Colorado soccer is heading into the 2026 season with plenty of recognition attached to it. The Big 12 coaches handed out preseason honors Monday, and five Buffaloes landed on the conference’s Preseason All-Conference Team: Hope Leyba, Faith Leyba, Caley Swierenga, Reagan Kotschau and Jace Holley.
No other school placed more players on the 27-player list. Colorado was the only program with five selections, and Hope Leyba was one of just two players to earn a unanimous nod.
That comes as little surprise after the season she put together. Hope Leyba led the NCAA with a program-record 22 goals in 2025 and became the first player in Colorado soccer history to crack the 20-goal barrier. The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year also set CU marks with 45 points and six game-winning goals, finished 10th nationally in shots per game, and wrapped the year ranked No. 2 in TopDrawerSoccer's Postseason Top 100 after picking up First Team All-America honors.
Faith Leyba gave Colorado a steady presence at the back while still adding plenty going forward. She scored four goals and dished out four assists, with her final assist setting up Hope for her CU record-breaking 18th goal.
The senior started all 24 matches and logged 2,097 minutes, second-most on the roster. Her postseason haul included First Team All-Big 12, First Team All-Midwest Region, TDS Postseason Top 100 at No. 36, and Third Team All-America recognition.
Swierenga made an immediate impact in her first year with the Buffaloes, turning into one of the country’s most productive playmaking defenders. She started all 24 matches, finished with a career-high nine assists, and tied for the second-most assists in a single season in program history.
Swierenga played 1,868 minutes and became only the second CU player ever to post multiple matches with at least two assists. That breakout year earned her Second Team All-Big 12 honors.
Kotschau put together a career season of her own, finishing with seven goals, six assists and a career-best 20 points. She also tied for eighth nationally with six game-winning goals.
One of those winners came in Colorado’s NCAA Tournament first-round victory over Utah Valley. Kotschau also collected CSC Academic All-District and Big 12 All-Academic Team honors.
Holley kept her momentum rolling after an All-Freshman campaign and followed it with a First Team All-Big 12 season. She posted career highs with 12 goals, six assists and 30 points, and those 30 points tied for the fourth-most in a single season in CU history.
Her 12 goals are tied for third in program history. Holley finished with 1.25 points per game, scored two game-winning goals and earned First Team All-Midwest Region honors.
Colorado also drew major respect in the Big 12 preseason coaches’ poll. The Buffaloes were picked second for the 2026 conference race, the highest preseason ranking in program history. CU’s previous best preseason spot in the Big 12 was third, which came in 2004, 2007 and 2009.
TCU was chosen to win the league with 222 points and 13 first-place votes. Colorado followed with 187 points and one first-place vote.
Kansas and West Virginia tied for third with 182 points, with the Mountaineers also getting a first-place vote. Texas Tech checked in fifth with 180 points and one first-place vote.
The Buffaloes finished 2025 at 17-4-2 overall and 8-1-2 in Big 12 play, then advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third time in program history. Their first chance to take the field comes Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. against Colorado State at Prentup Field.
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