6. Needing to maintain possession, the Buffs controlled the ball against an aggressive Florida defense. The Buffs held the ball and used timely saves by Oh, who had three in the fourth quarter, to clinch their first Big 12 Tournament Championship.

UP NEXT

Colorado will now await its opponent in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The selection show will be tomorrow on ESPNU at 7:00 p.m. Join us at Boulder Social to find out our round one opponent. The first round of the NCAA Tournament will be on Friday, May 8.

NOTES
Colorado won its first-ever Big 12 Tournament Championship, and their first-ever conference tournament championship… Shoup scored four goals in back-to-back games, extending her overall goal streak to six games…Colorado continues its streak of having not allowed any opponent to reach 10 goals in all 15 games this season…Shoup recorded her 13th career hat-trick and her sixth of the season… Assini has recorded a point in 33 straight games.

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