As the ball arced over the pitch and through the East Lansing evening, Colorado coach Danny Sanchez was in as much awe as any of the players. And even those watching from home.

The strike in question was Hope Leyba’s approximate 40-yard bomb launched during the Buffaloes’ win against Xavier on Thursday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

It didn’t win the game, as the Buffs already were in command with a 2-0 lead in the 87th minute. But it put a thunderous exclamation point on a victory that sent the Buffs into the Sweet 16 for just the third time in program history.

It will be the first Sweet 16 appearance since 2013 for the third-seeded Buffs, who seek their first Elite Eight berth on Sunday against second-seeded Michigan State on the Spartans’ home turf.

“That third goal fro

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