Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Buffs Celebrate Historic 2025 Season
January 24, 2026 | Soccer
BOULDER — Colorado soccer gathered Saturday evening at the BOK Financial Byron R. White Stadium Club to celebrate the Buffaloes' historic 2025 season.
Head coach Danny Sanchez and his squad broke record after record in 2025 on their way to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Colorado finished the year 17-4-3, setting a new mark for program wins in a season. The Buffs also set records in points (184), goals (59) and assists (66) in a season.
2025 Team Awards
MVP – Jordan Nytes
Offensive MVP – Hope Leyba
Defensive MVP – Faith Leyba
Newcomer of the Year – Vivi Zacarias
Herbst Academic Award – Jace Holley
Strength and Conditioning Award – Jamie Campbell
Buff Cup – Ava Priest
Goal of the Year – Reagan Kotschau
Colorado finished third in the Big 12 with an 8-1-2 record and became the first team in CU history to finish unbeaten at home, going 11-0-2 at Prentup Field.
Individually, the Buffs saw junior Hope Leyba and senior Jordan Nytes set individual season and career marks.
Leyba raised the bar offensively with new marks in points (45) and goals (22) on her way to earning First Team United Soccer Coaches All-America and Big 12 Forward of the Year honors. Leyba, who led the NCAA in goals, recorded two hat tricks in 2025, becoming the first CU player to have multiple three-goal efforts in the same season and just the second Buff to tally multiple hat tricks in a career. She got off to a scorching hot start to the season, posting goals in each of CU's first five matches. She had three multi-goal games in the five-match span, totaling a CU record nine goals through the first five matches, including two of her six game-winners. Leyba posted a second five-game scoring streak later in conference play, helping the Buffs go 4-0-1 with seven goals in the stretch.
Nytes, who recently signed on professionally with Denver Summit FC, set the Colorado single-season record with 17 wins in net for the Buffs in 2025, earning her second straight and third overall Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2025. The repeat All-American goalkeeper posted double-digit wins in each of her four seasons, totaling 52 career wins and ranks second in CU history with 42 wins in her three seasons.
The two-year captain leaves Colorado as one of the most decorated players in program history. She earned her second United Soccer Coaches All-American honor this season, becoming one of the first CU players, along with Leyba, to earn First Team status in CU soccer history. She was one of 15 semifinalists for this season's MAC Hermann Trophy Award, a three-time First Team All-Big 12 selection and was also selected the Co-Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2025.
Senior Emerson Layne also matched the individual season record for assists, handing out 10 this season. She is tied with former Buffs Shanade Hopcroft and Taylor Konrieck.
Defender Faith Leyba was named Third Team United Soccer Coaches All-America. She was a major contributor to all seven of CU's shutouts.
The Buffs opened the season with a ranked matchup against No. 12 Michigan State, resulting in a 1-1 draw. The team then went on to a 5-0-1 start through the first six weeks. CU had marquee wins at No. 7 TCU and No. 5 Texas Tech. Colorado spent
CU earned its 15th NCAA Tournament berth and picked up a thrilling double-overtime 2-1 over Utah Valley, thanks to a diving header from Reagan Kotschau to advance.
Colorado dispatched of No. 22 Xavier, 4-1, in the second round of the tournament in East Lansing, Mich., setting up a rematch against No. 9 Michigan State.
The Buffs conceded a goal in the opening minute against Michigan State, but battled back and got the equalizer from F. Leyba right before halftime. A penalty kick in the 56th minute for Michigan State was the final blow for the Buffs.
The Black & Gold spent six weeks in the United Soccer Coaches' Top 25 rankings. The team climbed as high as No. 11 and finished 12th in the nation in the final poll of the season.
Colorado said goodbye to seniors Greer Maguire, Josie Master, Mallory Allen, Layne and Nytes. But the team has brought in Denver transfer Emma Thielbahr and freshmen Ellyse Debolt, Brooke Goerish and Sloane Phillips for the spring.
Head coach Danny Sanchez and his squad broke record after record in 2025 on their way to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Colorado finished the year 17-4-3, setting a new mark for program wins in a season. The Buffs also set records in points (184), goals (59) and assists (66) in a season.
2025 Team Awards
MVP – Jordan Nytes
Offensive MVP – Hope Leyba
Defensive MVP – Faith Leyba
Newcomer of the Year – Vivi Zacarias
Herbst Academic Award – Jace Holley
Strength and Conditioning Award – Jamie Campbell
Buff Cup – Ava Priest
Goal of the Year – Reagan Kotschau
Colorado finished third in the Big 12 with an 8-1-2 record and became the first team in CU history to finish unbeaten at home, going 11-0-2 at Prentup Field.
Individually, the Buffs saw junior Hope Leyba and senior Jordan Nytes set individual season and career marks.
Leyba raised the bar offensively with new marks in points (45) and goals (22) on her way to earning First Team United Soccer Coaches All-America and Big 12 Forward of the Year honors. Leyba, who led the NCAA in goals, recorded two hat tricks in 2025, becoming the first CU player to have multiple three-goal efforts in the same season and just the second Buff to tally multiple hat tricks in a career. She got off to a scorching hot start to the season, posting goals in each of CU's first five matches. She had three multi-goal games in the five-match span, totaling a CU record nine goals through the first five matches, including two of her six game-winners. Leyba posted a second five-game scoring streak later in conference play, helping the Buffs go 4-0-1 with seven goals in the stretch.
Nytes, who recently signed on professionally with Denver Summit FC, set the Colorado single-season record with 17 wins in net for the Buffs in 2025, earning her second straight and third overall Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2025. The repeat All-American goalkeeper posted double-digit wins in each of her four seasons, totaling 52 career wins and ranks second in CU history with 42 wins in her three seasons.
The two-year captain leaves Colorado as one of the most decorated players in program history. She earned her second United Soccer Coaches All-American honor this season, becoming one of the first CU players, along with Leyba, to earn First Team status in CU soccer history. She was one of 15 semifinalists for this season's MAC Hermann Trophy Award, a three-time First Team All-Big 12 selection and was also selected the Co-Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2025.
Senior Emerson Layne also matched the individual season record for assists, handing out 10 this season. She is tied with former Buffs Shanade Hopcroft and Taylor Konrieck.
Defender Faith Leyba was named Third Team United Soccer Coaches All-America. She was a major contributor to all seven of CU's shutouts.
The Buffs opened the season with a ranked matchup against No. 12 Michigan State, resulting in a 1-1 draw. The team then went on to a 5-0-1 start through the first six weeks. CU had marquee wins at No. 7 TCU and No. 5 Texas Tech. Colorado spent
CU earned its 15th NCAA Tournament berth and picked up a thrilling double-overtime 2-1 over Utah Valley, thanks to a diving header from Reagan Kotschau to advance.
Colorado dispatched of No. 22 Xavier, 4-1, in the second round of the tournament in East Lansing, Mich., setting up a rematch against No. 9 Michigan State.
The Buffs conceded a goal in the opening minute against Michigan State, but battled back and got the equalizer from F. Leyba right before halftime. A penalty kick in the 56th minute for Michigan State was the final blow for the Buffs.
The Black & Gold spent six weeks in the United Soccer Coaches' Top 25 rankings. The team climbed as high as No. 11 and finished 12th in the nation in the final poll of the season.
Colorado said goodbye to seniors Greer Maguire, Josie Master, Mallory Allen, Layne and Nytes. But the team has brought in Denver transfer Emma Thielbahr and freshmen Ellyse Debolt, Brooke Goerish and Sloane Phillips for the spring.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Soccer
GK
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
M
/ Soccer
M
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
GK
/ Soccer
M
/ Soccer
M
/ SoccerThis Week in Colorado Soccer - The Finale
Tuesday, November 25
Soccer: Colorado vs Xavier NCAA Tournament Highlights - Nov. 20, 2025
Thursday, November 20
Soccer: Postgame Press Conference vs Xavier - Nov. 20, 2025
Thursday, November 20
This Week in Colorado Soccer - NCAA Tournament Round 2
Wednesday, November 19