Matches Thread- SOCCER ends homestand hosting New Mexico State (Thursday, 8/28/25, 7:00 PM MT) & Wyoming (Sunday, 1:00 PM MT)

[AztecBuff]

SOCCER (3-0-1) ends its 6 match season opening homestand with 2 more matches this week.. 1st off is a Thursday evening match against the New Mexico State Aggies (from Las Cruces; NMSU; 1-3-0), followed up by a Sunday afternoon match against the Wyoming Cowgirls (2-0-1).

Not that it means much of anything for this season, but in the final RPI ratings for last (2024) season (dated 12/9/24, https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-women/d1/ncaa-womens-soccer-rpi ), CU ended up at #50, while NMSU was #81 and the UW #212.

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!!!

(Cubuffs.com preview not available as I type this.)
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Links with more info on the opponents -

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

Wyoming :
Roster - https://gowyo.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster
Stats - https://gowyo.com/documents/2025/8/24/WSOC_Season_Stats__22_.pdf
Schedule/ results - https://gowyo.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 both matches - https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?t=1&gid=colo . Direct links for the matches:
NMSU - https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=594044
Wyoming - https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=594042

Live Video: Both matches are scheduled to be provided through the premium ($) ESPN+ subscription service, available either on the ESPN app or at:
NMSU - https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/25f36385-d74d-46c4-b15c-1c09db081a07
Wyoming - https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/9202aa61-3b36-4b30-8c56-312f6d635cd2

Match notes (If blank below, they weren't available as I type this.) :
NMSU -

New Mexico State Match Notes - University of Colorado Athletics

New Mexico State Match Notes

cubuffs.com

Wyoming -

 

[AztecBuff]

Preview for tomorrow's match (and, as @MarkW already posted in an earlier thread, congrats to Hope Leyba for the conference honor) - https://cubuffs.com/news/2025/8/27/...fensive-player-of-the-week-buffs-back-at-home

"

Leyba Earns Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, Buffs Back at Home​

CU Takes on New Mexico State on Thursday

By: Seth Pringle, Athletic Communications

IRVING, Texas – Colorado forward Hope Leyba helped the Buffaloes' offense explode for 15 goals last week and improve to 3-0-1 in the young season, on her way to earning Co-Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.

The honor is the first weekly award of the junior's career.

Leyba becomes the first CU field player to earn a Big 12 weekly honor since Annie Brunner's Newcomer of the Week award on Nov. 2, 2010. Teammate Jordan Nytes earned five Goalkeeper of the Year honors last season. Gianna DeSaverio picked up the Buffs' last Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honor on Sept. 30, 2008.

The Phoenix, Ariz., native has scored in all four matches to start the year. She put in five goals in Colorado's two games last week against Fordham and UNC Greensboro. Her scoring streak continued on Thursday when she recorded just the eighth hat trick in CU history in the Buffs' 7-1 win. Leyba added two more goals in Sunday's 8-0 win over UNC Greensboro.

Leyba ranks 2nd in the NCAA in points per game (3.50) and goals per game (1.75). Her seven goals and 14 points this season are currently tied for the most in the NCAA.

She split the honor with TCU's Seven Castain, who scored two goals in TCU's lone match.

The award is Colorado's 37th Big 12 honor and the ninth offensive honor. CU rejoined the conference in the 2024 season.

Buffs Take on New Mexico State

BOULDER – Colorado continues its six-game homestand to start the season on Thursday when it takes on New Mexico State (7 p.m. MT, ESPN+).

It will be the first meeting between the two schools.

The Buffs have been off to a scorching hot start to the season, leading the NCAA with 20 goals through the first four games. The team's 20 goals are the most through four games to start a season in program history.

Colorado tied the second-most goals scored against Fordham (7) and then tied the program record three days later against UNCG (8), totaling 15 goals in the last 180 minutes. Leyba notched five of the team's 15 last week and has scored seven in the first four games, the most by any CU player to start a season.

The scoring onslaught doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon, and the next goal for CU will be the program's 900th all-time. Currently, the Buffs are on pace for 95 goals this season. While that number surely won't hold, the Buffs' record of 47 goals in 2018 could very much be in jeopardy.

15 different players have found the scoresheet for Colorado this season. Leyba leads the nation with her 14 points, while Jace Holley is right on her heels with 13 (5 G, 3 A). CU had 17 different players record points for the entire 2024 season.

Not to be outdone, goalkeeper Jordan Nytes continued to make her mark in the CU record books. She recorded her 28th career win and posted her 20th shutout at CU on Sunday against UNCG.

New Mexico State (1-3-0) has dropped its last two matches at No. 5 USC and Arizona. The Aggies have allowed eight goals against this 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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And, this week's soccer show -

 

[AztecBuff]

Match day!

 

[AztecBuff]

Per a social media post from about a half hour ago, the start to the match is now scheduled for 7:15 (due to a weather delay).

 

[AztecBuff]

Match about to begin.

Tonight's starters -

 

[AztecBuff]

And the Buffs go up 1-0 EARLY as Layne makes a nice run down the left side and then finds Holley near the far post who heads it home in the 4th minute.
(Per the announcer, it's the 900th goal in CU program history.)

 

[AztecBuff]

And it's 2-0 in the 11th minute after a nice centering pass from Whiteaker to the right post forces the goalie to go after it and she gets out of position. However, It's Holley who is able to touch the ball 1st, and she pokes it towards H. Leyba at the left post and she easily pokes it home as she keeps her goal scoring streak going, with at least 1 goal in all 5 of CU's matches in 2025.

 

[AztecBuff]

And H. Leyba earns the brace to put the Buffs up 3-0 in the 29th minute.

She gets a nice leading pass from ??? , then out muscles a defender and then is able to poke it past the charging goalie to then knock it home to an open net.

 

[AztecBuff]

And 3-0 is the score at the half.

 

[AztecBuff]

The Buffs lost the shutout in the 90th minute off a corner kick they can't clear, but then get the 3 goal lead back in the final 10 seconds as H. Leyba earns a penalty in the box and Priest knocks the PK in for a comfortable 4-1 win.

Way to go Buffs!

 

[Bmixer]

was not the buffs best game imo especially in the the second half. very physical game with a bunch of shirt grabbing. I wonder if the rain and slick grass really hurt them in how they play

 

[AztecBuff]

Media after yesterday's win:

Article - https://cubuffs.com/news/2025/8/28/soccer-early-strikes-lift-buffs-past-aggies

"

Early Strikes Lift Buffs Past Aggies​

Three first-half goals from CU Helped secure the win

By: Seth Pringle, Athletic Communications

BOULDER, Colo. – Colorado continued its early-season scoring onslaught on Thursday night at Prentup Field, finding the back of the net four more times in the Buffaloes' 4-1 win over New Mexico State.

Colorado (4-0-1) received early contributions from the ever-growing dominant pair of Jace Holley and Hope Leyba, with Ava Priest adding a late conversion from the penalty spot to build on the Buffs' NCAA-leading 24 goals this season. Holley's opening goal marked the 900th in program history.

The Buffs outshot New Mexico State (1-4-0) 15-12 in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. CU also held a 10-6 advantage in shots on goal. Colorado goalkeeper Jordan Nytes was 49 seconds from recording her second consecutive shutout, but NMSU squandered the clean sheet in the final minute.

"We started well," head coach Danny Sanchez explained after the win. "The first 28 minutes was some good soccer—three great goals. Good energy, good fight. To be honest, I think we lost the plot after that. Credit New Mexico State. They could have mailed it in. They could have started feeling sorry for themselves, but they kept battling. I thought the second half, they played very well. Jordi made a couple of saves in the first half; it easily could have been a 2-1 or 1-1 game at halftime. I think we got complacent, and the second half was not the quality we're looking for."

Leyba and Holley have far surpassed their offensive numbers from last season. Leyba notched goals eight and nine of the season on Thursday, having scored eight goals total in the 2024 campaign. Holley picked up her sixth goal of the season, two better than her scoring output as a freshman. The forward pair has combined for 34 total points in CU's first five games.

"It's built over the years," Leyba noted of the chemistry that's formed at the top of the formation. "We've practiced every single day, and it's finally started to come together. It's really good and I'm glad it's happening."
...

Up Next
Colorado closes out the six-game homestand with a meeting against Wyoming on Sunday (1 p.m. MT).

Notes
Colorado's 24 goals in five games is the best start to a season in program history, besting the team's 21 goals in the first five games of the 2021 season…Leyba has scored in all five games to start the season…Her seven goals in five games match Shyra James' start to the 2022 season… Colorado's 24 goals are equal to or better than eight non-COVID season goal totals…The Buffs are seven goals off of last season's total of 31…CU is 61-0-1 when scoring three or more goals under Coach Sanchez…Holley and Jordan Whiteaker each recorded their team-leading fourth assists of the season.

Quotes
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On the team's versatility – "We have a small roster and we always do. We have to have players who can play in different lines and in different spots. I think we're still finding ourselves, you know, we're going to be in more games like the second half, where it starts to get a little frustrating. Every trip down isn't a goal. We have to back, but I think we do have players that are versatile, that can play in different lines, and we're going to need them as the season goes."

On the final minute – "I think with a minute to go, we finally played with some urgency in the second half. I don't think it's a coincidence that they get a goal and deserved. They were creating chances, but all of a sudden we go down and within 45 seconds we have a penalty kick. It's a little too coincidental and the team knows it. But big picture, we're very pleased to get the win with a little bit of a weather delay and we look forward to Wyoming on Sunday."
"
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Box score - https://cubuffs.com/sports/womens-soccer/stats/2025/new-mexico-state/boxscore/17498

 

[MarkW]

On a cool night at Prentup the Buffs fended off a determined New Mexico State side that refused to capitulate despite being down 0-3 at the half. It was the Aggies who fired the first salvo in the match by working the ball off the kickoff to find an open player to the left of the goal with the shot forcing Jordan Nytes to deflect the ball over the bar.

CU’s showed their propensity for scoring early when Emerson Layne was able to get down the left side on a run and then hit a left footed cross to a charging Jace Holley who somehow beat the defender to the ball and buried the header. This was in the third minute.

Jace Holley picked up another assist (her 4th of the season when she got a foot on a flighted free kick from Jordan Whiteaker and tapped it across the goal for a tap-in by Hope Leyba (11’). Of course Hope wasn’t done yet as in the 29’ she outworked a defender for the ball on the right side, cut towards the six yard box, tapped it by the keeper and rolled in the goal between two defenders. She now has nine goals on the season.

Going into the half, it looked like the Buffs would once again roll to an easy win. After the Aggies’ initial foray, the only shots they were getting were from distance. However, NM State didn’t quit and when the Buffs made wholesale substitutions in the second half they gained steam. And unlike the previous couple of matches the Buffs weren’t scoring at will despite creating some quality chances. Props to the Aggies’ keeper, Valerie Guha who made two point blank saves in a row on Mallory Allen. She finished with six saves. CU Jordan Nytes had five saves on the night.

NM State continued to create chances and Danny Sanchez put in the starters which led to the 90’ minute craziness where the Aggies scored from a scramble off a corner kick which was quickly followed by Hope Leyba being fouled in the box at the other end - Ava Priest coveted the PK. The final score was 4-1.

The pitch was wet, but didn’t appear to be saturated with water except at one corner where players taking the kick were trying to sweep water away with their boots. It was clear during the match, the start was delayed about ten minutes following showers.

Highlights

NM State is a solid team who has lost to three P5 sides thus far this season, including an 0-4 loss to #5 USC and a 0-2 loss at home to Arizona.

CU is at home to Wyoming on Sunday afternoon.