Buffs Stay Hot in Win Over UNCG
August 24, 2025 | Soccer
Colorado (3-0-1) saw goals go in from six different contributors, setting the record for the most assists in a match (11) and most points (27).
Forward Hope Leyba, who entered the match tied for the NCAA lead in goals, added two more on the day to give her seven in CU's first four matches. Jace Holley recorded her second brace of the season, while Emerson Layne, Reagan Kotschau, Sami Fisher and Maddie Sharrer all got in on the action.
"We played well today," head coach Danny Sanchez commented after the win. "This [UNCG] is a team we played last [at Greensboro] 1-0, and kind of gutted out the result, and Jordi [Nytes] had to make some saves. So, really pleased with how we came out, getting that early goal. You look at that second goal, the effort from Emerson, and that really kind of killed their spirit a little bit. But we played well today and I'm really pleased with when we subbed, especially at the end of the game."
Jordan Nytes picked up her first shutout of the season and 20th at CU, making two second-half saves.
The Buffs came into Sunday ranked eighth in the nation with 12 goals in three games and have now found the net 20 times in the first four matches. Colorado's previous best start was 15 goals through the first four games to open the 2022 season. Leyba's seven goals to open the season are the most thru four games to start a season in CU history.
"Every time she gets it, I think she's going to score," Layne said about Leyba. "It's really fun. I just try to move off of her, and then she's going to find the back of the net almost every game. It's really fun to watch her do that. I feel like in the past, it's been kind of hard for her, just to see her shine finally, I'm really happy for her."
How it Happened
UNC Greensboro did a good job at keeping Colorado at a distance early on, not allowing CU a shot in the first 12 minutes.
Leyba got things rolling down the near-sideline, as she has on multiple occasions this season, driving into the box and firing a left-footed shot from just off the corner of the eight-yard box to record the game-winner in the 13th minute.
Layne added CU's second goal in the 24th with a press on UNCG's goalkeeper, Emma Malone. Layne's pressure forced a low clear attempt from Malone, and the ball deflected backwards off Layne and into the open net.
"We've been working on pressing, and I was really close to her," Layne recalled. "I saw her about to play it back, and I knew that the grass and the way she was kicking it, I knew it was going to be low and I just ran and it hit me."
Six minutes later, Holley got her first of the day, making a run to the back post. The ball from Caley Swierenga sneaked all the way through the box and found Holley's outstretched leg for the tap-in.
The Buffs scored three first-half goals on five shots on goal.
Colorado didn't take long to tack on in the second half. The Buffs got goals in the 50th, 55th and 59th minutes from Kotschau, Holley and Leyba to extend the lead to 6-0.
CU's second unit got a bulk of the minutes following Leyba's second goal, with Fisher picking up her first goal of the year in the 73rd minute and Sharrer notching her first-career tally in the 83rd minute.
"I feel like when we got subbed out, they stepped up the play and just kept it going and kept pushing on," Layne added. "They got a couple [of goals], which I'm really happy about."
Up Next
The Buffs remain at home next week, taking on New Mexico State on Thursday (7 p.m. MT).
Notes
Colorado's 15 goals in consecutive matches are its most in program history (prev. 11, Sept. 1 & 4, 2022)…Leyba now has 17 career goals, moving into a tie for 9th in program history with Ashlie Mihlacin and Tatum Barton…Holley now has five goals this season and nine in her career…She's second on the team to Leyba (14) in points, already with a career-high of 13 (4 G, 5 A)…Nytes moved into a fourth all-time in CU history with her 20th career shutout…Colorado's five second-half goals tied for the second-most in a half in school history…The team's seven assists in the second half tied for the most all-time in program history, also done in the second half at Denver (Sept. 16, 2017)…Layne, Swierenga and Jordan Whiteaker each had two assists, becoming just the second trio of Buffs to have 2+ assists in the same match (Megan Massey, Joss Orejel, Cassie Philips, at Denver – Sept. 16, 2017).
Quotes
Head Coach Danny Sanchez
On the shutout – "That was our objective before the game. At halftime, I said, 'Whatever happens, we want to get a clean sheet.' We let them have that header off the crossbar, on the corner, so we'll deal with that. But other than that, I mean, Jordi really only had a couple of saves and dealt with that. I thought the back four and Vivi [Zacarias], especially in the first half, were very good."
On the outside back – "We did well when we got the ball. UNC Greensboro had the ball a lot, especially early in the game. But I thought once we got it, we really punished them and we were good going forward."
On Hope Leyba – "Good goals. [They've] all been good goals, especially the second one that Emerson played across and she had the composure to take the tough and finish it. Really pleased with her and glad that some of the midfielders got involved in the scoring as well."
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

Hope Leyba (7)
Assisted By: Emerson Layne , Jordan Whiteaker
GOAL by COLO Leyba, Hope Assist by Layne, Emerson and Whiteaker, Jordan.
12:01

Emerson Layne (3)
GOAL by COLO Layne, Emerson.
23:04

Jace Holley (5)
Assisted By: Caley Swierenga , Jordan Whiteaker
GOAL by COLO Holley, Jace Assist by Swierenga, Caley and Whiteaker, Jordan.
29:57

Reagan Kotschau (2)
Assisted By: Caley Swierenga , Ava Priest
GOAL by COLO Kotschau, Reagan Assist by Swierenga, Caley and Priest, Ava.
49:22

Jace Holley (5)
Assisted By: Vivi Zacarias
GOAL by COLO Holley, Jace Assist by Zacarias, Vivi.
54:25

Hope Leyba (7)
Assisted By: Emerson Layne
GOAL by COLO Leyba, Hope Assist by Layne, Emerson.
58:29

Sami Fisher (1)
Assisted By: Ruby Hayward , Maddie Sharrer
GOAL by COLO Fisher, Sami Assist by Hayward, Ruby and Sharrer, Maddie.
72:43

Maddie Sharrer (1)
Assisted By: Mallory Allen
GOAL by COLO Sharrer, Maddie Assist by Allen, Mallory.
82:32