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Matches Thread- SOCCER hosts Fordham (Thursday, 8/21/25, 7:00 PM MT) & UNC - Greensboro (Sunday, noon MT)

AztecBuff

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SOCCER (1-0-1) continues its 6 match season opening homestand with 2 more matches this week.. 1st off is a Thursday evening match against the Fordham University Rams (from New York City; (1-0-0), followed up by a Sunday noon match against the Univ. of North Carolina - Greensboro Spartans (UNCG; 0-2-0).

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 Fordham was #103 and the UNCG #199.

Assuming video coverage is the same as last season, we can expect all home matches, along with all conference road matches, will be available 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 -

Fordham :
Roster - https://fordhamsports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster
Stats - https://static.fordhamsports.com/custompages/stats/wsoc/2025-26/teamcume.htm#TEAM.TEM
Schedule/ results - https://fordhamsports.com/sports/womens-soccer/schedule
Their preview article for the match with the Buffs - Not available as I type this.

UNCG :
Roster - https://uncgspartans.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/
Stats - https://uncgspartans.com/sports/womens-soccer/stats
Schedule/ results - https://uncgspartans.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:
Fordham - https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=594043
UNCG - https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=594037

Live Video: Both matches are scheduled to be provided through the premium ($) ESPN+ subscription service, available either on the ESPN app or at:
Fordham - https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/eventCalendarId/401779035?gameId=737201
UNCG - https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/a491454e-5dbe-4d56-aae6-44ff4a8631be

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

SOC 2025 Game3 Fordham - University of Colorado Athletics

SOC 2025 Game3 Fordham
cubuffs.com cubuffs.com
UNCG - https://cubuffs.com/documents/2025/8/23/SOC_2025_Game4_UNCG.pdf
 
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Preview for this week's matches - https://cubuffs.com/news/2025/8/20/soccer-colorados-locked-in-on-week-two

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Colorado’s Locked in on Week Two​

Buffs Set for two more at Prentup Field

By: Seth Pringle, Athletic Communications

BOULDER, Colo. – The Colorado soccer team got off to a promising start to the season last week, drawing with No. 12 Michigan State and handily defeating Front Range rival Air Force.

Head coach Danny Sanchez was generally pleased with the Buffs' performance, but acknowledged that there are areas that need improvement.

"It was a good opening weekend," Sanchez said. "We knew the challenge of Michigan State. It was probably a tale of two halves. I thought the first half was us, and the second half was Michigan State, so it was probably a fair result. But a good learning experience for us.

"I thought we played really well in stretches [against Air Force]. Having rewatched the film and kind of looked at the data, we actually probably played a little bit better than I gave us credit for. We scored some really good goals."

The Buffaloes (1-0-1) will now look ahead to matches against Fordham and UNC Greensboro this week—two opponents with next to no history with CU.

Thursday's match (7 p.m.) against Fordham will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools, while the Buffs and UNC Greensboro played early last season in North Carolina.

Fordham played just the one match to open the season last week, putting up four goals in its shutout win over Marist. The Rams went 10-5-4 last season and fell in the A-10 quarterfinals to Saint Joseph's.

"Fordham, you know, coming in, we have a lot of respect for their coach, Magnus [Nilerud], and their program and what they did last year," Sanchez said. "I think they'll make a run at the Atlantic 10 this year. They have some really talented individual players that can break down any defense, so we're going to have to be aware of those players, and we're going to have to punish them when we go to the other end. But I expect a very competitive match."

Colorado escaped the humidity of Greensboro last season with a 1-0 win, but CU didn't get the score across until the 71st minute.

"You know, we had a very tough match last year, non-conference play, a 1-0 win at their place," Sanchez said. "A bit of an advantage for them not having to play on Thursday and come in for the one match. We're excited to get them to Boulder, but we know that's going to be another challenging non-conference match for us."

Sanchez and the Buffs opened the season with a top-15 opponent in Michigan State, just the sixth time in 30 seasons that CU has opened against a ranked opponent.

This week's focus has still been on making every minute count. Sanchez said he doesn't have any trouble motivating his players, and with the limited number of regular-season games, there's no room for complacency.

"We only have 19 regular-season games, so it's not like some sports where you have 25 or 30 opportunities," Sanchez said. "We only have a limited amount of games, and each game is important when you start looking at the NCAA tournament and RPI. There are really none that are less important than the others.

"Every game coming up is always the most important game, but especially against a new opponent, under the lights, on Thursday, and then another relatively new opponent on Sunday. We'll be focused and pay attention to the details."

Six different Buffs got on the score sheet over the opening two matches last week, including Jace Holley and Hope Leyba, who each scored two goals.

Sanchez has also been impressed with players like Caley Swierenga, on defense, and Reagan Kotschau, across the midfield.

"I was really pleased with Jace, who obviously had a great weekend," Sanchez expressed. "I think Caley in the back was very good all weekend and Reagan as well in the midfield, as far as maybe not players we normally don't think about.

"Faith and Hope [Leyba] were fantastic as always, and Jordi [Nytes] in goal. It was a good opening weekend, and we're excited for this weekend."

Thursday's match will be the first for the Buffs with students fully back in Boulder. There will be CU student raffle prizes throughout the night, along with root beer floats.

Brad Thompson will be on the call all season long on ESPN+.
...
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And, this week's TWICS -

 
Match beginning.

Per the announcer, already some good news as Ava Priest is getting her 1st start of the season.
 
Great start to this one, as within the 1st 30 minutes of play H. Leyba and Holley started the scoring off with both scoring their 3rd goals of the season, and then Layne earned the next 2 for her brace. Assists so far have been credited to Zamorano, Holley and Kotschau.

It's 4-0 CU in the 34th minute.
 
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Still 4-0 in the 50th minute, but CU sub goaltender Campbell just made a great save on a point blank shot to keep the shutout going.

Post with all 4 of the 1st half goals -

 
H. Leyba earns her brace in the 54th minute for CU's 5th, with Holley earning her 2nd assist of the match (and CU career)!

And, now H. Leyba earns the hat trick in the 56th minute to make it 6-0! (Assume she's done for the night as she's substituted out right after the goal.)
 
7-1 is the final.

The last 30 minutes or so, as might be expected, definitely had a "garbage time" feel to it, but it was great to see that CU junior Masters was able to earn the 1st goal of her college career in the 89th minute, with frosh Hayward also earning her 1st points at CU with the assist.

Note - looking at the scoring, looks like Holley ended up getting credited with a 3rd assist, on H. Leyba's 3rd goal, so both had VERY nice nights.

Way to go Buffs!
 
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Media after yesterday's win:

Article - https://cubuffs.com/news/2025/8/21/soccer-leybas-hat-trick-shines-in-buffs-rout-of-rams

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Leyba’s Hat Trick Shines in Buffs' Rout of Rams​

Colorado had four different goal-scorers on Thursday

By: Seth Pringle, Athletic Communications

BOULDER, Colo. – Colorado exploded for its most goals in 21 seasons, taking it to the visiting Fordham Rams Thursday night at Prentup Field. Hope Leyba led the charge with her first-career hat trick in the 7-1 dismantling.

Colorado (2-0-1) started with three forwards, Leyba, Jace Holley and Emerson Layne up top in the formation for the first time this season. All three forwards recorded goals, with Layne putting in two of her own. Holley scored her third goal of the season and handed out a career-high three assists.

"I think it's clicking with the three up top," Holley said after the win. "I think it's a big improvement from when we had two up top, because we're all great players and we really connect well together."

Leyba's career night marked just the eighth hat trick in the Buffs' 30-year history. It is the second in as many seasons, with Shyra James putting up three goals last season against Wyoming. Leyba's three-goal effort on Thursday adds to her hot start to the season, with five goals in the opening three games.

"I feel awesome," Leyba noted. "I feel like in the past, it's been a little rough for me. I just feel like God has never failed me. This is just a great feeling. I'm so happy."

Senior Josie Master accounted the seventh goal of the night with her first career tally in the closing minutes of the contest.

"That was so awesome," Leyba added. "I was so excited. That was the best moment of the game."
...

Up Next
Colorado continues its homestand with UNC Greensboro on Sunday (Noon).

Notes
CU's four goals in the first half tied for the fifth most in program history…the team's 12 individual points in the first half were tied for the seventh most in team history…Colorado's seven goals tied for the second most in program history and were the most since scoring seven against Texas Tech (Oct. 17, 2004)…Holley's three assists are tied for the second most in a game, last done by Taylor Kornieck (Sept. 21, 2018)…Leyba's six points are tied for the fifth most in a match in program history…Layne and Leybe became the first CU duo to score multiple goals in a game since James and Layne each had two goals against Texas A&M Commerce (Sept. 1, 2022)...Freshmen Zamorano and Ruby Hayward each recorded their first career point.

Quotes
Head coach Danny Sanchez
On the switch to the 4-3-3: "Getting a couple [goals] early really put them [Fordham] under pressure. I want to give credit to Fordham for traveling across the country to play a match and then having to turn around and play again on Saturday. They had a great chance when it was 1-0, but we dealt with that. At the end of the day, we were very good going forward. You're not always going to get seven, but if we create this many chances, we're going to get a few."

On Jace Holley: "She's a great player and we know that. She's versatile. She's playing one spot, but she can play another spot. We'll move her around as the season goes along. That assist to Hope was just a quality ball. Great vision, great texture on the ball. Just a great person and teammate, too. That's kind of the standard for us."
...
"
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Box score - https://cubuffs.com/sports/womens-soccer/stats/2025/fordham/boxscore/17496







 
Seven to one, Buffs!

Finishing can be one of the most fickle aspects of a soccer team’s attack. Thus far for the Buffs it has been anything but fickle. Thursday night the Buffs scored four goals in the first half on five shots on goal, led by senior Emerson Layne with a pair. Not to be out done, junior Hope Leyba scored two in the second half to add to the goal she scored in the 10’. Sophomore Jace Holley scored in the first half and had three assists as well. Senior Josie Master completed the onslaught scoring her first career goal and the team’s seventh in the 85’.

CU came out in a 4-3-3 with the only change from last weekend’s lineup being Ava Priest starting in place of Lexi Meyer in the midfield. The Buffs were in control for the most part, although they were at times a bit lax in closing down space when out of possession.

Hope Leyba has really improved her finishing from last season. In the past she would often get into the right space but miss the target. Last season she scored eight times in 22 matches. In three matches this season she’s bagged five goals (tied for the most in D1).

CU conceded in the 74’ when an ill-advised clearance from back-up keeper Jamie Campbell went right to Fordham’s Lena Johnsen who had plenty of space to work with when she shot.

Highlights

The Buffs host UNC-Greensboro on Sunday at noon. Last season the Buffs won this match 1-0 on Greensboro. They are 0-2 with losses to Davidson and UNC-Willmington.
 
In the 13th minute, H. Leyba keeps her goal scoring streak going as she goes solo with the ball from the midfield line and goes by and around 3 or so defenders before hitting a hard angle shot in with her left foot. (Layne and Whiteaker are credited with assists.)

1-0 CU.
 
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And it's 2-0 Buffs as Layne swarms after an ill-advised UNCG pass from a defender back to the goalie and the goalie's clear attempt hits her square in the body from a foot or 2 away and bounces back into the goal!
 
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Holley makes it 3-0 in the 30th minute as, after getting robbed by a couple great saves by the goalie a minute earlier, gets a great pass that bounces to her close in at the far post and she pounds it in.

Assists to Whiteaker and R. Hayward.
 
3-0 is the halftime score.

The finish (only) for the 1st goal is the 3rd slide in the below post.

 
The Buffs have tallied 3 more in less than 14 minutes to start the 2nd half to go up 6-0:

  • Kotschau got on the board in the 50th minute with assists to Swierenga and Priest.
  • Holley earned her brace in the 55th minute on an assist to Zacarias and
  • H. Leyba gets her brace in the 59th minute with an assist from E. Layne.
 
Soon after coming in, the sub front line shows they can also do it as a couple nice efforts and passes leads to Fisher getting an easy put-in at the far post in the 73rd minute for her 1st of the season. 2nd Assist of the match For R. Hayward, while frosh Sharrer earns her 1st point as a Buff.

7-0 CU.
 
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And, in the 83rd minute, Sharrer follows up her 1st collegiate assist with her 1st goal. Assist to Allen.

8-0
 
And the final is 8-0, which the announcer says ties the largest ever scoring effort by a Buff team.

Way to go Buffs!
Edit -
 
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Media after today's win:

Article - https://cubuffs.com/news/2025/8/24/soccer-buffs-stay-hot-in-win-over-uncg

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Buffs Stay Hot in Win Over UNCG​

Colorado tied the program record for most goals in a match

By: Seth Pringle, Athletic Communications

BOULDER, Colo. – The Colorado soccer team continued to find the back of the net at a blistering pace against UNC Greensboro at Prentup Field on Sunday afternoon. The Buffaloes, who scored seven goals to open the weekend, tied the program record with eight goals in the 8-0 win over the Spartans.

Colorado (3-0-1) saw goals go in from six different contributors, setting the record for the most assists in a match (11) and most points (27).

Forward Hope Leyba, who entered the match tied for the NCAA lead in goals, added two more on the day to give her seven in CU's first four matches. Jace Holley recorded her second brace of the season, while Emerson Layne, Reagan Kotschau, Sami Fisher and Maddie Sharrer all got in on the action.

"We played well today," head coach Danny Sanchez commented after the win. "This [UNCG] is a team we played last [at Greensboro] 1-0, and kind of gutted out the result, and Jordi [Nytes] had to make some saves. So, really pleased with how we came out, getting that early goal. You look at that second goal, the effort from Emerson, and that really kind of killed their spirit a little bit. But we played well today and I'm really pleased with when we subbed, especially at the end of the game."

Jordan Nytes picked up her first shutout of the season and 20th at CU, making two second-half saves.

The Buffs came into Sunday ranked eighth in the nation with 12 goals in three games and have now found the net 20 times in the first four matches. Colorado's previous best start was 15 goals through the first four games to open the 2022 season. Leyba's seven goals to open the season are the most thru four games to start a season in CU history.

"Every time she gets it, I think she's going to score," Layne said about Leyba. "It's really fun. I just try to move off of her, and then she's going to find the back of the net almost every game. It's really fun to watch her do that. I feel like in the past, it's been kind of hard for her, just to see her shine finally, I'm really happy for her."
...

Up Next
The Buffs remain at home next week, taking on New Mexico State on Thursday (7 p.m. MT).

Notes
Colorado's 15 goals in consecutive matches are its most in program history (prev. 11, Sept. 1 & 4, 2022)…Leyba now has 17 career goals, moving into a tie for 9th in program history with Ashlie Mihlacin and Tatum Barton…Holley now has five goals this season and nine in her career…She's second on the team to Leyba (14) in points, already with a career-high of 13 (4 G, 5 A)…Nytes moved into a fourth all-time in CU history with her 20th career shutout…Colorado's five second-half goals tied for the second-most in a half in school history…The team's seven assists in the second half tied for the most all-time in program history, also done in the second half at Denver (Sept. 16, 2017)…Layne, Swierenga and Jordan Whiteaker each had two assists, becoming just the second trio of Buffs to have 2+ assists in the same match (Megan Massey, Joss Orejel, Cassie Philips, at Denver – Sept. 16, 2017).

Quotes
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On the shutout – "That was our objective before the game. At halftime, I said, 'Whatever happens, we want to get a clean sheet.' We let them have that header off the crossbar, on the corner, so we'll deal with that. But other than that, I mean, Jordi really only had a couple of saves and dealt with that. I thought the back four and Vivi [Zacarias], especially in the first half, were very good."

On the outside back – "We did well when we got the ball. UNC Greensboro had the ball a lot, especially early in the game. But I thought once we got it, we really punished them and we were good going forward."

On Hope Leyba – "Good goals. [They've] all been good goals, especially the second one that Emerson played across and she had the composure to take the tough and finish it. Really pleased with her and glad that some of the midfielders got involved in the scoring as well."
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Box score - https://cubuffs.com/sports/womens-soccer/stats/2025/unc-greensboro/boxscore/17497

​






 
CU - 8, UNC Greensboro - 0

The Buffs continued with their scorching finishing that began with the Air Force match the previous Sunday, putting eight goals on UNCG. Air Force, Fordham and UNCG are weak opponents, but what’s different about this CU team compared to ones in recent memory is they are taking advantage of every opportunity to score. Last season CU won this match 1-0 in Greensboro. They have scored 20 goals in four matches. Last season they scored 31 goals in 22 games.

Junior Hope Leyba has been the instigator in the goal explosion having scored in every match for a total of seven thus far while last season she scored eight total which led the team. She has scored the first goal in three of the four matches this season. Playing on the left side of the forward three, the early goals she’s scored first have come in very similar fashion where she has been able to use her pace to get to a long ball on the left side, beating a defender to it and then driving towards the endline before taking a touch or two to her right to get off a clean shot. In this match she out played three defenders for the first score.

Not to be out done in the scoring category is sophomore Jace Holley who has five goals and three assists. She plays on the right side of the front line and has a knack for getting to a good spot in the final third to facilitate or score.

The center of the front line is senior Emerson Layne who did an outstanding job in the second half of pinning a defender on her back to receive a long pass on the ground. This allowed the Buffs to maintain possession and get into dangerous spots. Her goal in this match came when UNCG played a slow backpass which the goalkeeper whacked off of Layne and then into the goal.

The starting front three have scored at least one goal in the last two matches. Of course others are involved in the scoring. In this match junior midfielder Reagan Kotschau headed home a beautiful flighted service from Caley Swierenga to the back post. Sophomore Sami Fisher makes well timed runs from the opposite side of the ball and in this instance it paid off for her. Freshman Maddie Sharrer scored the final goal when she took a through ball in the box and hit it over the keeper.

It was the first shutout of the season for the Buffs and one of the few shaky moments came off an ill advised backpass in the second half.

The Buffs continued with the same lineup and formation as in Thursday night’s game.

Highlights

CU hosts New Mexico State and Wyoming this week.
 
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