Wednesday, October 30
Kansas City, MO.
10:45 a.m.
Colorado
vs
Utah
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Nytes Named Goalkeeper of the Year, Three Others Earn All-Conference Honors
October 29, 2024 | Soccer
Colorado opens the Big 12 Championship on Wednesday in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Colorado's standout goalkeeper, Jordan Nytes, headlined the Buffaloes' Big 12 All-Conference honors on Tuesday, taking home her second Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year to go along with being named First Team All-Conference by the league's coaches.
Faith Leyba was also selected First Team All-Conference on Tuesday, while Juliauna Hayward earned Second Team and Jace Holley earned All-Freshman honors.
"We're really pleased that coaches across the Big 12 recognized our players," head coach Danny Sanchez said of the team's honorees.
"Jordi has had an outstanding season," Sanchez continued. "Not only has she been a great leader and captain for us, but she's been unbelievable in net. Being First Team All-Conference and Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year is richly deserved, and we couldn't be more excited for her."
Nytes has been in net for all 11 of Colorado's shutouts this season, ranking second in the Big 12 and Fourth in the NCAA. Her 11 clean sheets are tied for the second-most in a season by a CU keeper. She took home five Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week awards throughout the season, becoming the most honored goalkeeper in a season since the award's inception in 2020.
The Centennial, Colo., native has helped captain the Buffs to 10 wins this season. She has twice made a season-high 10 saves and owns a 0.76 goals-against average. Her .857 save% ranks second in the conference and 17th in the NCAA. Nytes set the program record for consecutive shutout minutes, posting a streak of 583:33 minutes of scoreless soccer.
Nytes is the first Colorado goalkeeper awarded Goalkeeper of the Year honors. She was also Co-Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022 as a freshman at Oklahoma State.
Leyba earned her first All-Conference selection as a First Team defender. She has started all 18 games this year and leads all Colorado field players with 1,536 minutes played. The second-year Buff has been a vital part of the CU defensive corps that has shutout out 11 opponents this season. Leyba has two assists this season, coming in back-to-back games against Kansas and TCU.
"We feel Faith really grew this year after a fantastic freshman year," Sanchez noted. "Her communication and leadership really improved [this season], and we're excited for her future."
Hayward, a junior midfield, is also a first-time All-Conference selection on the Second Team. Hayward is on pace to play a career-high in minutes this season, appearing in 1,335 minutes in 18 starts as a first-year captain. She has career-highs in shots (45) and shots on goal (18) this season. Hayward fired off a career-highs in shots (7) and shots on goal (4) against UCF. Her lone goal was the game-winner in CU's 2-0 win over Michigan. Hayward has handed out two assists this season to give her four points.
"Juliauna has had her best season to date," Sanchez added. "She's really grown as a player and a leader."
Holley was one of 11 players selected as All-Freshman throughout the conference. The Fort Collins, Colo., native is fourth in the Buffs with eight points this season. All four of her goals this season have been credited as game-winners, and she leads the conference and is 22nd in the nation in the category. Holley has started 12 matches and played in all 18 this season. She was ranked No. 72 in Top Drawer Soccer's Mid-Season Freshman Top 100.
"We really feel that Jace has had a fantastic freshman year," Sanchez touted. "It's a great honor for her to be named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team."
This season marked the Buffs' return to the Big 12 after playing the past 13 seasons in the Pac-12. Colorado now has 52 total All-Big 12 honors, with Nytes and Leyba's First-Team selections becoming CU's 12th and 13th overall. The Buffs stand at 20 Second-Team honors and a combined 19 All-Newcomer/All-Freshman honors in the Big 12.
Colorado Opens the Big 12 Championship on Wednesday
The Buffaloes will take on Utah in a rematch of last Friday's 0-0 scoreless draw in the first round of the 2024 Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Soccer Championship at CPCK Stadium in Kansas City.
Colorado enters the tournament as the No. 9 seed, finishing the year 10-3-5 overall and 4-2-5 in the Big 12. Utah closed the year 8-5-5 overall and 5-3-3 in conference play.
The Buffs totaled 20 shots on Friday against the Utes but got outshot 10-8 in shots on goal. Colorado had three corner kick chances in the final minute of play in the first meeting and out-totaled Utah 11-2 in corner opportunities.
"I think we're so familiar with Utah, and they're very familiar with us," Sanchez said of the rematch. "I don't think there will be any big surprises, even though we only played them five days earlier. They had a really good ending to their season and have been playing really well. I expect Wednesday's match to be similar."
Wednesday will mark CU's first conference tournament since leaving the Big 12 after the 2010 season. The Buffs' last Big 12 Tournament match was a 0-0 first-round draw that saw Texas A&M advance 5-4 in penalties. Only three current Colorado players, Nytes, Lola Stanley and Greer Maguire, have ever played in a conference tournament.
"With the exception of three players, nobody in our program has played in a conference tournament," Sanchez noted. "It's similar to the NCAA Tournament and a one-and-done scenario. We know what's at stake when we get there."
CU has had trouble finding the back of the net lately, having gone the last four games without a goal. The Buffs have only dropped one of those four contests, playing to an 0-1-3 record down the stretch.
"We've been really good defensively and have been very difficult to score on," Sanchez said of the last four matches. "Now, in this knockout scenario, there will be a winner. We know what we have to do to get results."
Kickoff is at 1 p.m. MT. Chuckie Kempf and Sarah Gonzalez will call all the games on ESPN+.
Faith Leyba was also selected First Team All-Conference on Tuesday, while Juliauna Hayward earned Second Team and Jace Holley earned All-Freshman honors.
"We're really pleased that coaches across the Big 12 recognized our players," head coach Danny Sanchez said of the team's honorees.
"Jordi has had an outstanding season," Sanchez continued. "Not only has she been a great leader and captain for us, but she's been unbelievable in net. Being First Team All-Conference and Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year is richly deserved, and we couldn't be more excited for her."
Nytes has been in net for all 11 of Colorado's shutouts this season, ranking second in the Big 12 and Fourth in the NCAA. Her 11 clean sheets are tied for the second-most in a season by a CU keeper. She took home five Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week awards throughout the season, becoming the most honored goalkeeper in a season since the award's inception in 2020.
The Centennial, Colo., native has helped captain the Buffs to 10 wins this season. She has twice made a season-high 10 saves and owns a 0.76 goals-against average. Her .857 save% ranks second in the conference and 17th in the NCAA. Nytes set the program record for consecutive shutout minutes, posting a streak of 583:33 minutes of scoreless soccer.
Nytes is the first Colorado goalkeeper awarded Goalkeeper of the Year honors. She was also Co-Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022 as a freshman at Oklahoma State.
Leyba earned her first All-Conference selection as a First Team defender. She has started all 18 games this year and leads all Colorado field players with 1,536 minutes played. The second-year Buff has been a vital part of the CU defensive corps that has shutout out 11 opponents this season. Leyba has two assists this season, coming in back-to-back games against Kansas and TCU.
"We feel Faith really grew this year after a fantastic freshman year," Sanchez noted. "Her communication and leadership really improved [this season], and we're excited for her future."
Hayward, a junior midfield, is also a first-time All-Conference selection on the Second Team. Hayward is on pace to play a career-high in minutes this season, appearing in 1,335 minutes in 18 starts as a first-year captain. She has career-highs in shots (45) and shots on goal (18) this season. Hayward fired off a career-highs in shots (7) and shots on goal (4) against UCF. Her lone goal was the game-winner in CU's 2-0 win over Michigan. Hayward has handed out two assists this season to give her four points.
"Juliauna has had her best season to date," Sanchez added. "She's really grown as a player and a leader."
Holley was one of 11 players selected as All-Freshman throughout the conference. The Fort Collins, Colo., native is fourth in the Buffs with eight points this season. All four of her goals this season have been credited as game-winners, and she leads the conference and is 22nd in the nation in the category. Holley has started 12 matches and played in all 18 this season. She was ranked No. 72 in Top Drawer Soccer's Mid-Season Freshman Top 100.
"We really feel that Jace has had a fantastic freshman year," Sanchez touted. "It's a great honor for her to be named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team."
This season marked the Buffs' return to the Big 12 after playing the past 13 seasons in the Pac-12. Colorado now has 52 total All-Big 12 honors, with Nytes and Leyba's First-Team selections becoming CU's 12th and 13th overall. The Buffs stand at 20 Second-Team honors and a combined 19 All-Newcomer/All-Freshman honors in the Big 12.
Colorado Opens the Big 12 Championship on Wednesday
The Buffaloes will take on Utah in a rematch of last Friday's 0-0 scoreless draw in the first round of the 2024 Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Soccer Championship at CPCK Stadium in Kansas City.
Colorado enters the tournament as the No. 9 seed, finishing the year 10-3-5 overall and 4-2-5 in the Big 12. Utah closed the year 8-5-5 overall and 5-3-3 in conference play.
The Buffs totaled 20 shots on Friday against the Utes but got outshot 10-8 in shots on goal. Colorado had three corner kick chances in the final minute of play in the first meeting and out-totaled Utah 11-2 in corner opportunities.
"I think we're so familiar with Utah, and they're very familiar with us," Sanchez said of the rematch. "I don't think there will be any big surprises, even though we only played them five days earlier. They had a really good ending to their season and have been playing really well. I expect Wednesday's match to be similar."
Wednesday will mark CU's first conference tournament since leaving the Big 12 after the 2010 season. The Buffs' last Big 12 Tournament match was a 0-0 first-round draw that saw Texas A&M advance 5-4 in penalties. Only three current Colorado players, Nytes, Lola Stanley and Greer Maguire, have ever played in a conference tournament.
"With the exception of three players, nobody in our program has played in a conference tournament," Sanchez noted. "It's similar to the NCAA Tournament and a one-and-done scenario. We know what's at stake when we get there."
CU has had trouble finding the back of the net lately, having gone the last four games without a goal. The Buffs have only dropped one of those four contests, playing to an 0-1-3 record down the stretch.
"We've been really good defensively and have been very difficult to score on," Sanchez said of the last four matches. "Now, in this knockout scenario, there will be a winner. We know what we have to do to get results."
Kickoff is at 1 p.m. MT. Chuckie Kempf and Sarah Gonzalez will call all the games on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
GK
/ Soccer
M
/ SoccerSoccer: Colorado vs Denver Highlights - Sept. 11, 2025
Friday, September 12
This Week in Colorado Soccer: The Denver Darby
Thursday, September 11
This Week in Colorado Soccer: Headed to Wisconsin
Thursday, September 04
Soccer: Postgame Press Conference vs Wyoming - Aug. 31, 2025
Sunday, August 31