Colorado University Athletics
Thursday, August 14
7 p.m.
Colorado
0-0-1, 0-0-0
1
vs
1
Michigan State
0-0-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Michigan St.
0
1
1
Colorado
1
0
1
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Early Goal Helps Buffs Draw vs No. 12 Michigan State
August 14, 2025 | Soccer
BOULDER, Colo. – Hope Leyba got Colorado started fast, scoring the Buffaloes' lone goal in the early moments of Thursday night's season-opener against No. 12 Michigan State. The Spartans would equalize in the second half, resulting in a 1-1 draw in front of an excited crowd at Prentup Field.
Colorado (0-0-1) and Michigan State (0-0-1) each relied on their respective goalkeepers throughout the night, with CU's Jordan Nytes making four saves and MSU's Noelle Henning recording two stops.
Michigan State outshot the Buffs 20-9 on the night, with 15 of its shots coming in the second half. Reagan Kotschau led Colorado with three shots on the night. Leyba, Kotschau and Nytes each put shots on target.
"For me, I feel like every draw feels like a loss," Nytes noted after the match. "The goal is to always win. That's the standard for our team. It's great coming away with the point from them. They are a top 15 team in the country, which is super awesome. I think there's a lot to learn from that. I don't think we should walk away being happy with a draw, ever. It wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible. I'm proud of everybody, and it was a really great start to the season."
How It Happened
The first half began dynamically with Leyba scoring for Colorado in the 4th minute, burying her own rebound just underneath the crossbar to open her 2025 account.
The Buffs had another scoring chance in the 31st minute with Kotschau forcing a save by Henning.
Colorado maintained its lead at the half and held a 6-5 lead in shots.
"I thought the first half we played very well," head coach Danny Sanchez commented. "We defended well. I don't think we gave up a shot [on goal], or at least nothing dangerous. [We] got the goal, the typical Hope Leyba goal, great individual effort. I told the team they [MSU] were going to come out that first 10- or 15-minute guns ablaze, and they're going to be high pressure and they are going to be on us. We just didn't react well."
The Spartans quickly equalized out of the half with a goal by Kennedy Bell in the 51st minute. MSU kept on the gas the remainder of the night, outshooting CU 15-3 in the final 45 minutes.
Nytes made several key saves, including a notable one against Renee Watson, to keep the game within reach. The senior goalkeeper registered the Buffs' best scoring chance of the second half, putting a free-kick towards the net that had to be punched over the crossbar by Henning in the 68th minute.
Michigan State had a flurry of corner kicks late in the match, but couldn't slip the ball across the goal line.
"We defended well," Sanchez added. "Jordi took care of stuff. At the end of the day, you know, probably a fair result. We're pleased with the results. We always want to win at home, but we have to look at our performance and get ready for Air Force."
Up Next
Looking ahead, the Buffs will host Air Force on August 17, with the game set for 1 p.m. at Prentup Field.
Notes
Colorado is now 11-0-3 in openers under Sanchez and 18-6-6 all-time…Thursday was just the sixth time CU has opened the season against a ranked opponent (1-2-3)…Leyba has now scored in four of her last five matches, dating back to the first round of the 2024 Big 12 Championship against Utah (Oct. 30)…CU is now 9-1-1 when Leyba finds the net.
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 (0-0-1) and Michigan State (0-0-1) each relied on their respective goalkeepers throughout the night, with CU's Jordan Nytes making four saves and MSU's Noelle Henning recording two stops.
Michigan State outshot the Buffs 20-9 on the night, with 15 of its shots coming in the second half. Reagan Kotschau led Colorado with three shots on the night. Leyba, Kotschau and Nytes each put shots on target.
"For me, I feel like every draw feels like a loss," Nytes noted after the match. "The goal is to always win. That's the standard for our team. It's great coming away with the point from them. They are a top 15 team in the country, which is super awesome. I think there's a lot to learn from that. I don't think we should walk away being happy with a draw, ever. It wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible. I'm proud of everybody, and it was a really great start to the season."
How It Happened
The first half began dynamically with Leyba scoring for Colorado in the 4th minute, burying her own rebound just underneath the crossbar to open her 2025 account.
The Buffs had another scoring chance in the 31st minute with Kotschau forcing a save by Henning.
Colorado maintained its lead at the half and held a 6-5 lead in shots.
"I thought the first half we played very well," head coach Danny Sanchez commented. "We defended well. I don't think we gave up a shot [on goal], or at least nothing dangerous. [We] got the goal, the typical Hope Leyba goal, great individual effort. I told the team they [MSU] were going to come out that first 10- or 15-minute guns ablaze, and they're going to be high pressure and they are going to be on us. We just didn't react well."
The Spartans quickly equalized out of the half with a goal by Kennedy Bell in the 51st minute. MSU kept on the gas the remainder of the night, outshooting CU 15-3 in the final 45 minutes.
Nytes made several key saves, including a notable one against Renee Watson, to keep the game within reach. The senior goalkeeper registered the Buffs' best scoring chance of the second half, putting a free-kick towards the net that had to be punched over the crossbar by Henning in the 68th minute.
Michigan State had a flurry of corner kicks late in the match, but couldn't slip the ball across the goal line.
"We defended well," Sanchez added. "Jordi took care of stuff. At the end of the day, you know, probably a fair result. We're pleased with the results. We always want to win at home, but we have to look at our performance and get ready for Air Force."
Up Next
Looking ahead, the Buffs will host Air Force on August 17, with the game set for 1 p.m. at Prentup Field.
Notes
Colorado is now 11-0-3 in openers under Sanchez and 18-6-6 all-time…Thursday was just the sixth time CU has opened the season against a ranked opponent (1-2-3)…Leyba has now scored in four of her last five matches, dating back to the first round of the 2024 Big 12 Championship against Utah (Oct. 30)…CU is now 9-1-1 when Leyba finds the net.
For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.
Team Stats
MSU
COLO
Goals
1
1
Shots
20
9
Shots on Goal
5
3
Saves
2
4
Corners
14
2
Fouls
13
8
Scoring Plays
Hope Leyba (1)
GOAL by COLO Leyba, Hope.
03:30
Kennedy Bell (1)
Assisted By: Bella Najera
GOAL by MSU Bell, Kennedy Assist by Najera, Bella.
50:57
Game Leaders
fwd
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
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