Thursday, September 18
7 p.m.
Colorado
vs
Kansas State
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Buffs Ready for Big 12 Slate
September 17, 2025 | Soccer
Colorado Opens the conference season on Thursday
BOULDER — Colorado soccer returns to Pretup Field on Thursday for the start of the Big 12 Conference season. The Buffaloes will kickoff a three-game homestand with Kansas State ( 7 p.m. MT).
Colorado (6-1-1) has notably turned eyes this season on the offensive side of the ball. The Buffs have outscored opponents 28-6 in their eight non-conference contests and rank fourth in the nation in total goals scored. The duo of Jace Holley (20) and Hope Leyba (18) is the only pair of teammates that rank nationally in the top 10 in total points, at 3rd and 5th, respectively.
But while the offense has been posting all the big statistical highlights, the team's defensive unit has been quietly doing its job in the background. The Buffs are coming off a 2-0 win at Denver, in which the Pioneers were held to an opponent low of three total shots and just one shot on goal.
"After giving up that goal in the first 25 seconds to Wyoming, I feel we've been really solid defensively," head coach Danny Sanchez explained. "We didn't give Wisconsin a lot, and then I thought we probably had one of our better performances against Denver. We're hitting our stride defensively, and it's a cohesive group, led by an All-American goalkeeper [Jordan Nytes]."
Sanchez and the Buffs have trotted out almost the same starting lineup all season long, making just a few minor tweaks in the formation and the defensive line. CU started in a 4-4-2, but shifted to a 4-3-3 three games into the season, allowing Emerson Layne to contribute up top from the start. Defensively, the core group has remained intact with Caley Swierenga, Faith Leyba, and Jordan Whiteaker starting each match and Lilan Zamorano and Greer Maguire swapping starting positions.
"The players that have gone in are performing," Sanchez added. "You can see it from the results. So we're not ever going to make changes for the sake of making changes, but, having said that, there's still a lot of competition for starting spots and key playing time."
The structure of Colorado's schedule so far this season has been beneficial to the Buffs. CU has played just two road games, with its trip to Wisconsin marking the only game outside of the state of Colorado. The Buffs have played six matches at Prentup Field and made the drive down to Denver. With the next three games at home as well, the CU will have played 10 of its first 11 games inside the Centennial State.
"We have to take advantage of being at home," Sanchez continued. "We have to take advantage of being in front of our fans. We're going to have a [upcoming] stretch where we go on the road for five of eight games at some tough places. So, just like any team, we need to take advantage of being at home."
Thursday starts the race to the Big 12 Soccer Tournament. Each Big 12 team will get 11 chances to battle within the conference to fight for positioning inside the top eight in the conference standings, as the tournament field has been cut down by four spots from 2024.
"You only play 11 games, but there are 16 teams in the conference," Sanchez said of the importance of each upcoming match. "Only eight teams make the tournament. You don't play everybody. That could be good or that could be bad. You have to control what you can control, especially at home. Every team is fighting for points. If you look at last year, the difference between No. 3 and No. 10 in the standings was very marginal. With only eight teams making the Big 12 tournament, you have to pick up points early and often."
Brad Thompson will be on the call all season long 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 (6-1-1) has notably turned eyes this season on the offensive side of the ball. The Buffs have outscored opponents 28-6 in their eight non-conference contests and rank fourth in the nation in total goals scored. The duo of Jace Holley (20) and Hope Leyba (18) is the only pair of teammates that rank nationally in the top 10 in total points, at 3rd and 5th, respectively.
But while the offense has been posting all the big statistical highlights, the team's defensive unit has been quietly doing its job in the background. The Buffs are coming off a 2-0 win at Denver, in which the Pioneers were held to an opponent low of three total shots and just one shot on goal.
"After giving up that goal in the first 25 seconds to Wyoming, I feel we've been really solid defensively," head coach Danny Sanchez explained. "We didn't give Wisconsin a lot, and then I thought we probably had one of our better performances against Denver. We're hitting our stride defensively, and it's a cohesive group, led by an All-American goalkeeper [Jordan Nytes]."
Sanchez and the Buffs have trotted out almost the same starting lineup all season long, making just a few minor tweaks in the formation and the defensive line. CU started in a 4-4-2, but shifted to a 4-3-3 three games into the season, allowing Emerson Layne to contribute up top from the start. Defensively, the core group has remained intact with Caley Swierenga, Faith Leyba, and Jordan Whiteaker starting each match and Lilan Zamorano and Greer Maguire swapping starting positions.
"The players that have gone in are performing," Sanchez added. "You can see it from the results. So we're not ever going to make changes for the sake of making changes, but, having said that, there's still a lot of competition for starting spots and key playing time."
The structure of Colorado's schedule so far this season has been beneficial to the Buffs. CU has played just two road games, with its trip to Wisconsin marking the only game outside of the state of Colorado. The Buffs have played six matches at Prentup Field and made the drive down to Denver. With the next three games at home as well, the CU will have played 10 of its first 11 games inside the Centennial State.
"We have to take advantage of being at home," Sanchez continued. "We have to take advantage of being in front of our fans. We're going to have a [upcoming] stretch where we go on the road for five of eight games at some tough places. So, just like any team, we need to take advantage of being at home."
Thursday starts the race to the Big 12 Soccer Tournament. Each Big 12 team will get 11 chances to battle within the conference to fight for positioning inside the top eight in the conference standings, as the tournament field has been cut down by four spots from 2024.
"You only play 11 games, but there are 16 teams in the conference," Sanchez said of the importance of each upcoming match. "Only eight teams make the tournament. You don't play everybody. That could be good or that could be bad. You have to control what you can control, especially at home. Every team is fighting for points. If you look at last year, the difference between No. 3 and No. 10 in the standings was very marginal. With only eight teams making the Big 12 tournament, you have to pick up points early and often."
Brad Thompson will be on the call all season long 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
/ Soccer
M
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
GK
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
D
/ SoccerSoccer: Postgame Press Conference vs Kansas State
Friday, September 19
Soccer: Colorado vs Kansas State Highlights - Sept. 18, 2025
Friday, September 19
This Week in Colorado Soccer: Big 12 Play
Wednesday, September 17
Soccer: Colorado vs Denver Highlights - Sept. 11, 2025
Friday, September 12