Colorado University Athletics
Friday, November 14
7 p.m.
Colorado
vs
Utah Valley
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Colorado Ready for First Round Action
November 13, 2025 | Soccer
CU hosts Utah Valley in the NCAA Tournament on Friday
BOULDER — No. 12 Colorado gets the NCAA Tournament underway Friday night at Prentup Field, taking on Western Athletic Conference regular-season champions Utah Valley.
Colorado (15-3-3) has had a season for the record books in 2025. The Buffaloes have the most goals (52), assists (58) and points (162) in single-season history, while Hope Leyba has totaled a program record 21 goals and 43 points. CU's 15 wins are also tied for the most in a season.
The Buffs enter the tournament as a No. 3 seed, marking the first time since the 2008 tournament that Colorado has been seeded. The 2025 appearance will be CU's ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament in head coach Danny Sanchez's 14 seasons and 15th overall. Colorado is 11-14-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 7-1-0 in games played in Boulder.
"We're pleased to be a No. 3 seed," Sanchez noted. "It's kind of like basketball now, where we're technically playing a No. 14 seed, but this is the best 14 seed you're going to see. Utah Valley is a Power 4 team that plays in the WAC."
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.
"They have the leading scorer in the country [Weber], who has one more goal than Hope Leyba," Sanchez continued. "They have the Player of the Year in the midfield [Hladeck]. This is going to be a great game on Friday."
The Buffs' last game at Prentup was a 1-0 Senior Day victory over Arizona on Oct. 26. The win in the regular-season home finale was the team's 10th at home this season and kept the Buffs unbeaten (10-0-2) on their home turf in the regular season for the first time in school history.
CU's unbeaten streak at home stands at 14 (10-0-4) dating back to Oct. 13, 2024.
"Obviously, we've had a great season," Sanchez expressed. "That's what's given us the opportunity to be a high-seed and to host. But as we all know, it's all one game now. There's no losing in the Big 12 [Tournament] and still having an opportunity. So, we'll be ready to go. We'll be focused and like I said, the team's excited."
Friday night's kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT. Brad Thompson will have the call on ESPN+.
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 (15-3-3) has had a season for the record books in 2025. The Buffaloes have the most goals (52), assists (58) and points (162) in single-season history, while Hope Leyba has totaled a program record 21 goals and 43 points. CU's 15 wins are also tied for the most in a season.
The Buffs enter the tournament as a No. 3 seed, marking the first time since the 2008 tournament that Colorado has been seeded. The 2025 appearance will be CU's ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament in head coach Danny Sanchez's 14 seasons and 15th overall. Colorado is 11-14-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 7-1-0 in games played in Boulder.
"We're pleased to be a No. 3 seed," Sanchez noted. "It's kind of like basketball now, where we're technically playing a No. 14 seed, but this is the best 14 seed you're going to see. Utah Valley is a Power 4 team that plays in the WAC."
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.
"They have the leading scorer in the country [Weber], who has one more goal than Hope Leyba," Sanchez continued. "They have the Player of the Year in the midfield [Hladeck]. This is going to be a great game on Friday."
The Buffs' last game at Prentup was a 1-0 Senior Day victory over Arizona on Oct. 26. The win in the regular-season home finale was the team's 10th at home this season and kept the Buffs unbeaten (10-0-2) on their home turf in the regular season for the first time in school history.
CU's unbeaten streak at home stands at 14 (10-0-4) dating back to Oct. 13, 2024.
"Obviously, we've had a great season," Sanchez expressed. "That's what's given us the opportunity to be a high-seed and to host. But as we all know, it's all one game now. There's no losing in the Big 12 [Tournament] and still having an opportunity. So, we'll be ready to go. We'll be focused and like I said, the team's excited."
Friday night's kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT. Brad Thompson will have the call on ESPN+.
For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
F
/ SoccerThis Week in Colorado Soccer - The NCAA Tournament Edition
Wednesday, November 12
Soccer: NCAA Selection Show Press Conference - Nov. 11, 2025
Monday, November 10
Soccer: Colorado vs Kansas Highlights - Nov. 5, 2025
Thursday, November 06
Soccer: Postgame Press Conference vs UCF - Nov. 3, 2025
Tuesday, November 04