Thursday, October 26
Boulder, Colo.
7:00 PM
Colorado
11-4-3, 3-3-3
2
vs
0
Arizona
4-8-5, 1-6-2
1
2
F
Arizona
0
0
0
Colorado
1
1
2
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
James, F. Leyba Lead Buffs Over Arizona
October 26, 2023 | Soccer
CU gets back in the win column on Thursday night
BOULDER – Colorado's return home proved to be just what the doctor ordered as the Buffaloes snapped a five-match winless streak Thursday night at Prentup Field.
Colorado (11-4-3, 3-3-3 Pac-12) picked up its first win since Oct. 1, netting the much-needed three points on the night. Shyra James and Faith Leyba accounted for the Buffaloes' goals and Jordan Nytes recorded her seventh shutout of the season.
"Tonight was a very good performance for the Buffs," head coach Danny Sanchez said after the win. "We created a ton of opportunities. Probably unfortunate not to get a couple more [goals]. We got the two goals we needed and defended well. Jordi [Nytes] dealt with a couple of situations where she needed to stay disciplined defensively. Probably one of the better performances this year by the Buffs."
Colorado matched its season high in shots, finishing with 26. Defensively, the Buffs limited Arizona to 10 shots with six of those attempts coming after gaining the 2-0 advantage.
For James, it was her 38th career goal, inching her closer to Taylor Kornieck (39) for second all-time. She finished the night with a career-high 12 shots, tying Kornieck for the single-game program record.
The win for the Buffs keeps the postseason very much in play with No. 18 Arizona State coming to town on Sunday.
"Like I told the team, we have everything to play for," Sanchez continued. "Sunday is going to be Senior Day against a very good team that's had a very good season. We haven't gotten that big win that we've needed to have in conference play. Sunday we're going to have to be at the top of our game to get a result."
How it happened
The Buffs were on the attack early and often in the first half, totaling 17 shots in the period.
Hope Leyba had CU's first scoring chance of the night in the 19th minute. The freshman fired a turnaround shot at the top of the 18-yard line and forced a diving save to the near post by the Arizona keeper.
Colorado capitalized on the ensuing corner kick with Rachel Rosen sending the ball into the box and finding James. James was denied on her first attempt and cleaned up the rebound with her left foot while going to the ground for her Pac-12-leading 13th goal of the season.
The Buffs kept on pushing the offense and got a dangerous look in the 25th minute when James forced a turnover inside the Arizona penalty area. H. Lebya tracked down the ball and had a wide-open net, but her shot was deflected by a defender giving the Buffs their third of four corner kicks in the first half.
James almost picked up her second goal of the night with a pair of chances in the 30th minute when Lawson Willis served her up at the near post, but the header clanked off the iron. Arizona goalkeeper Hope Hisey put the ball back in play but James quickly got it back and fired it right back on Hisey, who made the save.
James had nine of CU's 17 shots in the first half, with four of them getting on goal.
It took Colorado all of 81 seconds to get on the board in the second half.
The Buffs earned a corner kick in the 47th minute and Rosen played the ball to the center of the box for F. Leyba. Leyba had all sorts of time to settle the ball with no traffic in front of her and punched it past Hisey for her third goal of the season.
"I think we were due for a performance like this," Sanchez expressed. "I thought our movement going forward was great. I thought we created some really good opportunities. Credit their keeper, she really made some good saves to keep them in it. But we got the two goals we needed and that's what's most important."
Nytes made her first save of the night in the 48th minute with Arizona trying to counter right after the Buffs' goal. She made a highlight save in the 89th minute to keep the clean sheet intact, diving to her right and stabbing the ball wide.
Up Next
Eight seniors will play their final regular season game at Prentup Field when the Buffs host No. 18 Arizona State on Sunday (Noon MT).
Quotes
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On Jordan Nytes' play – "It was slick conditions tonight and I thought she dealt with the back passes and her distribution was very good. The couple of times she was called upon she made very good saves."
Notes
CU's 11 wins are the most since 2019 (12-8-2)…James' goal was her 82nd career point, moving two points behind Fran Munnelly (84) for third on CU's all-time points list...James now has a goal in nine of the last 11 games she's played…CU finishes 4-2 under the lights at Prentup Field this season…Rosen's assist was her fifth of the season, marking a career-high.
Colorado (11-4-3, 3-3-3 Pac-12) picked up its first win since Oct. 1, netting the much-needed three points on the night. Shyra James and Faith Leyba accounted for the Buffaloes' goals and Jordan Nytes recorded her seventh shutout of the season.
"Tonight was a very good performance for the Buffs," head coach Danny Sanchez said after the win. "We created a ton of opportunities. Probably unfortunate not to get a couple more [goals]. We got the two goals we needed and defended well. Jordi [Nytes] dealt with a couple of situations where she needed to stay disciplined defensively. Probably one of the better performances this year by the Buffs."
Colorado matched its season high in shots, finishing with 26. Defensively, the Buffs limited Arizona to 10 shots with six of those attempts coming after gaining the 2-0 advantage.
For James, it was her 38th career goal, inching her closer to Taylor Kornieck (39) for second all-time. She finished the night with a career-high 12 shots, tying Kornieck for the single-game program record.
The win for the Buffs keeps the postseason very much in play with No. 18 Arizona State coming to town on Sunday.
"Like I told the team, we have everything to play for," Sanchez continued. "Sunday is going to be Senior Day against a very good team that's had a very good season. We haven't gotten that big win that we've needed to have in conference play. Sunday we're going to have to be at the top of our game to get a result."
How it happened
The Buffs were on the attack early and often in the first half, totaling 17 shots in the period.
Hope Leyba had CU's first scoring chance of the night in the 19th minute. The freshman fired a turnaround shot at the top of the 18-yard line and forced a diving save to the near post by the Arizona keeper.
Colorado capitalized on the ensuing corner kick with Rachel Rosen sending the ball into the box and finding James. James was denied on her first attempt and cleaned up the rebound with her left foot while going to the ground for her Pac-12-leading 13th goal of the season.
The Buffs kept on pushing the offense and got a dangerous look in the 25th minute when James forced a turnover inside the Arizona penalty area. H. Lebya tracked down the ball and had a wide-open net, but her shot was deflected by a defender giving the Buffs their third of four corner kicks in the first half.
James almost picked up her second goal of the night with a pair of chances in the 30th minute when Lawson Willis served her up at the near post, but the header clanked off the iron. Arizona goalkeeper Hope Hisey put the ball back in play but James quickly got it back and fired it right back on Hisey, who made the save.
James had nine of CU's 17 shots in the first half, with four of them getting on goal.
It took Colorado all of 81 seconds to get on the board in the second half.
The Buffs earned a corner kick in the 47th minute and Rosen played the ball to the center of the box for F. Leyba. Leyba had all sorts of time to settle the ball with no traffic in front of her and punched it past Hisey for her third goal of the season.
"I think we were due for a performance like this," Sanchez expressed. "I thought our movement going forward was great. I thought we created some really good opportunities. Credit their keeper, she really made some good saves to keep them in it. But we got the two goals we needed and that's what's most important."
Nytes made her first save of the night in the 48th minute with Arizona trying to counter right after the Buffs' goal. She made a highlight save in the 89th minute to keep the clean sheet intact, diving to her right and stabbing the ball wide.
Up Next
Eight seniors will play their final regular season game at Prentup Field when the Buffs host No. 18 Arizona State on Sunday (Noon MT).
Quotes
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On Jordan Nytes' play – "It was slick conditions tonight and I thought she dealt with the back passes and her distribution was very good. The couple of times she was called upon she made very good saves."
Notes
CU's 11 wins are the most since 2019 (12-8-2)…James' goal was her 82nd career point, moving two points behind Fran Munnelly (84) for third on CU's all-time points list...James now has a goal in nine of the last 11 games she's played…CU finishes 4-2 under the lights at Prentup Field this season…Rosen's assist was her fifth of the season, marking a career-high.
Team Stats
ARIZ
COLO
Goals
0
2
Shots
10
26
Shots on Goal
5
9
Saves
7
5
Corners
4
9
Fouls
13
11
Scoring Plays
Shyra James (13)
GOAL by COLO James, Shyra.
19:33
Faith Leyba (3)
Assisted By: Rachel Rosen
GOAL by COLO Leyba, Faith Assist by Rosen, Rachel.
46:21
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
12
SOG
5
Goals
1
Assists
0
def
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
fwd
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ SoccerD
/ SoccerF
/ Soccer
GK
/ SoccerF
/ Soccer
D
/ SoccerThis Week in Colorado Soccer: Headed to Wisconsin
Thursday, September 04
Soccer: Postgame Press Conference vs Wyoming - Aug. 31, 2025
Sunday, August 31
Soccer: Colorado vs Wyoming Highlights - Aug. 31, 2025
Sunday, August 31
Soccer: Postgame Press Conference vs New Mexico State - Aug. 28, 2025
Friday, August 29