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Matches Thread- #11 SOCCER ends regular season on the road at (RV) Kansas (Thursday, 10/30/25, 5:00 PM MT)

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AztecBuff

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SOCCER (13-2-3 overall; 7-1-2 in the Big 12), now the #11 ranked team nationally (Way up from #22 last week) in the main (coaches') poll end the regular season traveling to Lawrence to face the Receiving Vote (RV) Univ. of Kansas Jayhawks (KU; 12-3-3, 6-3-1).

As I also mentioned last week, It is still interesting me that the other ratings I know of, topdrawersoccer's, has been ranking CU (and the Big 12 in general) significantly higher than the main (coaches') poll where the Buffs are #11. In their latest poll (https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-national-rankings/women), they have the Buffs at #4. (They also have KU at #24.))

As was true both last season and so far this season, streams should be available for all home matches and road conference matches for those with a premium ($) ESPN+ subscription. (See more details and links near the bottom of this post.)

Go Buffs!!!
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Links with more info on KU :

Roster - https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster
Stats - https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-soccer/stats/2025
Schedule/ results - https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-soccer/schedule
Their preview article for the match with the Buffs - Not available as I type this.

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Media links:

Link to links to Live stats for all matches - https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?t=1&gid=colo .
Direct links for this match - https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=595962

Live Video: The matches is scheduled to be provided through the premium ($) ESPN+ subscription service, available either on the ESPN app or at https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/5e4e21ee-6de3-4d77-9ad9-6d3d2481fea2 .

Match notes (If blank below, they weren't available as I type this.) - https://cubuffs.com/documents/2025/10/29/SOC_2025_Game19_KU.pdf
 
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In the last soccer thread, I had given a status update of the status on the Big 12 standings, with MANY seedings for next week's Big 12 tourney still up in the air.

Updating that with a massive word salad of info (hopefully at least somewhat accurate) after a couple matches that occured after I made that post are now completed:
  • Info is mainly from the standings at https://big12sports.com/standings.aspx?path=soc, and links from that to relevant teams results and schedules.
  • CU is now guaranteed to finish in the top 4 of the Big 12 standings, no matter what happens in the KU match. If they win that match, they're guaranteed to finish with, at worse, the #3 seed for the tourney. (They were picked 6th in the pre-season poll.)
  • Did want to be sure that all interested know that Big 12 soccer does have a conference tourney (featuring the top 8 conference finishers), and it's the winner of that tourney that earns the 1 automatic berth for the Big 12 to the NCAA tourney.
  • The Buffs are in a tie for 3rd with Texas Tech, and are 2 points behind leader TCU and 1 behind West Virginia.
  • Per the 2 tie breaker rules I could find posted at https://big12sports.com/news/2015/9/1/210377297.aspx and https://big12sports.com/sports/2015/9/1/210377297.aspx***, if the Buffs end up in a tie in points with any of the other 3 top clubs:
    • They have the 1st tie breaker over TCU and Texas Tech based on defeating them in their regular season conference match.
    • The Buffs didn't play West Virginia, so the next tie breakers come into play if they end up tied in points, which will only occur if CU ties KU and WVU loses its Thursday match. That 2nd tie breaker, which per 1 of the tie breaker documents I found is points earned against common opponents, favors WVU (if I calculated it properly) by 2 points. If by some chance the 2nd tiebreaker that the 2nd document I could find ends up being the official one, goal differential in conference matches, I believe CU would have the advantage by at least 1 goal. (Right now both teams are at +11 goal differential for conference matches, but since WVU would need to lose its last match for a tie to occur, they would mean they'd have to end up at +10 at best.)
(***Must say I am (as often is the case) confused, as I got 2 different tiebreaker rules with the same internet address depending on how I accessed them (1 through Google search and 1 linked through the Big 12's soccer page). I assume the one that came up when I clicked through the Big 12 soccer page is the correct one, even though its kind of old (dated 10/15/23). It says the 2nd tie breaker (after head to head results (if any) is points earned against common conference opponents. The other tiebreaker rules I found said the 2nd tiebreaker was goal differential on conference matches, but assume that could be outdated since it mentions 8 conference matches which is no longer accurate. (There are 11 conference matches this season.))
  • Looking at this week's schedule (all 8 of the regular season finales are this coming Thursday evening), none of the top 4 teams are playing each other. Looking at who they are facing:
    • Based on results so far this season, the Buffs (again in a tie for 3rd with 23 points) look to have the toughest final match, as they head on the road to Lawrence to face Kansas, who is currently in 5th place with 19 points. Kansas is on a 3 match winning streak, which includes them earning 6 points in their road trip to the Utah schools last week where they earned 2 2 goal W's.
    • TCU now leads the conference with 25 points. They end their regular season hosting Houston, who again is 2-3-5 but coming off a nice tie against Baylor and will be fighting for a conference tourney slot.
    • West Virginia is in 2nd with 24 points, and end their season hosting 3-5-2 Cincinnati, who is tied with Houston with 11 points and so will also be fighting for the chance to compete at the Big 12 tourney.
    • The Buffs are tied with 23 points with Texas Tech, who ends their regular season with a tough match at home against 5-1-4 UCF. (The Knights are tied with Baylor and KU at 19 points, and could end up anywhere from 5th-7th in conference based on their result this match and tiebreakers.)
Note- When I posted last week, it was before a Sunday night Baylor had, at which time they still had a chance to finish as high as 2nd in the standings if they won. However, they only tied their opponent (Houston), which means they mathematically can't finish any higher than 5th place. Now tied with KU and UCF with 19 points, it's likely the Buffs will be playing 1 of those 3 teams in the 1st round of the tourney assuming they don't somehow win the conference regular season crown. (As a reminder, Baylor was the only conference loss for CU this season.)

There's then a FOUR team logjam for the final (8th) tourney slot at 11 points, with only 1 of Houston, ASU, BYU and Cincinnati likely** to qualify. (**Mathematically, there's another team or 2 who COULD sneak into the 8th tournament slot, but that would require all 4 of the team's I noted in the past sentence to lose their matches.)
Also, wanted to mention it shows how conference play can change things, as, looking at the last coaches' rankings before Big 12 action began (dated 9/16), BYU was the highest ranked Big 12 team in the coaches' poll (at #10), but now may not even make the conference tourney. (They do have a #32 RPI, so assume they still have a strong chance of a NCAA tourney berth, especially if they defeat their in-state foe Utes in Salt Lake City Thursday evening.)
 
Assume driven by CU's convincing 3-0 upset over then #5 Texas Tech (although of course it wouldn't have mattered nearly as much if they hadn't followed with a win over Arizona), congrats to the team and Ms's. Leyba and Nytes for the national and/ or conference honors!










 
Match day!

Hope the team finishes the regular season STRONG!




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Preview - https://cubuffs.com/news/2025/10/29/soccer-nytes-leyba-earn-big-12-honors

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Nytes, Leyba Earn Big 12 Honors​

By: Seth Pringle, Athletic Communications

IRVING, Texas – Colorado's Jordan Nytes and Hope Leyba secured their third Big 12 Player of the Week honors, the conference announced on Wednesday.

For Nytes, it's her 10th career Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week honor and her third straight this season. She earned five last season on the way to being named the 2024 Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year. The 10 Big 12 weekly Goalkeeper of the Week honors are the most by an individual goalkeeper since the award began in the 2020-21 season. It brings her into a tie with Madison White of Texas Tech (2019-23), with three of her honors being Defensive Player of the Week. The 10 career honors are also the second-most in conference history, behind White's 12 total.

Leyba's honor is the third of her career, all bestowed this season.

Nytes made 12 saves in Colorado's two shutout victories last week. The Aurora, Colo., native, matched her CU career-high with 10 saves in the Buffs' 3-0 shutout over No. 5 Texas Tech. She then recorded her sixth shutout of the season with two more saves against Arizona. Nytes became CU's all-time leader in shutouts on Sunday, posting her 26th career clean sheet as a Buff.

Leyba turned in a six-point week, helping the Buffs pick up wins over the Lady Raiders and Wildcats. She tied the CU single-season goal record with two tallies in Colorado's 3-0 upset over No. 5 TTU. She then set the single-season mark with her 18th goal of the season, picking up the game-winner against the Wildcats on Sunday.

Leyba was also named to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week and the College Soccer News Player of the Week

The awards are the 40th and 41st Big 12 honors for the Buffs and the 11th offensive honor in the program's history.

No. 11 Colorado Closes Regular Season at Kansas
LAWRENCE, KAN. -- Colorado soccer returns to action in on Thursday night, taking on Kansas in the regular-season finale in Lawrence.

The Buffaloes enter the week at No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, matching it's highest ranking since Sept. 19, 2006. The Buffs jumped up 11 spots from last week's poll, the biggest move of the week, following its sweep of then-No. 5 Texas Tech and Arizona.

Sunday's win over Arizona capped off a 10-0-2 regular season for Colorado at Prentup Field. It's the first time in program history that CU has go unbeaten at home.

Colorado is right in the thick of the Big 12 title hunt, tied for third alongside Texas Tech with 23 points. TCU (25) and West Virginia (24) currently hold the two top seeds. The entire conference is in action on Thursday, meaning the regular season will be decided at the conclusion of the night.

Kickoff at KU is set for 5 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
...
"
 
And it's still 1-0 at the half.

A weird half to me. The Buffs have been very defensive and seemingly on the back of their heels for the vast majority of the 1st 45 minutes, with all 10 CU players often in their back 3rd (thankfully well positioned almost all the time). CU also hasn't been applying much pressure to the KU players in the midfield, let alone in the KU defensive 3rd. And, KU has been pressuring everywhere on the field, so that it seems like a third or more of CU's passes, even in their defensive half, are being intercepted. And, it's these things that are causing the big KU advantages in shots (11-5) and corners (3-1). BUT, conversely, Although Nytes has had to be solid, she hasn't had to make a great save yet, and I'd say the Buffs have had probably the most dangerous 4 shots on goal (including the goal), and that's partly indicated in CU's 5-3 lead in shots on goal.

Highlight of the finish of the CU goal (unfortunately it doesn't show how great the pass was) -

 
AztecBuff said:
And it's still 1-0 at the half.

A weird half to me. The Buffs have been very defensive and seemingly on the back of their heels for the vast majority of the 1st 45 minutes, with all 10 CU players often in their back 3rd (thankfully well positioned almost all the time). CU also hasn't been applying much pressure to the KU players in the midfield, let alone in the KU defensive 3rd. And, KU has been pressuring everywhere on the field, so that it seems like a third or more of CU's passes, even in their defensive half, are being intercepted. And, it's these things that are causing the big KU advantages in shots (11-5) and corners (3-1). BUT, conversely, Although Nytes has had to be solid, she hasn't had to make a great save yet, and I'd say the Buffs have had probably the most dangerous 4 shots on goal (including the goal), and that's partly indicated in CU's 5-3 lead in shots on goal.

Highlight of the finish of the CU goal (unfortunately it doesn't show how great the pass was) -

Click to expand...

Didn’t see the start of the pass but where it ended up was amazing. Made Hope’s job easy
 
KU ties it up at 1 as a nice hard corner kick finds a KU head and it get's pounded home in the 82nd minute.
 
Highlight of the winning goal. (Nice team play as it looks like a couple Buffs took a place within the wall, and right before the free kick ran out of the way which left a hole into which Kotschau pounded it through.)




Also, especially with how hard it is to score a goal, I always try to credit everyone involved in a CU goal. When posting above about the 1st goal, I neglected to say than Layne also earned an assist on the 1st (Leyba) goal. (Believe she got a takeaway around midfield and passed it to Kotschau, who then made the beautiful long leading pass I mentioned in post #8 that Leyba collected and hit past the goalie.)
 
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another game where CU gave up a ton of shots. that could hurt them against better teams if they start getting a higher percentage on net. Great win and huge win even though they will not win the regular season. That tie the first game of the season with State really hurt in that regard but on to the big 12 tourney
 
As the results have been coming in from the various matches around the Big 12, I'm thinking the Buffs will be playing a solid UCF team*** in the 1st round of the tournament.
***Looks like UCF has a 9 match lossless streak going, with 5 wins and 4 ties since their last defeat (0-1 at Arizona on 9/25).

I believe all but the final (#8) seed have now been determined. (There are a couple later matches that could still determine who gets the #8.)

So far, I believe the known matchups are:
#1 seed TCU (28 points) vs. still to be determined
#2 seed West Virginia (27 points) vs. #7 seed Kansas (19 points)
#3 seed CU (26 points) vs. #6 UCF (20 points after going into Texas Tech and earning a 0-0 draw tonight.)
#4 seed Texas Tech (24 points) vs. #5 Baylor (22 points after, as expected, defeating winless OSU 2-0 tonight.)
 
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Media after tonight's win:

Article - https://cubuffs.com/news/2025/10/30/soccer-no-11-buffs-trick-jayhawks-in-regular-season-finale

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No. 11 Buffs Trick Jayhawks in Regular Season Finale​

Hope Leyba and Regan Kotschau provide the goals

By: Seth Pringle, Athletic Communications

LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 11 Colorado used some late magic to close out the regular season with a 2-1 win over Kansas on Thursday at Rock Chalk Park. The Buffaloes close the regular season on a six-match unbeaten streak and set program records for goals, assists and points.

Colorado finishes the regular season 14-2-3 overall and 8-1-2 in the Big 12. The Buffaloes are currently on track to be the No. 3 seed in next week's Big 12 Tournament, pending results from TCU.

Kansas (12-4-3, 6-4-1) controlled the attack in the second half, outshooting the Buffs 11-4 and drawing even, 1-1, with a goal in the 82nd minute.

"The end of the first half was a precursor to the second half," head coach Danny Sanchez explained. "I thought we were defending too deep. We weren't doing a good job when we won the ball, and deservedly, Kansas gets a goal. But what a response from the Buffs."

CU, needing a win to keep pace in the Big 12 standings, capitalized on a free kick from Kotschau for her fifth goal of the season, securing three points for the Buffs.

"Jace [Holley] had a great opportunity," Sanchez continued. "We had another good chance and then, you know, Jace draws the foul at the top of the box, and Reagan buries. It. A well-earned win by the Buffs tonight."

Hope Leyba scored her 19th goal of the season, adding to her single-season program record, early in the first half. The goal tied CU's 2018 season total of 47 goals. Emerson Layne and Reagan Kotschau registered the assists on the goal, setting a new CU single-season record in the process (53).

"It was a great goal," Sanchez noted of Leyba's tally. "Great ball in behind by Reagan and Hope buries it."
...

How it Happened
...
The Jayhawks had five corner attempts in the half, and found the equalizer on the scramble off their fourth with Caroline Castans heading the ball past Nytes to tie the match in the 82nd minute.

The Buffs bounced back with a chance from Jace Holley right after the KU goal, and Kotschau followed with a shot in the 86th minute.

Colorado's push culminated with Holley drawing a foul just outside the 18-yard box, resulting in a CU free kick. Both Ava Priest and Kotschau stood over the attempt, with Priest taking a run over the ball and Kotschau slotting it through the KU wall in and into the net in the 87th minute.

"We haven't had a lot of set pieces around the box this year," Sanchez commented. "I think Reagan just saw a spot and hit it really well. The keep couldn't do anything about that."

The Buffs closed out the final three minutes without allowing another attempt by the Jayhawks, finishing off the victory.

"This is their [Kansas'] senior day, and they are a great team," Sanchez expressed. "We knew this would be a tough match for us. We have a lot of momentum [now]. We'll get home, be home for 24 hours, and we're off to TCU, and we're excited for Monday [in the Big 12 Tournament].

Up Next
The Buffs will head to Fort Worth, Texas, to play in the Big 12 Tournament next week. The first round is set for Monday, Nov. 3. Seeding and matchups are to be determined.

Notes
The Buffs set program records in goals (48), assists (53) and points (149), all previously set in 2018…Kotschau's goal was her fourth game-winner of the season…Laye's assist was added to her career-high now with eight on the season…the win was the 39th of Nytes' career…She now has 88 saves on the season.

For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.
"
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Box score - https://cubuffs.com/sports/womens-soccer/stats/2025/kansas/boxscore/17511







 
CU capped a highly successful regular season with a 2-1 win over Kansas in Lawrence. With the result CU earned the #3 seed in the Big XII tourney that begins Monday at TCU where they face #6 seed Central Florida (UCF) at 8pm MT. UCF is one of four Big XII teams the Buffs haven’t played this season.

As has been the case much of the season, CU scored the first goal of the match. And once again it was Hope Leyba who smoothly finished an exceptional first time pass from Reagan Kotschau that Sophie Dawe (KU keeper) thought she could get to first (Hope has serious pace). The play began when Emerson Layne intercepted a pass and passed vertically to Reagan who hit the pass to Hope. This action came in the ninth minute.

Like many matches against quality opponents this season, the Buffs ceded possession but limited their quality and quantity of shots on target. KU took many more shots than CU, but had fewer on goal.

Kansas found the equalizer in the 82’ when Jillian Gregorski headed home a well taken corner kick. It was one of the few times they have conceded on a set piece this season.

Reagan Kotschau is sneaky good. Not only did she get the assist on the first goal, she scored on a cheeky free kick in the 87’ when she found Dawe cheating to one side and whacked in a worm burner that went through the wall that was fragmented when some CU players were standing in front. It was fifth goal of the season and second game winner.

#11 Colorado vs. Kansas Highlights (10.30.25) | 2025 Big 12 Soccer

The Big XII is a top tier conference this season and could very well see eight teams get bids to the NCAA tourney. It’s second only to the ACC in conference RPI. This has really helped CU which is now at a best ever RPI of 7.

CU finished third in the conference, only two points behind first place TCU and one behind West Virginia.

In 11 conference games Hope Leyba was the Big XII leader with 10 total goals. Caley Swierenga is one of three players tied for first in assists with six. Jordan Nytes was first in save % at .879 and second in goals against average at .727.

It’s a good bet that six plus Buffs will earn All-Big XII honors of some sort with Hope Leyba in contention for player of the year and Jordan Nytes for keeper of the year.
 
Buffnik said:
I think based on what some of our knowledgeable posters have said that if we beat UCF we are in great position to be a seeded team and NCAA tourney host site.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure if I qualify as knowledgeable, but . . . CU's current RPI is 8. I agree that a win tonight puts them in a very good spot to host.

On another message board I have seen the predict to be the #2 seed in the West.
 
According to Chris Henderson on twitter who does a bunch of braketology for soccer. CU is currently a 2 seed. I think if CU wins tonight and wins the semi they are for sure getting home games. I wonder if there will be a bias to teams in the east as he has 3 acc teams as #1s would push CU out if they don't win this tourney. I don't trust committees when it comes to this. I have feeling most of these people don't know who Hope Leyba and Jordan Nytes are
 
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