No. 2 seed Michigan State is gearing up to host No. 3 seed Colorado in the NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium. After beating Wake Forest on Thursday night, the Spartans are on the precipice of making history and pushing into the quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
Standing in their way is a strong Colorado team, fresh off a 4-1 win over Xavier. When the Spartans faced them in their season opener, neither side could find the winning touch, playing out a 1-1 draw in Colorado. Now, as both teams have grown and changed, there’s a score to be settled – a battle likely to be decided in an attacking-heavy match. Ranked No. 12 in the nation, the Buffaloes have a potent offense that has scored 58 goals throughout the season to No. 9 MSU’s 53.
Head coach Jeff Hosler specifically mentioned Colorado’s Hope Leyba as a threat the team will be looking to nullify on Sunday. The Big 12 Forward of the Year has scored 22 goals in 23 games this season, including a laser from 30 yards out on Thursday against Xavier. She is ranked as the third best player in women's college soccer by Top Drawer Soccer. Leyba’s twin sister, Faith, also had a goal in the match against Xavier.
"They’re very difficult to manage," Hosler said. "It takes one box entry or one set-piece. Colorado is a team that in an instant can change the game."
On Colorado's defensive end, however, there are vulnerabilities. Goalkeeper Jordan Nytes was forced to make 12 saves on Thursday against Xavier. There was considerable room for opposing forwards to move around within Colorado’s defense and although Xavier could not take advantage of that, they managed 28 shots in the match.
"It’s a great opportunity here, but it’s definitely going to take our best effort against an elite Colorado team," Hosler said. "We’re gonna have to make the game on Sunday about us."
It will be both schools’ third trip to the Sweet Sixteen ever, with MSU’s coming consecutively in the most recent seasons but Colorado’s coming in 2013 and 2006. Both are looking to go one step further for the first time.
The Spartans and the Buffaloes have an even record with two wins each and one tie. Michigan State is 1-1 at home and 1-1-1 on the road. Although nothing separates the teams historically or earlier in the season, one side will tip the scale in its favor and advance to the next round.
"This is going to be an electric match. This will be a very entertaining one," Hosler said. "We’re trying to do something – for the great success we’ve started to have of late, getting to a quarterfinal is a whole other step. We’re going to need some of that extra support to help bring some energy for us."
On the other side of the Sweet Sixteen, the winner of this round will take one of four teams: No. 1 seeded and ranked Stanford, Alabama, BYU or UCLA. While that may be a tough test if they advance, the Spartans are grateful for any opportunities they are given this late in the season.
