Colorado University Athletics
Sunday, November 23
East Lansing, MI
11 a.m.
Colorado
at
Michigan State
Buffs Set for Rematch with Spartans
November 22, 2025 | Soccer
The two teams met in the season opener
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Colorado and Michigan State will meet on Sunday for the second time in the 2025 season. The Buffaloes and Spartans opened the season against each other back in August and will now play for a shot at advancing to the Elite Eight.
The 2025 season started on Aug. 14 with the Buffs hosting Michigan State at Prentup Field. The match resulted in a 1-1 draw, and 101 days later, the two sides will meet with everything on the line.
"When we played, it was the first match of the season," head coach Danny Sanchez explained. "Both teams have evolved and improved since then. However, their core players are the same, and our core players are the same. Although we played each other, it's been a while. I expect both teams will make some adjustments, and it'll be a great match."
Colorado (17-3-3) could add another 'first' to the number of records broken this season. No CU team has advanced past the Sweet 16 in the team's 30-year history. A win on Sunday and the Buffs will be in uncharted territory.
"It would be a tremendous accomplishment for this group," Sanchez noted. "You don't advance to the Elite Eight if you don't get to the Sweet 16, so we've put ourselves in a position to have an opportunity against a very good Michigan State team in front of a sold-out crowd. We're excited for the opportunity and the challenge."
The No. 12 Buffs have continued to raise the bar this season. The team has set records in goals, assists, points, and wins this season, but the contributions have come from all over the pitch. All-American and Player of the Year candidate Hope Leyba has been a significant factor with her nation's leading 22 goals. Still, the Buffs have six players with 10 or more points this season for the first time in program history, with Faith Leyba (10) and Ava Priest (10) becoming the latest to join the group.
"Once you get this late in the season, you need to have other players stepping up and you have to diversify your attack," Sanchez noted. "It's tough to score in the NCAA Tournament. It's tough to get results. You need other players stepping up, and fortunately, we've had some players that have really picked up their play over the last few weeks."
One of Colorado's keys to success in past seasons has been the ability to score off of set pieces, and that's proved pivotal late in the season for the Buffs. From Reagan Kotschau's free-kick game-winner at Kansas to Jordan Whiteaker's two corner kick assists on Thursday against Xavier, the Buffs are getting deadly from set-piece opportunities at the right time, now with 15 goals this season.
"We always talk about how big matches are a lot of times won on set pieces and just transitional moments," Sanchez commented. "That's for everybody. The key for us really has been that the service has been really good and put our dangerous players in good spots."
Sunday's winner will advance to take on either Stanford or BYU on Nov. 28 or 29. Stanford, the No. 1 seed in the bracket, will host if it advances.
Kickoff on Sunday will be at 11 a.m. MT on ESPN+.
For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.
The 2025 season started on Aug. 14 with the Buffs hosting Michigan State at Prentup Field. The match resulted in a 1-1 draw, and 101 days later, the two sides will meet with everything on the line.
"When we played, it was the first match of the season," head coach Danny Sanchez explained. "Both teams have evolved and improved since then. However, their core players are the same, and our core players are the same. Although we played each other, it's been a while. I expect both teams will make some adjustments, and it'll be a great match."
Colorado (17-3-3) could add another 'first' to the number of records broken this season. No CU team has advanced past the Sweet 16 in the team's 30-year history. A win on Sunday and the Buffs will be in uncharted territory.
"It would be a tremendous accomplishment for this group," Sanchez noted. "You don't advance to the Elite Eight if you don't get to the Sweet 16, so we've put ourselves in a position to have an opportunity against a very good Michigan State team in front of a sold-out crowd. We're excited for the opportunity and the challenge."
The No. 12 Buffs have continued to raise the bar this season. The team has set records in goals, assists, points, and wins this season, but the contributions have come from all over the pitch. All-American and Player of the Year candidate Hope Leyba has been a significant factor with her nation's leading 22 goals. Still, the Buffs have six players with 10 or more points this season for the first time in program history, with Faith Leyba (10) and Ava Priest (10) becoming the latest to join the group.
"Once you get this late in the season, you need to have other players stepping up and you have to diversify your attack," Sanchez noted. "It's tough to score in the NCAA Tournament. It's tough to get results. You need other players stepping up, and fortunately, we've had some players that have really picked up their play over the last few weeks."
One of Colorado's keys to success in past seasons has been the ability to score off of set pieces, and that's proved pivotal late in the season for the Buffs. From Reagan Kotschau's free-kick game-winner at Kansas to Jordan Whiteaker's two corner kick assists on Thursday against Xavier, the Buffs are getting deadly from set-piece opportunities at the right time, now with 15 goals this season.
"We always talk about how big matches are a lot of times won on set pieces and just transitional moments," Sanchez commented. "That's for everybody. The key for us really has been that the service has been really good and put our dangerous players in good spots."
Sunday's winner will advance to take on either Stanford or BYU on Nov. 28 or 29. Stanford, the No. 1 seed in the bracket, will host if it advances.
Kickoff on Sunday will be at 11 a.m. MT on ESPN+.
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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