Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Buffs Bring in Five for 2025
January 09, 2025 | Soccer
All five transfers return home to Colorado
BOULDER – Head coach Danny Sanchez added five Division I transfers with Colorado roots for the 2025 season, the team announced Thursday.
Lexi Meyer (Alabama), Caley Swierenga (LSU), Jordan Whiteaker (TCU), Reagan Kotschau (Washington State) and Riley MacDonald (LSU) all return to the Centennial State.
The five transfers join the list of Colorado natives who have transferred back to their home state to don the Black & Gold. Danica Evans, Morgan Stanton, Megan Massey, Tatum Barton, Sofia Weiner, Gabbi Chapa, Hailey Stodden, Dani Hansen, Civana Kuhlmann, Jordan Nytes and Greer Maguire have all taken the scenic route to call Prentup Field home.
"What a great group of fantastic players, students and people we have added to our program," Sanchez said of the additions. "All five have the opportunity to make an immediate impact on our program. We are excited they are here and look forward to start working with them next week."
Meyer, a 5-3 midfielder from Lone Tree, Colo., played her freshman season at Alabama. She recorded minutes in all 20 games for the Crimson Tide and finished second on the team with four assists. The Highlands Ranch High School graduate started Alabama's season-opener and played a season-high 51 minutes at Chattanooga. Meyer was ranked No. 37 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer (TDS) in the class of 2024 and is a two-time ECNL All-American with the Colorado Rapids. She was the 2022 ECNL Northwest Conference Player of the Year and attended the U.S. Youth National Team ID Centers from 2019-23.
Swierenga, a 5-9 defender from Denver, Colo., played her first two seasons at LSU. She started 26 matches and made 38 appearances for the Tigers. The Lutheran High School graduate handed out three assists. Swierenga was rated a four-star recruit by TDS. She was First Team All-State at LHS and played for Real Colorado, where she was First Team ECNL in both 2021 and 2022. Swierenga was selected for the U.S U17 national team.
Whiteaker, a 5-11 defender from Littleton, Colo., appeared in 18 matches as a freshman for TCU in 2024. She recorded her first collegiate point with an assist in TCU's 4-1 win over BYU. She also played a season-high 55 minutes in TCU's 2-1 win over BYU in the Big 12 Tournament. Whiteaker earned All-American honors by the United Soccer Coaches in 2023 and was the Colorado Player of the Year. She was honored as the 2023 Colorado 4A Player of the Year at Dakota Ridge High School, to go along with Jefferson Count League MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Whiteaker led Dakota Ridge to a 4A state championship in 2023 and was a three-time U.S. Soccer YNT ID Center invitee. Whiteaker also won the Colorado State Cup in 2021, playing with the Colorado Rush.
Kotschau, a 5-5 midfielder from Thornton, Colo., started all 38 of her matches in two seasons at Washington State. The Broomfield High School graduate posted five goals and eight assists in Pullman. Kotschau was a Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection in 2023, totaling a career-high 10 points (4 G, 2 A). She finished the 2023 season ranked No. 41 in the TDS Top 100 Freshmen rankings. Kotschau was an honorable mention All-WCC selection in 2024, leading the Cougars with six assists. Before WSU, she was named the ECNL U17 National Player of the Year as Real Colorado's top scorer. Kotschau was a two-time ECNL All-American and led Real Colorado to the 2022 U17 National Championship. She was a 2022 high school All-American and the Colorado Soccer Coaches 2021 Player of the Year. Kotschau was twice maned First Team All-Front Range League at BHS and led Broomfield to the 5A state title in 2021.
MacDonald, a 5-8 midfielder from Highlands Ranch, Colo., played in 11 matches as a freshman at LSU in 2024. She registered three shots, with two on target. The Mountain Vista High School graduate competed for the Colorado Rush at the club level. She was a TDS three-star recruit and was the MVHS Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. MacDonald was First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State as a senior. MacDonald was Mountain Vista's starting placekicker in 2023.
The five transfers will get going with the current Buffs as the team begins its winter and spring workouts. They will be joined in the fall by CU's incoming class of five freshmen, the team announced in November.
Lexi Meyer (Alabama), Caley Swierenga (LSU), Jordan Whiteaker (TCU), Reagan Kotschau (Washington State) and Riley MacDonald (LSU) all return to the Centennial State.
The five transfers join the list of Colorado natives who have transferred back to their home state to don the Black & Gold. Danica Evans, Morgan Stanton, Megan Massey, Tatum Barton, Sofia Weiner, Gabbi Chapa, Hailey Stodden, Dani Hansen, Civana Kuhlmann, Jordan Nytes and Greer Maguire have all taken the scenic route to call Prentup Field home.
"What a great group of fantastic players, students and people we have added to our program," Sanchez said of the additions. "All five have the opportunity to make an immediate impact on our program. We are excited they are here and look forward to start working with them next week."
Meyer, a 5-3 midfielder from Lone Tree, Colo., played her freshman season at Alabama. She recorded minutes in all 20 games for the Crimson Tide and finished second on the team with four assists. The Highlands Ranch High School graduate started Alabama's season-opener and played a season-high 51 minutes at Chattanooga. Meyer was ranked No. 37 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer (TDS) in the class of 2024 and is a two-time ECNL All-American with the Colorado Rapids. She was the 2022 ECNL Northwest Conference Player of the Year and attended the U.S. Youth National Team ID Centers from 2019-23.
Swierenga, a 5-9 defender from Denver, Colo., played her first two seasons at LSU. She started 26 matches and made 38 appearances for the Tigers. The Lutheran High School graduate handed out three assists. Swierenga was rated a four-star recruit by TDS. She was First Team All-State at LHS and played for Real Colorado, where she was First Team ECNL in both 2021 and 2022. Swierenga was selected for the U.S U17 national team.
Whiteaker, a 5-11 defender from Littleton, Colo., appeared in 18 matches as a freshman for TCU in 2024. She recorded her first collegiate point with an assist in TCU's 4-1 win over BYU. She also played a season-high 55 minutes in TCU's 2-1 win over BYU in the Big 12 Tournament. Whiteaker earned All-American honors by the United Soccer Coaches in 2023 and was the Colorado Player of the Year. She was honored as the 2023 Colorado 4A Player of the Year at Dakota Ridge High School, to go along with Jefferson Count League MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Whiteaker led Dakota Ridge to a 4A state championship in 2023 and was a three-time U.S. Soccer YNT ID Center invitee. Whiteaker also won the Colorado State Cup in 2021, playing with the Colorado Rush.
Kotschau, a 5-5 midfielder from Thornton, Colo., started all 38 of her matches in two seasons at Washington State. The Broomfield High School graduate posted five goals and eight assists in Pullman. Kotschau was a Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection in 2023, totaling a career-high 10 points (4 G, 2 A). She finished the 2023 season ranked No. 41 in the TDS Top 100 Freshmen rankings. Kotschau was an honorable mention All-WCC selection in 2024, leading the Cougars with six assists. Before WSU, she was named the ECNL U17 National Player of the Year as Real Colorado's top scorer. Kotschau was a two-time ECNL All-American and led Real Colorado to the 2022 U17 National Championship. She was a 2022 high school All-American and the Colorado Soccer Coaches 2021 Player of the Year. Kotschau was twice maned First Team All-Front Range League at BHS and led Broomfield to the 5A state title in 2021.
MacDonald, a 5-8 midfielder from Highlands Ranch, Colo., played in 11 matches as a freshman at LSU in 2024. She registered three shots, with two on target. The Mountain Vista High School graduate competed for the Colorado Rush at the club level. She was a TDS three-star recruit and was the MVHS Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. MacDonald was First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State as a senior. MacDonald was Mountain Vista's starting placekicker in 2023.
The five transfers will get going with the current Buffs as the team begins its winter and spring workouts. They will be joined in the fall by CU's incoming class of five freshmen, the team announced in November.
Players Mentioned
D
/ Soccer
GK
/ SoccerThis Week in Colorado Soccer - The Finale
Tuesday, November 25
Soccer: Colorado vs Xavier NCAA Tournament Highlights - Nov. 20, 2025
Thursday, November 20
Soccer: Postgame Press Conference vs Xavier - Nov. 20, 2025
Thursday, November 20
This Week in Colorado Soccer - NCAA Tournament Round 2
Wednesday, November 19