Lilian Zamorano redirected a long ball in the 60th minute, and Colorado beat Kansas State 3-2 on Friday night at Buser Family Park in Manhattan, Kan., after the Wildcats had pulled even twice. The win opened a three-match Big 12 road swing for the Buffs and handed Kansas State its fifth straight loss.
VAR waved off an Allison Marshall goal for Kansas State in the opening minute for contact with Colorado goalkeeper Brooke Goerish, according to the Kansas State Collegian and CU Athletics. Emma Thielbahr put the Buffs ahead in the 19th minute, heading in a Reagan Kotschau corner. Gabby DeMers answered 95 seconds later, and Kotschau restored the lead from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after a review of a foul on Hope Leyba. CU Athletics said it was her fourth penalty goal of the season, tying Taylor Kornieck’s program record. Marshall tied it again two minutes into the second half off a DeMers feed. Zamorano’s goal came off a long pass from Sloane Phillips, and Colorado held on from there.
Kansas State outshot Colorado 18-13 and put 10 shots on goal to the Buffs’ five, the Collegian reported. Marshall’s goal was the Wildcats’ 24th of the season, a program single-season record, and DeMers’ goal was her sixth. Kansas State fell to 0-6-1 in Big 12 play.
Colorado came in just outside the United Soccer Coaches top 25, receiving 14 points in the Oct. 13 poll, more than any other unranked team. The Buffs had lost 1-0 at home to Kansas on Oct. 11, according to CU Athletics, and Kotschau had a hand in two of the three goals in the bounce-back. Hope Leyba, who CU Athletics said entered with 41 career goals, one behind Nikki Marshall for second in program history, didn’t score.
Colorado plays at Arizona on Thursday, Oct. 22, in Tucson, then at Arizona State on Sunday, Oct. 25, in Tempe.
