Colorado Buffaloes '26

Discussion in 'Women's College' started by unkiemark, Dec 27, 2025.

  1. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #1 unkiemark, Dec 27, 2025
    Looks like very little attrition this off-season as reported in this Daily Camera article. Only one player has opted to transfer out - Maddy Sharrer. This means that CU returns eight starters as well as most of their key substitutes.

    Two players who were injured for much of the fall, Kenzie Gellispie and Lillian Zamorano, are going to be back with the team next season.

    The three starters who were seniors this season were Jordan Nytes (GK), Emerson Layne (F, M) and Greer Maguire (CB).

    The only incoming transfer (thus far) is central defender Emma Thielbahr from DU who was the Summit League defender of the year last season. She’s got one year of eligibility.

    With eight HS players signing in the fall, it’s likely unlikely there will be many more transfers brought in.
     
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  2. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #2 unkiemark, Jan 15, 2026
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  3. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #3 unkiemark, Jan 16, 2026
  4. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #4 unkiemark, Jan 16, 2026
  5. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #5 unkiemark, Jan 23, 2026
    CU keeper Jordan Nytes will be joining Taylor Flint (nèe) Kornieck as a forever Buffs in the NWSL this season. With the draft eliminated through a collective bargaining agreement, college players have the ability to sort through offers and sign with an NWSL club that is in their best interest. Of course there are professional leagues in other countries to consider as well, but coming out of college the most likely start to a professional career for collegians is in a domestic league.

    Signed by Denver Summit FC, Nytes currently looks to be the backup to Abby Smith who is an NWSL veteran. It should be noted that Summit is looking to bring in French national team keeper Pauline Camille Peyraud-Magnin who would be the starter, likely moving Nytes to #3 on the depth chart.

    Nytes signed a one year contract with Summit FC, as did two other collegiate players. So Nytes is going to have a season to prove she is an NWSL caliber keeper, most likely through training sessions. For both Nytes and Summit FC they have the freedom to determine what’s best once the season is over.

    With two new franchises in the NWSL this season there are around 45 more roster spots available. And with the draft no longer an impediment, Summit FC took advantage by signing six players straight out of college including MAC Hermann award winner Jasmine Aikey from Stanford. Had there been a draft it’s likely that they would have not gotten more than one of their top three college signings.

    Between college players being free agents and two expansion teams, the chances are increased Hope and Faith Leyba will be pursued by multiple NWSL sides. Should Hope score at roughly the same rate she did last season, she will be attractive to a lot of clubs. With Summit FC in the CU’s backyard they will not only be able to scout her easily, she would be another local signing that would provide a young goal scoring option. Faith may also be in Summit FC’s sights as they don't have young center backs on their roster, so she could be signed with an eye to the future.

    Looking at the college players signed by Summit FC, both Hope and Faith stack up well talent wise. Both should be in the mix for a roster spot on an NWSL side in a year.
     
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  6. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #6 unkiemark, Jan 27, 2026
    whatagoodball and ColoradHoo repped this.
  7. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #7 unkiemark, Jan 27, 2026
  8. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #8 unkiemark, Jan 28, 2026
  9. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #9 unkiemark, Feb 16, 2026


    Quick thoughts on the schedule - hands down, the most challenging non-conference match is Aug. 30 @ Michigan State. Don't know how many players they return, but they have a very good program. CU faced them at home in the first match of the season, drawing 1-1 (and were a bit fortunate too do so) and had their season ended in East Lansing falling 1-2 in the NCAA tourney.

    Utah State was in the NCAA tourney last season.

    The conference schedule looks favorable, despite having more road games than home games. CU doesn't play BYU or TCU. They do have to travel to Texas Tech and UCF, but get Baylor at home.
     
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  10. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #10 unkiemark, Feb 18, 2026
    This is great for Hope as the U23 program was started by women's national team head coach Emma Hayes a few years ago to identify and train players that aren't going to get many/any call ups to the full national team but down the road might develop into top level talent. This call up is for a training camp so the next step for Hope would be to make a roster for matches.

     
  11. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #11 unkiemark, Mar 1, 2026
  12. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #12 unkiemark, Mar 4, 2026
     
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  13. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #13 unkiemark, Mar 25, 2026
  14. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #14 unkiemark, Mar 30, 2026
    Spring soccer came back to Prentup Field on Sunday afternoon when the Buffs hosted Colorado State on a hot afternoon in Boulder. It was the second spring game for the Buffs and their first at home. CU won 4-1, picking up with where they left off last season in the goal scoring category. These two teams meet in the first regular season match on August 12 at Prentup.

    This match was divided into quarters with the center ref stopping play at roughly the midway point of each half with the players going to the sidelines for some instruction. CU’s Danny Sanchez used this time to give tactical instruction using some small cones. Good thing, as the Buffs were unable to prevent the Rams from breaking their lines easily in the first quarter and generating some quality chances - one of which forced Jamie Campbell into a flying save. Still the Buffs produced a goal in the quarter when Ruby Hayward got behind the defense to smash home a shot.

    With tactical adjustments in place, CU began to control the game with more possession while restricting CSU’s attack. In general the rest of the match would be this way. For much of this time it looked like CU was playing three on the back line with five in the midfield. At the middle of the back three was newcomer Emma Thiebahr - a transfer from DU. This quarter it was Riley MacDonald’s turn to score.

    CSU’s #7, Michaela McGowan, was giving CU fits much of the match with her ability to run at a defender 1v1 and get into a dangerous spot. In the third quarter she scored after running about 50 yards unchallenged and then blasting home her shot.

    Hope Leyba is back from the U-23 training camp and she was in form scoring twice in the second half.

    There isn’t an up to date roster, so I didn’t know all the Buff players.

    In two games this spring CU has scored seven goals and conceded once.
     
  15. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #15 unkiemark, Mar 30, 2026


    From the link in the tweet:

    To kick off the celebration, the team has unveiled a special commemorative logo that will be included on player uniform patches as well as on merchandise available to fans all season long.

    A new Colorado Soccer Wall of Honor will also be created at Prentup Field, paying tribute to the legendary players who have represented CU and who will be recognized at various home games throughout the 2026 campaign.

    Former players will be invited back for a special reunion weekend when the soccer team takes on Denver University on Sept. 11, followed by recognition at the first home football game of the season on Sept. 12.

    In addition to all the momentum generated on the field, there are also exciting improvements to Prentup Field that will be announced soon.


     
  16. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #16 unkiemark, Apr 2, 2026
  17. soccerfanco

    soccerfanco New Member

    Manchester United
    United States
    Apr 1, 2026
    #17 soccerfanco, Apr 2, 2026
    The newbies playing this spring are 2 early enrolled freshman: Brooke Goerish #1 goalie & Sloane Phillips #8 midfield. New transfer Emma Thielbahr #4 defense.
     
  18. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #18 unkiemark, Apr 10, 2026
  19. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #19 unkiemark, Apr 10, 2026
  20. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #20 unkiemark, Apr 13, 2026
  21. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #21 unkiemark, Apr 14, 2026
    Concerning Hope and Faith Leyba with the U-23 national team, here's a bit of the recap from the first match, a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands:

    The USA had most of the dangerous chances in the fast, physical and intense encounter and it was twin sisters who combined for the tying goal. Hope and Faith Leyba, who play for the University of Colorado, both entered the game in the second half, Hope in the 70th and Faith in the 83rd.

    The goal came off a service from the left wing from team captain Riley Jackson, oddly, after a drop ball from the referee following a Netherlands injury which left them with 10 players on the field at the time of the goal. Hope Leyba chased the service and dove to nod a header into the middle of the goal mouth for Faith to finish from six yards out to tie the game.

    No info yet on the 1-1 draw with Denmark from yesterday with the US advancing on PKs.
     
  22. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    #22 unkiemark, May 4, 2026 at 4:29 PM

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