The complete meltdown that marked the previous matchup against TCU was the line in the sand where the season suddenly went sideways for the Colorado women’s soccer team.

The Buffaloes have an opportunity to make amends, however.

After ending a prolonged scoring slump, as well as a six-game winless streak, with a comeback win against Utah in the opening match of the Big 12 tournament, the Buffs will have a chance to keep their season alive with a quarterfinal-round matchup against the top-seeded Horned Frogs on Saturday (10:45 a.m., ESPN+).

Like Wednesday’s first-round date, Saturday’s kickoff was moved to 10:45 a.m. (from 1 p.m.) to keep the games ahead of weather headed toward Kansas City.

When Colorado hosted TCU for a top-25 battle at Prentup Field on Oct. 5, the Buffs owned a 10-game unbeaten streak (9-0-1), tying the third-longest unbeaten run in team history, and had ascended to No. 14 in the United Soccer Coaches top 25.

It was the Buffs’ highest ranking since 2007.

TCU quickly put those marks to bed, erasing an early CU lead with three goals in a span of 2 minutes, 41 seconds, and taking a 5-1 halftime lead in a 6-1 decision. TCU’s Seven Castain became the third opponent in CU history to score four goals. The Horned Frogs’ Oli Pena became the first CU foe to notch three assists in a game since the Buffs’ inaugural season of 1996.

With leading scorer Shyra James sidelined by injuries, the lopsided loss against TCU spurred a 180-degree turn on the season, as the Buffs ended a six-game winless streak (0-2-4) with Wednesday’s 2-1 win against the Utes. CU’s Hope Leyba and Ava Priest scored second-half goals to rally the Buffs into the quarterfinals.

“They had the coach of the year (Eric Bell), offensive player of the year (Bella Diorio) … and about 10 all-conference selections. They’re deservedly the top team in the league this year,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said.

“But when you get into these situations, one game knockout match, anything can happen. We’re going to have to play our best match on Saturday if we want to advance.”

Despite the late slide to end the regular season, Wednesday’s victory helped push the Buffs (11-3-5) to the more encouraging side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, at No. 46 in Friday’s RPI rankings. While CU is the ninth seed in the conference tourney, the Buffs are the No. 6 Big 12 team in the RPI.James, CU’s all-time leading goal scorer and the team co-leader this season with six, didn’t play in the previous matchup against TCU.

And although she has yet to score in the three games since her return, she appeared a little closer to her peak form with a couple of early chances against the Utes.

Sanchez is hoping the end of a scoring drought that nearly reached 450 minutes brings renewed confidence to the Buffs in time for Saturday’s showdown.

“If we win (Utah) in penalties and we’re still 0-0, I think maybe there’s a little bit less belief,” Sanchez said.

“But the fact that we got a couple goals — Shyra in the first half (against Utah), those are goals she normally buries, but she’s been out half the year. You could feel it coming. There’s no doubt about it, there’s almost like a weight off our shoulders to get that one. We’ll build off the momentum from (Wednesday’s) match and we’ll be ready to go.”