Soccer Falls Late at Colorado to Close Out Regular-Season

BOULDER, Colo. – The Utah soccer team closed out an unprecedented 2020 season that got moved to the spring due to COVID-19 this Friday, falling late to Colorado on the road 2-1 at Prentup Field.  
 
CU put pressure on the Utes in the opening minutes, getting two early corner kicks and coupled with a shot in the 7' that sailed just high before landing on top of the netting.
 
Utah (4-9-3, 3-6-2 Pac-12) had an opportunity late in the 12' with its first corner kick of the match, but was offside moments later as the ball got inside the box. Minutes later, Utah's offense was able to get three-consecutive shots against the Buffs. Taliana Kaufusi first took a feed from Courtney Talbot at the 15:01 mark but just couldn't get the right touch on the ball and saw it go wide of the post. Brooklyn James then got a great look on goal but CU's keeper was there for the save in the 17'. Less than a minute later, Coatney's shot just missed as well.
 
Colorado (9-5-2, 5-4-2) had an opportunity on goal after Ragan Fuller was called for the foul on the counter attack, but Shanade Hopcroft's shot was just high. Moments later, CU's Libby Geraghty took one inside the box that just missed when it hit the top corner before Utah was able to clear out.
 
Courtney Talbot picked up her sixth assist of the season in the 23' when she connected with a streaking Eden Jacobson on the opposite side of the box for her second goal of the season and put Utah on top 1-0. However, less than two minutes later, Colorado's Geraghty answered with the equalizer in the 25' with a shot that just got past the reaching arms of SJ Edwards.

23' | @court_talbot16 goes across the box and finds Eden Jacobsen for her 2nd goal of the season!

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— Utah Women's Soccer ?? (@UtahWSoccer) April 16, 2021

 
The seesaw game between the two offenses continued, but neither team was able to take the lead heading into the break and settled at 1-1 through the first 45 minutes of action.
 
There was a lot of back-and-forth until the 58' when Utah was called offside once again. The Utah offensive front continued to pressure CU's defense as Talbot intercepted a pass on the attacking front and tried to put one of her own into the back of the net but couldn't get enough power on it as CU's Dani Hansen makes the save.
 
Kaufusi had a good look on goal later on in the 76' minute but her shot went right into the arms of Colorado's Hansen. After a pair of subs, Hopcroft gave Colorado the 2-1 advntage in the 83' minute when she got the deflection off a free kick to roll her way before she rocketed it past a diving Edwards. The Utes had a set piece opportunity in the 84' but couldn't convert as Colorado held on for the win.
 
NOTABLES

• Courtney Talbot was booked with a  yellow card at the 83:34 mark
• Utah finished with a 12-11 edge in shots taken
• Talbot's 6th assists of the season moves her into a tie for second in Pac-12 play

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