Sunday, August 17
1 p.m.
Colorado
1-0-1, 0-0-0
4
vs
1
Air Force
0-2-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Air Force
0
1
1
Colorado
2
2
4
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Holley's Brace Helps Buffs Past AFA
August 17, 2025 | Soccer
BOULDER, Colo. – Jace Holley recorded her first-career multi-goal performance on Sunday, notching two goals, the first and the final, to help the Buffaloes past the visiting Air Force Falcons, 4-1.
Colorado's (1-0-1) four-goal effort at Prentup Field on Sunday was its most goals scored in almost a year. The Buffs put up five last season against Wyoming on Aug. 22. Holley's brace against the Falcons was the first time a CU player had a multi-goal output since Shyra James' hat trick against Wyoming.
"I feel really good," Holley said after the win. "I was really nervous going into our first game of the season, but I think the second game at home, we got one under our belts. This one felt a lot more comfortable, but I felt really good out there."
Goalkeeper Jordan Nytes made seven saves on eight shots on goal from AFA. Reagan Kotschau added both a goal and an assist, also converting a game-winning penalty. Hope Leyba accounted for the third goal of the match, marking her second straight game with a tally.
Caley Swierenga and Vivi Zacarias each contributed with an assist, playing crucial roles in setting up scoring opportunities.
"We're always pleased to get a win," head coach Danny Sanchez noted. "I thought we scored some good goals and created good chances. Credit Air Force. I think they deserved a goal and maybe more. I thought they were good going forward, created some good opportunities. There's a lot for us to clean up. But having said that, I thought there were some stretches where we played really good soccer. This is the best Air Force team since I've been around. I think they're going to do well as they get through the rest of their season."
How it happened
The first half began with Holley making an impact early and eventually finding the back of the net in the 16th minute with a shot from distance off the far post. The Buffs continued to capitalize on their opportunities as Kotschau converted a penalty kick in the 27th minute, following a takedown of H. Leyba inside the penalty area.
Air Force held the slim shot advantage, 8-7, at the half, and both teams went to the locker room with four shots on goal.
The second half began with Colorado maintaining its momentum, as H. Leyba scored in the 49th minute off a corner kick, assisted by her twin sister Faith Leyba and Kotschau, extending their lead to 3-0.
Despite a goal by Air Force's Peyton Ferrell in the 65th minute, the Buffs' defense, led by Nytes, held firm with multiple saves. Holley sealed the result off with a diving header goal in the 86th minute off a perfect feed from Swierenga.
"Caley and I have actually been playing together since I was in middle school," Holley explained. "She went to LSU and then transferred here, but I can really feel that chemistry from when we were playing when we were younger, and our coaches have had us working on that deep ball over all preseason. We have a lot of great players in the air, and we know we're going to score a lot of great goals like that. I think it was practice makes perfect on that one."
Up Next
Colorado will host Fordham on August 21. The match is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Prentup Field.
Notes
H. Leyba has now scored in consecutive matches, and five of her last six matches dating back to Oct. 30, 2024…Colorado has now won the last eight meetings with Air Force and is 8-1 against the Falcons all-time…The win for Nytes was her 26th as a Buff…Kotschau, Swierenga and Zacarias each recorded their first point as a Buff…Kotschau recorded her first career match with a goal and assist…CU's four assists were its most since having four against Wyoming (Aug. 22, 2024)…Colorado had seven corner kick chances on Sunday…Kansas State transfer Kenzi Gillispie was removed from the game in the first half due to an apparent knee injury.
Quotes
Head coach Danny Sanchez
On the team's rhythm – "There were some good stretches, but it wasn't consistent enough over 90 minutes. I thought the first 30 minutes of the game were good, and I thought the last 15 minutes or so were good. But there were stretches in there where I think we just have to play with a little bit more confidence. It's always a work in progress early in non-conference play."
On the emergence of Caley Swierenga – "I thought Caley was very good today. Not only her service, obviously, the last ball to Jace was first class, but I thought her defending was good. We need her on both sides of the ball. She missed the whole spring, but so far so good with what she's done for us."
On Kenzi Gillispie – "We don't know anything [at the moment]. But it doesn't look good. It's very disappointing because even though she has only been with our program for a little while, her commitment to the team, being a great teammate, and her work ethic to come back from an injury last year, it's heartbreaking. But we know the type of kid she is, and she'll come back stronger, whatever the diagnosis is, and the team will have her back."
For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.
Colorado's (1-0-1) four-goal effort at Prentup Field on Sunday was its most goals scored in almost a year. The Buffs put up five last season against Wyoming on Aug. 22. Holley's brace against the Falcons was the first time a CU player had a multi-goal output since Shyra James' hat trick against Wyoming.
"I feel really good," Holley said after the win. "I was really nervous going into our first game of the season, but I think the second game at home, we got one under our belts. This one felt a lot more comfortable, but I felt really good out there."
Goalkeeper Jordan Nytes made seven saves on eight shots on goal from AFA. Reagan Kotschau added both a goal and an assist, also converting a game-winning penalty. Hope Leyba accounted for the third goal of the match, marking her second straight game with a tally.
Caley Swierenga and Vivi Zacarias each contributed with an assist, playing crucial roles in setting up scoring opportunities.
"We're always pleased to get a win," head coach Danny Sanchez noted. "I thought we scored some good goals and created good chances. Credit Air Force. I think they deserved a goal and maybe more. I thought they were good going forward, created some good opportunities. There's a lot for us to clean up. But having said that, I thought there were some stretches where we played really good soccer. This is the best Air Force team since I've been around. I think they're going to do well as they get through the rest of their season."
How it happened
The first half began with Holley making an impact early and eventually finding the back of the net in the 16th minute with a shot from distance off the far post. The Buffs continued to capitalize on their opportunities as Kotschau converted a penalty kick in the 27th minute, following a takedown of H. Leyba inside the penalty area.
Air Force held the slim shot advantage, 8-7, at the half, and both teams went to the locker room with four shots on goal.
The second half began with Colorado maintaining its momentum, as H. Leyba scored in the 49th minute off a corner kick, assisted by her twin sister Faith Leyba and Kotschau, extending their lead to 3-0.
Despite a goal by Air Force's Peyton Ferrell in the 65th minute, the Buffs' defense, led by Nytes, held firm with multiple saves. Holley sealed the result off with a diving header goal in the 86th minute off a perfect feed from Swierenga.
"Caley and I have actually been playing together since I was in middle school," Holley explained. "She went to LSU and then transferred here, but I can really feel that chemistry from when we were playing when we were younger, and our coaches have had us working on that deep ball over all preseason. We have a lot of great players in the air, and we know we're going to score a lot of great goals like that. I think it was practice makes perfect on that one."
Up Next
Colorado will host Fordham on August 21. The match is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Prentup Field.
Notes
H. Leyba has now scored in consecutive matches, and five of her last six matches dating back to Oct. 30, 2024…Colorado has now won the last eight meetings with Air Force and is 8-1 against the Falcons all-time…The win for Nytes was her 26th as a Buff…Kotschau, Swierenga and Zacarias each recorded their first point as a Buff…Kotschau recorded her first career match with a goal and assist…CU's four assists were its most since having four against Wyoming (Aug. 22, 2024)…Colorado had seven corner kick chances on Sunday…Kansas State transfer Kenzi Gillispie was removed from the game in the first half due to an apparent knee injury.
Quotes
Head coach Danny Sanchez
On the team's rhythm – "There were some good stretches, but it wasn't consistent enough over 90 minutes. I thought the first 30 minutes of the game were good, and I thought the last 15 minutes or so were good. But there were stretches in there where I think we just have to play with a little bit more confidence. It's always a work in progress early in non-conference play."
On the emergence of Caley Swierenga – "I thought Caley was very good today. Not only her service, obviously, the last ball to Jace was first class, but I thought her defending was good. We need her on both sides of the ball. She missed the whole spring, but so far so good with what she's done for us."
On Kenzi Gillispie – "We don't know anything [at the moment]. But it doesn't look good. It's very disappointing because even though she has only been with our program for a little while, her commitment to the team, being a great teammate, and her work ethic to come back from an injury last year, it's heartbreaking. But we know the type of kid she is, and she'll come back stronger, whatever the diagnosis is, and the team will have her back."
For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.
Team Stats
AFA
COLO
Goals
1
4
Shots
15
14
Shots on Goal
8
7
Saves
3
7
Corners
1
7
Fouls
2
4
Scoring Plays
Jace Holley (2)
Assisted By: Vivi Zacarias
GOAL by COLO Holley, Jace Assist by Zacarias, Vivi.
15:33
Reagan Kotschau
COLO Reagan Kotschau PENALTY KICK GOAL.
26:48
Hope Leyba (2)
Assisted By: Faith Leyba , Reagan Kotschau
GOAL by COLO Leyba, Hope Assist by Leyba, Faith and Kotschau, Reagan.
48:04
Peyton Ferrell (1)
GOAL by AFA Ferrell, Peyton.
64:37
Jace Holley (2)
Assisted By: Caley Swierenga
GOAL by COLO Holley, Jace Assist by Swierenga, Caley.
85:48
Game Leaders
Players
fwd
Shots
5
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
1
fwd
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
D
/ SoccerF
/ Soccer
F
/ SoccerM
/ SoccerD
/ SoccerF
/ Soccer
GK
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
M
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