Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Gavin Crowson
Colorado Soccer Celebrates 2023
April 13, 2024 | Soccer
Buffaloes hold annual awards banquet
BOULDER — The Colorado soccer team gathered Saturday evening at the Rooftop Lounge of the Champions Center to celebrate the 2023 season at the team's annual year-end banquet.
The Buffs returned to the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time since 2020. CU finished 13-5-3 overall and ended the season fifth (5-3-3) in its final year in the Pac-12.
2023 Team Awards
MVP – Faith Leyba
Offensive MVP – Shyra James
Defensive MVP – Jordan Nytes
Newcomer of the Year – Ava Priest
Herbst Academic Award – Lola Stanley
Strength & Conditioning Award –Lawson Willis
Buff Cup – Jenny Beyer
Goal of the Year – Amaya Gonzalez
Freshman Faith Leyba was honored as the team's Most Valuable Player. She garnered national accolades last season, by becoming the first CU freshman to earn First Team Freshman Best XI by Top Drawer Soccer since Taylor Kornieck (First Team and Jalen Tompkins (Second Team) in 2016. Leyba was also a Pac-12 All-Freshman and United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Pacific Region selection. She started all 21 matches for the Buffs and led all field players in minutes played. Lebya put in three goals on five shots from her defensive back position. The Phoenix, Ariz., native, helped the Buffs' backline record eight shutouts, marking the most since the 2020 season.
Senior Shyra James secured her third consecutive Offensive MVP award. James was a United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-America selection last season, becoming just the third CU player to earn All-America status alongside Fran Munnelly (2004, 05) and Taylor Kornieck (2018, 19). She finished the year with career-highs in goals (15) and points (32). James finished the season ninth in the NCAA and led the Pac-12 in goals. She notched four game-winning goals last season, including a late tally in the 89th minute at Utah that helped clinch CU's NCAA berth. James was also second in the conference and 18th in the NCAA in points. She wrapped up the season 11th in the NCAA in goals per game (0.75) and fifth in the nation with 4.65 shots per game. James set the single-season CU record with goals in seven straight games. Her 15 goals and 32 points fished as the second most in a single season, trailing Nikki Marshall's 37 points and 17 goals in 2006.
Sophomore transfer Jordan Nytes was CU's goalkeeper of record in all 21 matches last season. She posted 13 wins, the seventh most by a CU goalkeeper. Nytes shut out eight opponents last season with a .860 goals against average and a .802 save %. Her eight shutouts ranked third in the Pac-12 and were the most solo shutouts by a CU keeper since Tompkins' eight in 2019. Nytes finished the season ranked No. 42 in TDS's Top 100 for the season. She was the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week and the TDS Player of the Week following her back-to-back shutouts against Colorado College and No. 14 Michigan State.
Freshman Ava Priest contributed in a big way in her freshman season. She started 20 matches and appeared in all 21. Priest was a Pac-12 All-Freshman selection. She scored her first career goal at New Mexico, becoming the youngest player in the NCAA to record a goal last season (17 years, 65 days). Priest finished second on the team with 10 points (2 G, 6 A). Her six helpers led the team last season and finished tied for fifth in the Pac-12.
Sophomore Lola Stanley was awarded the team's Academic Award in her first year at CU. She played in 10 games last season with one shot on goal. Departing senior Lawson Willis was honored with the Strength & Conditioning Award. Willis started six matches and played in 15 last seasons. She had a three-point day at Utah with a goal and an assist in the Buffs' come-from-behind 3-2 win in the regular season finale.
New to the night's agenda was the award for Goal of the Year. Amaya Gonzalez took home the inaugural award with her self volley blast vs Purdue. The goal opened the scoring in the Buffs' 3-0 win and was No. 4 in SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays.
Beyer earned the annual Buff Cup for accumulating the most points during team competition during the spring season.
Earlier in the day, the Buffaloes played to a 1-1 draw against future Big 12 rival Kansas State in a spring tune-up at Prentup Field.
The match was the first of CU's two true home dates. Last weekend, CU hosted the Colorado Cup. The Buffs went 3-0 and retained the Cup for another season. Next up on the spring slate is an evening affair on April 16 against Colorado State (7:30 p.m.).
The Buffs returned to the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time since 2020. CU finished 13-5-3 overall and ended the season fifth (5-3-3) in its final year in the Pac-12.
2023 Team Awards
MVP – Faith Leyba
Offensive MVP – Shyra James
Defensive MVP – Jordan Nytes
Newcomer of the Year – Ava Priest
Herbst Academic Award – Lola Stanley
Strength & Conditioning Award –Lawson Willis
Buff Cup – Jenny Beyer
Goal of the Year – Amaya Gonzalez
Freshman Faith Leyba was honored as the team's Most Valuable Player. She garnered national accolades last season, by becoming the first CU freshman to earn First Team Freshman Best XI by Top Drawer Soccer since Taylor Kornieck (First Team and Jalen Tompkins (Second Team) in 2016. Leyba was also a Pac-12 All-Freshman and United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Pacific Region selection. She started all 21 matches for the Buffs and led all field players in minutes played. Lebya put in three goals on five shots from her defensive back position. The Phoenix, Ariz., native, helped the Buffs' backline record eight shutouts, marking the most since the 2020 season.
Senior Shyra James secured her third consecutive Offensive MVP award. James was a United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-America selection last season, becoming just the third CU player to earn All-America status alongside Fran Munnelly (2004, 05) and Taylor Kornieck (2018, 19). She finished the year with career-highs in goals (15) and points (32). James finished the season ninth in the NCAA and led the Pac-12 in goals. She notched four game-winning goals last season, including a late tally in the 89th minute at Utah that helped clinch CU's NCAA berth. James was also second in the conference and 18th in the NCAA in points. She wrapped up the season 11th in the NCAA in goals per game (0.75) and fifth in the nation with 4.65 shots per game. James set the single-season CU record with goals in seven straight games. Her 15 goals and 32 points fished as the second most in a single season, trailing Nikki Marshall's 37 points and 17 goals in 2006.
Sophomore transfer Jordan Nytes was CU's goalkeeper of record in all 21 matches last season. She posted 13 wins, the seventh most by a CU goalkeeper. Nytes shut out eight opponents last season with a .860 goals against average and a .802 save %. Her eight shutouts ranked third in the Pac-12 and were the most solo shutouts by a CU keeper since Tompkins' eight in 2019. Nytes finished the season ranked No. 42 in TDS's Top 100 for the season. She was the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week and the TDS Player of the Week following her back-to-back shutouts against Colorado College and No. 14 Michigan State.
Freshman Ava Priest contributed in a big way in her freshman season. She started 20 matches and appeared in all 21. Priest was a Pac-12 All-Freshman selection. She scored her first career goal at New Mexico, becoming the youngest player in the NCAA to record a goal last season (17 years, 65 days). Priest finished second on the team with 10 points (2 G, 6 A). Her six helpers led the team last season and finished tied for fifth in the Pac-12.
Sophomore Lola Stanley was awarded the team's Academic Award in her first year at CU. She played in 10 games last season with one shot on goal. Departing senior Lawson Willis was honored with the Strength & Conditioning Award. Willis started six matches and played in 15 last seasons. She had a three-point day at Utah with a goal and an assist in the Buffs' come-from-behind 3-2 win in the regular season finale.
New to the night's agenda was the award for Goal of the Year. Amaya Gonzalez took home the inaugural award with her self volley blast vs Purdue. The goal opened the scoring in the Buffs' 3-0 win and was No. 4 in SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays.
Beyer earned the annual Buff Cup for accumulating the most points during team competition during the spring season.
Earlier in the day, the Buffaloes played to a 1-1 draw against future Big 12 rival Kansas State in a spring tune-up at Prentup Field.
The match was the first of CU's two true home dates. Last weekend, CU hosted the Colorado Cup. The Buffs went 3-0 and retained the Cup for another season. Next up on the spring slate is an evening affair on April 16 against Colorado State (7:30 p.m.).
Players Mentioned
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Thursday, November 20