Colorado University Athletics
Thursday, October 30
Lawrence, KS
5 p.m.
Colorado
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Kansas
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
No. 11 Buffs Trick Jayhawks in Regular Season Finale
October 30, 2025 | Soccer
Hope Leyba and Regan Kotschau provide the goals
LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 11 Colorado used some late magic to close out the regular season with a 2-1 win over Kansas on Thursday at Rock Chalk Park. The Buffaloes close the regular season on a six-match unbeaten streak and set program records for goals, assists and points.
Colorado finishes the regular season 14-2-3 overall and 8-1-2 in the Big 12. The Buffaloes are currently on track to be the No. 3 seed in next week's Big 12 Tournament, pending results from TCU.
Kansas (12-4-3, 6-4-1) controlled the attack in the second half, outshooting the Buffs 11-4 and drawing even, 1-1, with a goal in the 82nd minute.
"The end of the first half was a precursor to the second half," head coach Danny Sanchez explained. "I thought we were defending too deep. We weren't doing a good job when we won the ball, and deservedly, Kansas gets a goal. But what a response from the Buffs."
CU, needing a win to keep pace in the Big 12 standings, capitalized on a free kick from Kotschau for her fifth goal of the season, securing three points for the Buffs.
"Jace [Holley] had a great opportunity," Sanchez continued. "We had another good chance and then, you know, Jace draws the foul at the top of the box, and Reagan buries. It. A well-earned win by the Buffs tonight."
Hope Leyba scored her 19th goal of the season, adding to her single-season program record, early in the first half. The goal tied CU's 2018 season total of 47 goals. Emerson Layne and Reagan Kotschau registered the assists on the goal, setting a new CU single-season record in the process (53).
"It was a great goal," Sanchez noted of Leyba's tally. "Great ball in behind by Reagan and Hope buries it."
How it Happened
The first half began with Colorado establishing an early advantage, as Leyba scored on the Buffs' first shot of the night in the 8th minute.
Kansas outshot CU 5-1 in the first 26 minutes, before Layne forced Sophie Dawe's first save of the match. The Jayhawks had 11 shots in the first half, but the Buffs' defense kept KU at a distance with just three attempts landing on target.
Faith Leyba had back-to-back chances to add to the lead in the 27th minute, trying to punch home the loose ball off a CU corner kick. Her two shots were blocked off the goal line by the KU defense, holding the CU lead at one.
Kansas came out in search of the equalizer in the second half and almost got the job done in the 63rd minute, with Saige Wimes putting the ball off the crossbar and Lexi Watts firing the follow-up attempt high over the net.
The Jayhawks had five corner attempts in the half, and found the equalizer on the scramble off their fourth with Caroline Castans heading the ball past Nytes to tie the match in the 82nd minute.
The Buffs bounced back with a chance from Jace Holley right after the KU goal, and Kotschau followed with a shot in the 86th minute.
Colorado's push culminated with Holley drawing a foul just outside the 18-yard box, resulting in a CU free kick. Both Ava Priest and Kotschau stood over the attempt, with Priest taking a run over the ball and Kotschau slotting it through the KU wall in and into the net in the 87th minute.
"We haven't had a lot of set pieces around the box this year," Sanchez commented. "I think Reagan just saw a spot and hit it really well. The keep couldn't do anything about that."
The Buffs closed out the final three minutes without allowing another attempt by the Jayhawks, finishing off the victory.
"This is their [Kansas'] senior day, and they are a great team," Sanchez expressed. "We knew this would be a tough match for us. We have a lot of momentum [now]. We'll get home, be home for 24 hours, and we're off to TCU, and we're excited for Monday [in the Big 12 Tournament].
Up Next
The Buffs will head to Fort Worth, Texas, to play in the Big 12 Tournament next week. The first round is set for Monday, Nov. 3. Seeding and matchups are to be determined.
Notes
The Buffs set program records in goals (48), assists (53) and points (149), all previously set in 2018…Kotschau's goal was her fourth game-winner of the season…Laye's assist was added to her career-high now with eight on the season…the win was the 39th of Nytes' career…She now has 88 saves on the season.
For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.
Colorado finishes the regular season 14-2-3 overall and 8-1-2 in the Big 12. The Buffaloes are currently on track to be the No. 3 seed in next week's Big 12 Tournament, pending results from TCU.
Kansas (12-4-3, 6-4-1) controlled the attack in the second half, outshooting the Buffs 11-4 and drawing even, 1-1, with a goal in the 82nd minute.
"The end of the first half was a precursor to the second half," head coach Danny Sanchez explained. "I thought we were defending too deep. We weren't doing a good job when we won the ball, and deservedly, Kansas gets a goal. But what a response from the Buffs."
CU, needing a win to keep pace in the Big 12 standings, capitalized on a free kick from Kotschau for her fifth goal of the season, securing three points for the Buffs.
"Jace [Holley] had a great opportunity," Sanchez continued. "We had another good chance and then, you know, Jace draws the foul at the top of the box, and Reagan buries. It. A well-earned win by the Buffs tonight."
Hope Leyba scored her 19th goal of the season, adding to her single-season program record, early in the first half. The goal tied CU's 2018 season total of 47 goals. Emerson Layne and Reagan Kotschau registered the assists on the goal, setting a new CU single-season record in the process (53).
"It was a great goal," Sanchez noted of Leyba's tally. "Great ball in behind by Reagan and Hope buries it."
How it Happened
The first half began with Colorado establishing an early advantage, as Leyba scored on the Buffs' first shot of the night in the 8th minute.
Kansas outshot CU 5-1 in the first 26 minutes, before Layne forced Sophie Dawe's first save of the match. The Jayhawks had 11 shots in the first half, but the Buffs' defense kept KU at a distance with just three attempts landing on target.
Faith Leyba had back-to-back chances to add to the lead in the 27th minute, trying to punch home the loose ball off a CU corner kick. Her two shots were blocked off the goal line by the KU defense, holding the CU lead at one.
Kansas came out in search of the equalizer in the second half and almost got the job done in the 63rd minute, with Saige Wimes putting the ball off the crossbar and Lexi Watts firing the follow-up attempt high over the net.
The Jayhawks had five corner attempts in the half, and found the equalizer on the scramble off their fourth with Caroline Castans heading the ball past Nytes to tie the match in the 82nd minute.
The Buffs bounced back with a chance from Jace Holley right after the KU goal, and Kotschau followed with a shot in the 86th minute.
Colorado's push culminated with Holley drawing a foul just outside the 18-yard box, resulting in a CU free kick. Both Ava Priest and Kotschau stood over the attempt, with Priest taking a run over the ball and Kotschau slotting it through the KU wall in and into the net in the 87th minute.
"We haven't had a lot of set pieces around the box this year," Sanchez commented. "I think Reagan just saw a spot and hit it really well. The keep couldn't do anything about that."
The Buffs closed out the final three minutes without allowing another attempt by the Jayhawks, finishing off the victory.
"This is their [Kansas'] senior day, and they are a great team," Sanchez expressed. "We knew this would be a tough match for us. We have a lot of momentum [now]. We'll get home, be home for 24 hours, and we're off to TCU, and we're excited for Monday [in the Big 12 Tournament].
Up Next
The Buffs will head to Fort Worth, Texas, to play in the Big 12 Tournament next week. The first round is set for Monday, Nov. 3. Seeding and matchups are to be determined.
Notes
The Buffs set program records in goals (48), assists (53) and points (149), all previously set in 2018…Kotschau's goal was her fourth game-winner of the season…Laye's assist was added to her career-high now with eight on the season…the win was the 39th of Nytes' career…She now has 88 saves on the season.
For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.
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