Colorado Soccer Caps Record-Breaking 2025 Season with Celebration and Hardware
BOULDER - The Colorado Buffaloes women's soccer team had plenty to celebrate this weekend - and not just because of what happened on the stat sheet. At the BOK Financial Byron R. White Stadium Club, the Buffs gathered to honor a 2025 season that wasn’t just good - it was historic.
Led by head coach Danny Sanchez, the Buffs rewrote the record books on their way to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Colorado finished the campaign at 17-4-3, the most wins in a single season in program history.
And that was just the beginning. The team also set new standards in points (184), goals (59), and assists (66), reflecting a group that played with both creativity and cohesion from start to finish.
A Season of Stars and Standouts
The team handed out its annual awards Saturday night, and the honors reflected the depth and talent across the roster:
- Team 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
But the accolades go far beyond the team banquet.
Colorado went 8-1-2 in Big 12 play, finishing third in the conference and, for the first time in program history, completed an unbeaten home slate at Prentup Field with an 11-0-2 mark. That kind of consistency at home is the stuff title contenders are built on.
Hope Leyba: Record-Breaker, Game-Changer
Junior forward Hope Leyba had the kind of season that turns heads on a national scale. She led the NCAA in goals with 22 and set new single-season program records in both goals and points (45). Her performances earned her First Team All-America honors from United Soccer Coaches and the Big 12 Forward of the Year award.
Leyba was electric from the jump, scoring in each of Colorado’s first five matches - notching nine goals in that stretch alone, including two game-winners. She recorded two hat tricks on the season, becoming the first Buff to do that in a single year and only the second in program history to tally multiple hat tricks in a career. Her second five-game scoring streak came during Big 12 play, where she netted seven goals to help the Buffs go 4-0-1 during that run.
Jordan Nytes: Wall in Net, Leader in the Locker Room
Senior goalkeeper Jordan Nytes capped off her Buffs career with a season to remember. She set the single-season record for wins (17) and became a three-time Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year. Her consistency in net was unmatched - double-digit wins in each of her four seasons, 52 career victories, and 42 of those coming over the last three years.
Nytes wasn’t just a shot-stopper - she was a leader. A two-year captain, she earned her second United Soccer Coaches All-America honor this year and was one of 15 semifinalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s most prestigious individual award. She also excelled in the classroom, sharing Co-Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors.
More Buffs Making Their Mark
Senior Emerson Layne tied the program’s single-season assist record with 10, joining elite company alongside former Buffs Shanade Hopcroft and Taylor Konrieck. Her vision and delivery in the final third were key to Colorado's attacking success.
On the back line, defender Faith Leyba anchored a unit that posted seven shutouts and earned a Third Team All-America nod from United Soccer Coaches. Her impact was felt in every phase of the game - from one-on-one defending to initiating attacks out of the back.
Big Wins, Bigger Moments
The Buffs opened the season with a 1-1 draw against No. 12 Michigan State and followed that with a 5-0-1 start, including statement wins over No.
7 TCU and No. 5 Texas Tech.
Colorado spent six weeks in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25, climbing as high as No. 11 and finishing the year ranked 12th in the nation.
Their postseason run included a dramatic double-overtime win over Utah Valley in the NCAA Tournament opener, sealed by a diving header from Reagan Kotschau - a goal that earned her the team’s Goal of the Year award. Colorado followed that up with a dominant 4-1 win over No. 22 Xavier to reach the third round.
In a rematch with Michigan State, the Buffs fell behind early but showed their trademark resilience, leveling the match just before halftime thanks to a goal from Faith Leyba. A second-half penalty kick proved to be the difference, ending Colorado’s tournament run - but not before they left their mark.
Looking Ahead
The Buffs said farewell to a strong senior class that included Greer Maguire, Josie Master, Mallory Allen, Emerson Layne, and Jordan Nytes - players who helped elevate the program to new heights.
But the cupboard is far from bare. Colorado has already added Denver transfer Emma Thielbahr and welcomed freshmen Ellyse Debolt, Brooke Goerish, and Sloane Phillips to the roster this spring. With a core returning and new talent incoming, the Buffs have every reason to believe the best might still be ahead.
In 2025, Colorado didn’t just win games - they built a legacy. And if this season was any indication, the Buffs are just getting started.