CU Soccer Celebrates 2024 Season

BOULDER– The Colorado soccer team gathered Saturday evening at the Rooftop Lounge of the Champions Center to celebrate the 2024 season at the team's annual year-end banquet.

The Buffaloes, who finished 12-5-5 last season, clinched their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, advancing to the second round for the first time since the 2019 season.

2024 Team Awards
MVP – Jordan Nytes
Offensive MVP – Hope Leyba
Defensive MVP – Faith Leyba
Newcomer of the Year – Jace Holley
Herbst Academic Award – Emerson Layne
Strength and Condition Award – Laura Gouvin
Buff Cup – Ava Priest
Goal of the Year – Ava Priest

Junior goalkeeper Jordan Nytes was honored as the team's Most Valuable Player. She was selected as a United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American, becoming the first CU goalkeeper to earn All-America status. Nytes, the 2024 Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year, was in net for all 11 of Colorado's shutouts last season, ranking second in the Big 12 and sixth in the NCAA> Her 11 clean sheets 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 Aurora, Colo., native set the CU record for consecutive shutout minutes, posting a streak of 583:33 minutes of scoreless soccer.

Sophomore Hope Leyba took home her first Offensive MVP award. She led the team with 18 points this past season. Leyba registered a career-high eight goals and handed out two assists. Leyba ranked fifth in the Big 12 in shots on goal per game (1.64) and was fourth in the conference in shot accuracy (.529). The Phoenix, Ariz., native scored in big situations late in the season, finishing with goals in three of the last four games, including the game-tying goal in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Georgia.

Sophomore Faith Leyba locked up the team's Defensive MVP. A First Team All-Big 12 selection, she started all 22 matches for the Buffs and led CU's field players in minutes with 1,896. Leyba was a vital part of the CU defensive corps, recording 11 shouts in 2024. The second-year Buff dished out two assists and played the full 90 minutes in 16 of CU's 22 matches. The Phoenix, Ariz., native also earned her second career All-Region selection, landing First Team All-Midwest Region honors.

Freshman Jace Holley finished fourth on the team with eight points in her rookie campaign. She scored four goals in 2024, all of the game-winning variety. Holley ranked third in the Big 12 with her four game-winning goals and was selected Big 12 All-Freshman. Holley started 13 matches and played in all 22. The Fort Collins, Colo., native finished the year No. 72 in Top Drawer Soccer's Freshman Top 100.

Junior Emerson Layne was awarded the team's Academic Award. She started 15 matches and played in all 22. Layne had six points (2 G, 2 A) last season, picking up the game-winning goal in CU's 1-0 win at Iowa State. Laura Gouvin, a grad transfer in 2024, was honored with the Strength and Conditioning Award. Gouvin started all 22 matches in her lone season at CU, totaling two assists.

Sophomore Ava Priest was bestowed the yearly Buff Cup award for accumulating the most points during team competition during the spring season. She took home the Goal of the Year award for her game-tying goal at Texas Tech.

Colorado resumes its spring season at Prentup Field on Sunday. The Buffs, originally scheduled to play Nebraska, will now host local USL W side Albion SC at Noon.

Players Mentioned

Laura Gouvin

Jace Holley

Emerson Layne

Faith Leyba

Hope Leyba

Jordan Nytes

Ava Priest

Related Videos