Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
NCAA Tournament Returns to Prentup Field
November 10, 2025 | Soccer
Colorado will host the first round on Friday
BOULDER — The No. 12-ranked Colorado Buffaloes will return to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season, but unlike the previous two Selection Mondays, the Buffs' status was not up for debate. The Buffs were awarded a No. 3 seed when the bracket was unveiled on Monday and will host Utah Valley on Friday at 7 p.m. MT at Prentup Field
"It's funny because you're still kind of nervous," head coach Danny Sanchez said after the selections. "You're still kind of nervous about who you're going to play and what the draw will look like. But we're so pleased to be in and hosting on Friday against a very good team. They didn't do us any favors with the draw. Utah Valley's a very good team, very well-coached. We know that Friday is going to be a great game."
Colorado (15-3-3) will make its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2020 season. The three straight appearances are the second-longest NCAA Tournament streak in school history, behind the team's six consecutive tournament trips from 2003 to 2008. The No. 3 seed is the first time the Buffs have been seeded since being a No. 4 seed in the 2008 tournament.
The 2025 appearance will be CU's ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament in Sanchez's 14 seasons and 15th overall. Colorado is 11-14-1 all-time in tournament games, advancing to the third round in 2006 and 2013. Colorado is 7-1-0 all-time in tournament matches played in Boulder, with the most recent being a 6-0 win over Northern Colorado in the first round of the 2019 tournament. Colorado went 1-1 last year, upsetting Georgia on the road in the first round and then falling at No. 3-ranked Wake Forest.
"I think it's a reflection of the players we have," Sanchez stated. "Talent will always trump most anything. It's a great group and well deserved, and really peaking as far as not just holding on in this third year. Hopefully, we can continue the momentum we've had in the last couple of NCAA Tournaments."
The Buffs went 1-1 last week in the Big 12 Tournament. The team was the No. 3 seed in the tournament and secured a come-from-behind 3-2 win over UCF in the opening round. The Buffs fell in the seminal matchup against Kansas, 2-1.
Colorado finished the season with an RPI rating of 8, with the Big 12 having three teams in the top 10. The Buffs are one of eight Big 12 teams in the field of 64, along with Baylor, BYU, UCF, Kansas, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia. The eight selections from the conference match the most in the Big 12's history.
"Our league was brutal this year," Sanchez said of the Big 12. "With the high seeds that everybody got and then getting eight teams in, the league prepared all eight teams to have success. Look at [last week's] Big 12 Tournament. No. 7 vs No. 8 in the final, and deservedly so. I think that we played a lot of big matches, a lot of tough matches over the last couple of months, and Friday is going to be no different."
CU has set several records this season, surpassing the team's previous marks for goals (52), assists (58), and points (162) in a single season. The Buffs rank sixth in the country in all three categories. Individually, Hope Leyba ranks second in the NCAA with her program-record 21 goals. She's also set the CU record for points in a season with 43. Goalkeeper Jordan Nytes set the CU career record for shutouts, accumulating her 26th earlier this season.
Utah Valley (14-4-3) won the WAC regular season title and advanced to the conference championship match last Saturday, before falling in penalties to Cal Baptist. The Wolverines ranked second in the nation this season in goals (69), points (20) and assists (69). Senior midfielder Ruby Hladeck was the conference's Offensive Player of the Year, while junior defender Mia Owens won Defensive Player of the Year. Head coach Chris Lemay was selected as the WAC Coach of the Year.
The winner of Friday's match will advance to take on the winner of Xavier and Dayton.
Tickets can be purchased for $10 each, with all tickets being general admission. Tickets can be purchased online at CUBuffs.com/NCAATickets, starting at 5 p.m. this evening.
"It's funny because you're still kind of nervous," head coach Danny Sanchez said after the selections. "You're still kind of nervous about who you're going to play and what the draw will look like. But we're so pleased to be in and hosting on Friday against a very good team. They didn't do us any favors with the draw. Utah Valley's a very good team, very well-coached. We know that Friday is going to be a great game."
Colorado (15-3-3) will make its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2020 season. The three straight appearances are the second-longest NCAA Tournament streak in school history, behind the team's six consecutive tournament trips from 2003 to 2008. The No. 3 seed is the first time the Buffs have been seeded since being a No. 4 seed in the 2008 tournament.
The 2025 appearance will be CU's ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament in Sanchez's 14 seasons and 15th overall. Colorado is 11-14-1 all-time in tournament games, advancing to the third round in 2006 and 2013. Colorado is 7-1-0 all-time in tournament matches played in Boulder, with the most recent being a 6-0 win over Northern Colorado in the first round of the 2019 tournament. Colorado went 1-1 last year, upsetting Georgia on the road in the first round and then falling at No. 3-ranked Wake Forest.
"I think it's a reflection of the players we have," Sanchez stated. "Talent will always trump most anything. It's a great group and well deserved, and really peaking as far as not just holding on in this third year. Hopefully, we can continue the momentum we've had in the last couple of NCAA Tournaments."
The Buffs went 1-1 last week in the Big 12 Tournament. The team was the No. 3 seed in the tournament and secured a come-from-behind 3-2 win over UCF in the opening round. The Buffs fell in the seminal matchup against Kansas, 2-1.
Colorado finished the season with an RPI rating of 8, with the Big 12 having three teams in the top 10. The Buffs are one of eight Big 12 teams in the field of 64, along with Baylor, BYU, UCF, Kansas, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia. The eight selections from the conference match the most in the Big 12's history.
"Our league was brutal this year," Sanchez said of the Big 12. "With the high seeds that everybody got and then getting eight teams in, the league prepared all eight teams to have success. Look at [last week's] Big 12 Tournament. No. 7 vs No. 8 in the final, and deservedly so. I think that we played a lot of big matches, a lot of tough matches over the last couple of months, and Friday is going to be no different."
CU has set several records this season, surpassing the team's previous marks for goals (52), assists (58), and points (162) in a single season. The Buffs rank sixth in the country in all three categories. Individually, Hope Leyba ranks second in the NCAA with her program-record 21 goals. She's also set the CU record for points in a season with 43. Goalkeeper Jordan Nytes set the CU career record for shutouts, accumulating her 26th earlier this season.
Utah Valley (14-4-3) won the WAC regular season title and advanced to the conference championship match last Saturday, before falling in penalties to Cal Baptist. The Wolverines ranked second in the nation this season in goals (69), points (20) and assists (69). Senior midfielder Ruby Hladeck was the conference's Offensive Player of the Year, while junior defender Mia Owens won Defensive Player of the Year. Head coach Chris Lemay was selected as the WAC Coach of the Year.
The winner of Friday's match will advance to take on the winner of Xavier and Dayton.
Tickets can be purchased for $10 each, with all tickets being general admission. Tickets can be purchased online at CUBuffs.com/NCAATickets, starting at 5 p.m. this evening.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Soccer
GK
/ SoccerThis Week in Colorado Soccer - NCAA Tournament Round 2
Wednesday, November 19
Soccer: Postgame Press Conference vs UVU - Nov. 14, 2025
Saturday, November 15
This Week in Colorado Soccer - The NCAA Tournament Edition
Wednesday, November 12
Soccer: NCAA Selection Show Press Conference - Nov. 11, 2025
Monday, November 10