Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Three Buffs Earn All-Region
December 04, 2024 | Soccer
Colorado lands three First Team selections
BOULDER – Colorado's Faith Leyba, Jordan Nytes and Ava Priest secured United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Midwest Region honors, the organization announced on Wednesday.
The three Buffaloes tied for the most First Team selections, matching Big 12 regular season champion TCU's three honorees.
Leyba, a Phoenix, Ariz., native, was also a First Team All-Big 12 selection in her sophomore season. She started all 22 matches for the Buffs and led CU's field players in minutes with 1,896. Leyba was a vital part of the CU defensive corps, recording 11 shouts in 2024. The second-year Buff dished out two assists this season and the full 90 minutes in 16 of CU's 22 matches. Wednesday's honor marks her second All-Region selection, improving on her Third Team All-Pacific Region selection in 2023.
Nytes, the 2024 Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year, was in net for all 11 of Colorado's shutouts this season, ranking second in the Big 12 and sixth in the NCAA. Her 11 clean sheets tied for the second-most in a season by a CU keeper. She took home five Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week awards throughout the season, becoming the most honored goalkeeper in a season since the award's inception in 2020. The Aurora, Colo., native posted 12 wins and twice made a season-high of 10 saves this season. She finished fifth in the Big 12 with 4.6 saves per game and second in the conference with a .821 save %. Nytes set the program record for consecutive shutout minutes, posting a streak of 583:33 minutes of scoreless soccer. She was No. 23 in this season's Top Drawer Soccer Midseason 100.
Priest, a native of Boulder, Colo., finished second on the Buffs with a career-high 17 points. She scored a career-high six goals this season. Priest recorded three game-winners for CU, including the clinching goal over Utah in the first round of the Big 12 Championship. Priest started all 22 matches in her second season and handed out five assists. She closed the season with a five-match point streak and scored goals in both of CU's NCAA Tournament matches. The second-year Buffs ranked No. 69 in Top Drawer Soccer's Midseason 100.
The three Buffaloes tied for the most First Team selections, matching Big 12 regular season champion TCU's three honorees.
Leyba, a Phoenix, Ariz., native, was also a First Team All-Big 12 selection in her sophomore season. She started all 22 matches for the Buffs and led CU's field players in minutes with 1,896. Leyba was a vital part of the CU defensive corps, recording 11 shouts in 2024. The second-year Buff dished out two assists this season and the full 90 minutes in 16 of CU's 22 matches. Wednesday's honor marks her second All-Region selection, improving on her Third Team All-Pacific Region selection in 2023.
Nytes, the 2024 Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year, was in net for all 11 of Colorado's shutouts this season, ranking second in the Big 12 and sixth in the NCAA. Her 11 clean sheets tied for the second-most in a season by a CU keeper. She took home five Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week awards throughout the season, becoming the most honored goalkeeper in a season since the award's inception in 2020. The Aurora, Colo., native posted 12 wins and twice made a season-high of 10 saves this season. She finished fifth in the Big 12 with 4.6 saves per game and second in the conference with a .821 save %. Nytes set the program record for consecutive shutout minutes, posting a streak of 583:33 minutes of scoreless soccer. She was No. 23 in this season's Top Drawer Soccer Midseason 100.
Priest, a native of Boulder, Colo., finished second on the Buffs with a career-high 17 points. She scored a career-high six goals this season. Priest recorded three game-winners for CU, including the clinching goal over Utah in the first round of the Big 12 Championship. Priest started all 22 matches in her second season and handed out five assists. She closed the season with a five-match point streak and scored goals in both of CU's NCAA Tournament matches. The second-year Buffs ranked No. 69 in Top Drawer Soccer's Midseason 100.
Players Mentioned
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