No. 25 Colorado pulls away in second half to down UTSA, 2-0No. 25 Colorado pulls away in second half to down UTSA, 2-0
Soccer

No. 25 Colorado pulls away in second half to down UTSA, 2-0

SAN ANTONIO – UTSA held 25th-ranked Colorado scoreless for the first 51 minutes of Saturday night's match. However, the Buffaloes broke through with two goals in the final 39 minutes of the contest en route to a 2-0 victory at Park West Athletics Complex.

The Roadrunners (1-6) took the pace to the visitors early in the match, as the two teams split the first six shot attempts.

Colorado (4-1-2), which rebounded from its first loss of the season on Friday at Texas, managed a 5-1 advantage in shots the rest of the half, including a headed attempt by Alex Vidger that hit off the crossbar.

The Buffaloes came out of intermission with a more aggressive attacking pace.

UTSA goalkeeper Gabriella Mariello hauled in two saves in the first five minutes of the period. However, Martine Puketapu launched a shot from 30 yards out that found the back of the net to break the scoring seal in the 52nd minute.

Five minutes later, Ellis Patterson found her way behind the Colorado defense and went to the ground to lace a shot toward goal that forced Scout Watson to come up with a save that preserved the lead.

Taylor Kornieck pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 86th minute, as she maneuvered around a pair of UTSA defenders in the box before placing the ball inside the far post.

The Roadrunners' final attempt happened in the 86th minute as well. Jasmine Marwan found the ball at her feet inside the box and her shot attempt deflected off a CU defender before being scooped up by Watson.

Watson and Jalen Tompkins combined on Colorado's sixth shutout of the season.

Mariello grabbed three saves for UTSA, while Sarah Gavin also made a defensive save on the backline in the 32nd minute.

The Buffaloes took 16 shots and eight corner kicks, while the Roadrunners attempted six shots and a pair of corner services.

Patterson and Jordyn Lacy led UTSA with a pair of attempts, while each put a shot on goal.

The Roadrunners will hit the road for a pair of Conference USA matches over the next two weeks. UTSA will travel to Ruston to match up with Louisiana Tech in the league opener on Sunday, Sept. 17.