Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Thielbahr Joins Buffs for 2026
December 18, 2025 | Soccer
The defender played the last two seasons at Denver
BOULDER — Former University of Denver defender and 2025 Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Emma Thielbahr will play her senior season for the Colorado Buffaloes, head coach Danny Sanchez announced on Thursday.
Thielbahr spent the last two seasons with the Pioneers and played at San Diego as a freshman.
"Emma is a great addition to the 2026 Buffs," Sanchez expressed. "She is a clean passer out of the back, while also being a great presence in the attack. Picking up an experienced player like this will really help us next fall. We are excited to get to work with her this spring."
The Sandpoint, Idaho, native started all 37 matches in which she appeared over her two seasons at DU. She accounted for five goals and two assists, while defensively she helped the Pioneers to 11 shutouts.
The 5-11 defender led the Pioneers with four goals last season, including game-winners against Colorado State and North Dakota State. She was a 2025 Third Team United Soccer Coaches All-West Region selection and a First Team All-Summit League selection. Thielbahr recorded her first career brace against Colorado State, providing both goals in the 2-1 come-from-behind win. She played the full 90 minutes in all but one match, finishing second on the Pioneers in minutes played with 1,589. Thielbahr played all 90 minutes in DU's 1-0 loss to South Dakota State in the Summit League Semifinals, but was named to the All-Tournament team for her efforts.
Thielbahr led the Pioneers in minutes (1,698) in her first season at Denver. She scored her first career goal at Southern Utah (Sept. 8, 2024) and had a career-high four shots against North Dakota (Sept. 29, 2024). She helped the Pioneers earn the No. 2 seed in the 2024 Summit League Tournament and was selected to the 2024 Summit League All-Newcomer Team.
A 2022 graduate from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., Thielbahr began her collegiate career at the University of San Diego. She did not play as a true freshman in the fall of 2022 due to injury, but appeared in eight games and made three starts as a redshirt freshman in 2023.
Thielbahr's arrival will help bolster Colorado's defensive unit, which loses departing senior and 19-match starter Greer Maguire.
For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.
Thielbahr spent the last two seasons with the Pioneers and played at San Diego as a freshman.
"Emma is a great addition to the 2026 Buffs," Sanchez expressed. "She is a clean passer out of the back, while also being a great presence in the attack. Picking up an experienced player like this will really help us next fall. We are excited to get to work with her this spring."
The Sandpoint, Idaho, native started all 37 matches in which she appeared over her two seasons at DU. She accounted for five goals and two assists, while defensively she helped the Pioneers to 11 shutouts.
The 5-11 defender led the Pioneers with four goals last season, including game-winners against Colorado State and North Dakota State. She was a 2025 Third Team United Soccer Coaches All-West Region selection and a First Team All-Summit League selection. Thielbahr recorded her first career brace against Colorado State, providing both goals in the 2-1 come-from-behind win. She played the full 90 minutes in all but one match, finishing second on the Pioneers in minutes played with 1,589. Thielbahr played all 90 minutes in DU's 1-0 loss to South Dakota State in the Summit League Semifinals, but was named to the All-Tournament team for her efforts.
Thielbahr led the Pioneers in minutes (1,698) in her first season at Denver. She scored her first career goal at Southern Utah (Sept. 8, 2024) and had a career-high four shots against North Dakota (Sept. 29, 2024). She helped the Pioneers earn the No. 2 seed in the 2024 Summit League Tournament and was selected to the 2024 Summit League All-Newcomer Team.
A 2022 graduate from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., Thielbahr began her collegiate career at the University of San Diego. She did not play as a true freshman in the fall of 2022 due to injury, but appeared in eight games and made three starts as a redshirt freshman in 2023.
Thielbahr's arrival will help bolster Colorado's defensive unit, which loses departing senior and 19-match starter Greer Maguire.
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
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