Hayley Hughes

Kansas State

Sep 18 (Thu)

7 p.m.

Position:
Midfielder/Forward
Height:
5-4
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Highlands Ranch, Colo.
High School:
Mountain Vista

2010 Denver Invitational All-Tournament Team
2011 Pac-12 All-Academic first team
2012 DU Invitational All-Tournament Team
2012 Capital One CoSIDA first-team Academic All-District VII
2012 Pac-12 All-Academic first team
2012 NSCAA honorable mention Scholar All-West Region
2013 Pac-12 All-Academic first team
2013 Capital One CoSIDA second-team Academic All-District VII

SENIOR (2013): Hughes continued to show her trademark “Spark” as she made the transition to defense her senior year. The co-captain anchored the back-line, helping the Buffs to nine shutouts, including a record-setting five to begin the season. Hughes started all 23 games in her final season. In her four-year career, Hughes played in all but one of the Buffs’ games. Hughes’ presence was integral not just to the defense, but also the offense, where she took 17 shots and five on goal. Against Oregon, Hughes guarded one of the Ducks’ strongest players, led the team with four shots, all on goal, and netted the game-winner in the 63rd minute. The victory was the Buffs’ first over the Ducks in four meetings and just their second ever Pac-12 Conference home win. Hughes ranks in the top 11 in CU’s career record books in games played (81), games started (80) and minutes played (6,671). Hughes was selected as first-team Pac-12 All-Academic for three consecutive years (every year she was eligible), becoming the first soccer Buff to accomplish the feat in the Pac-12, and just the ninth total.

JUNIOR (2012): Hughes started all 20 games, scored two goals and contributed three assists in her impressive junior campaign. She ranked third on the team in points and assists and entered a five-way tie for sixth most assists by a CU junior. All of Hughes’ points helped CU to victories, beginning with assists in the season opener against Northern Colorado (3-0) and the home opener against LIU (2-0). Hughes earned a spot on the DU Invitational All-Tournament Team after leading the Buffs to a 2-1 victory over Cincinnati. She scored once more against Air Force (2-0), and added an assist in the Buffs’ 3-0 blanking of Arizona.

SOPHOMORE (2011): She started 17 of 18 games, totaling 1,378 minutes. She tied her 2010 season totals of three goals and 26 shots and increased her shots on goal percentage to .423. She scored two goals to open the season in the Colorado Cup with wins against Colorado College and Northern Colorado, leading her to CU Athlete of the Week honors. Her third goal of the season was the decisive one in CU’s 1-0 win against the University of California, the team’s first ever conference win in the Pac-12. She was one of two Buffaloes to become a 2011 Pac-12 All-Academic First Team selection.

FRESHMAN (2010): She was one of three Buffs and the only freshman to start every game in 2010. Hughes finished her first season at Colorado as the team’s third leading scorer with three goals and an assist for seven points in 1,760 minutes. Her three goals tied her for ninth on CU’s offensive class records for freshmen. She played exceptionally well in the DU Invitational at the beginning of the season and earned herself a spot on the all-tournament team.

HIGH SCHOOL: She earned six letters for Mountain Vista High School, four in soccer and two in track & field. She was a three time all-league selection and once an all-state selection for Mountain Vista. Hughes led REAL Colorado to a state championship in 2006. REAL Colorado was also regional champions and state finalists during the 2009-10 season and was a national finalist in 2011. In track & field, she earned all-state honors as a freshman and sophomore and holds three school records in the 400-meter relay, the 800-meter relay and the 800 medley. She qualified for the United States Track & Field Association Junior Olympics in 2007 despite jumping off what she later learned was a broken foot.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Hughes is a quantitative finance major in the business school at Colorado.

PERSONAL: Her full name is Hayley Lyn Hughes. She was born July 30, 1992 to David and Julie Hughes. She has one older sister, Jessamyn. She has volunteered with her high school’s Unified sports programs for soccer and basketball. She earned the nickname “Sparky” after her soccer coach said she lit a spark on the field. Her hobbies include skiing and watching movies.