JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 The Buffaloes (8-3, 1-1 Big 12) defeated the Dolphins (8-4, 4-1 ASUN), 10-9, in their first overtime win since Feb. 11, 2022.<\/p>\n
“Jacksonville is just a tough team,” head coach Ann Elliott Whidden<\/a> stated after the game. “They’re scrappy, they’re aggressive, they’re talented on both sides and they’re really good at the draw. We knew [it would be] a battle, even from a possession standpoint of giving ourselves opportunities and that’s what it ended up being. For our group, I’m proud of them for finding a way to get it done — that was the most important part. At the end of the day, we were able to stay composed enough and committed enough to just make one more play than they did.”<\/p>\n Junior attacker Rachel Kennedy<\/a> led the team with three goals. Junior attacker Jaimey Hill<\/a> and freshman attacker Rowan Edson<\/a> each scored twice. Junior defender Averi Gardner<\/a>, junior attacker Teagan Ryan<\/a> and senior midfielder Lily Assini<\/a> scored one goal apiece. Sophomore goalkeeper Elena Oh<\/a> totaled six saves.<\/p>\n Kennedy and Hill both reached 50 career points in the battle between the Buffaloes and the Dolphins.<\/p>\n Colorado had more shots (26-19), groundballs (22-21) and clears (19-14) than Jacksonville.<\/p>\n How It Happened The Buffs and the Dolphins were scoreless for the first six minutes of the second quarter until Assini tied the game with a goal, assisted by Shoup (3-3). Hill and Kennedy each scored a man-up goal in one minute to take a two-point lead over Jacksonville (5-3, CU). Oh added a save to keep the Dolphins scoreless for the remainder of the quarter to end the first half, 5-3 (CU).<\/p>\n Jacksonville scored in the first four minutes of the third quarter and tied the game with its second goal of the half (5-5). Hill scored her second goal of the game, bringing her to 50 career points (6-5, CU). Shoup assisted Ryan on a man-up goal at 8:26 (7-5, CU). The Dolphins scored three goals to take the lead heading into the final 15 minutes (8-7, JU).<\/p>\n Colorado tied the game early in the fourth with a free-position goal from Edson (8-8). A goal from Jacksonville sent the Buffaloes into a timeout (9-8, JU). Kennedy reached 50 career points from her third goal of the game, with an assist from Hill (9-9). Neither team scored for the remaining seven minutes, sending the game into overtime.<\/p>\n The Black and Gold took the win over the Dolphins from Edson’s game-winning goal with three minutes remaining in overtime (10-9, CU).<\/p>\n “We don’t have a ton of experience playing in overtime this year, but we’ve played in close games, and we practice these different scenarios,” Whidden said. “For this group, a senior led group, it just comes down to finding a way, and that’s one of the big ways. We started out this season with that motto of we just have to find a way to get it done, and it doesn’t have to be pretty, but we’ve got to control the things we can control.”<\/p>\n Up Next “These conference games are so important,” Whidden explained. “We have to control the things we can control and put ourselves in the best position as we try to earn our way back down to Gainesville to play in the conference tournament. From the outside, a lot of people assume we’re going to get there, but I don’t assume anything. I know the amount of work we have to do to get there, and this game against Cincinnati is a big part of that.”<\/p>\n
\nThe Buffaloes opened scoring with a goal from Kennedy (1-0, CU). Jacksonville scored their first goal three minutes later and then made two more to take the lead (3-1, JU). Gardner ended the Dolphins’ run with a free position goal to end the quarter, 3-2 (JU).<\/p>\n
\nThe Buffs will return home to take on Cincinnati on Saturday, April 11, at Prentup Field. First draw is set for 12 p.m. MT. Fans can tune in on ESPN+. \u00a0<\/p>\n