The Buffs are making history.

Colorado women’s lacrosse advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the first time with an 11-9 win Sunday over rival Denver at Prentup Field in Boulder.

Rachel Kennedy and Teegan Ryan led the attack for the Buffs as they both recorded a hat trick. Kennedy also had an assist. Ryan has scored in nine straight games.

Maddie Shoup had two goals in the win. Goalkeeper Elena Oh had seven saves to anchor CU’s stellar defense.    

“We knew it was going to be a battle,” CU coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. “A little bit of a tough start for us, but similar to Friday (in a win over Jacksonville) I’m just proud of our team for sticking with it, believing and just going one play at a time to get ourselves back in. I thought we played some really controlled poised lacrosse down the end, especially in the offensive end in our ability to execute. This is an awesome moment for us, just to be able to be going to the next round and back to Northwestern where we started the season.”

The Pioneers (16-4) were led by Olivia Ripple’s hat trick. Ripple set the program’s single-season record with 73 goals. DU led 4-2 after the first period but Colorado exploded for five goals in the second to take control. Kennedy scored two of her three goals during the run. DU saw its four-game win streak snapped, two days after a 16-8 upset of Florida in the tournament.

The crowd of 1,380 was the largest crowd for a lacrosse game at Prentup Field.

Colorado improved to 16-3 on the season and will face No. 1 seed Northwestern on Thursday, with the start time to be determined. The match will be televised by ESPNU. The Buffs beat the Wildcats in their season opener.