Leybas Score As Buffs Complete Road Sweep - University of Colorado Athletics

Sunday, October 25

Tempe, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Colorado

12-4-1, 6-3-0

Arizona State

8-6-3, 3-5-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Colorado	1	1	2
Arizona St.	0	0	0

October 25, 2026 | Soccer

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By: Iseck Hurtado, Athletic Communications Associate

TEMPE, Ariz. — Phoenix natives Hope and Faith Leyba each headed in a goal, while Brooke Goerish kept a clean sheet with seven saves as the Colorado Buffaloes Soccer team completed a three-match road sweep with a 2-0 victory over Arizona State Sunday at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.

The Buffaloes punched their ticket to the Big 12 Tournament, improving to 12-4-1 overall and 6-3-0 in conference play. CU collected all nine available points on a road stretch that included wins at Kansas State and Arizona, in which they outscored their opponents 9-2. The Sun Devils fell to 8-6-3 overall and 3-5-1 in the conference.

Hope Leyba opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with her 10th goal of the season and the 42nd of her Colorado career, tying Nikki Marshall for second on the program's all-time goals list.

Faith Leyba doubled the lead in the 62nd minute, scoring for the second consecutive match. Jordan Whiteaker and Caley Swierenga supplied the service on both goals.

"It was really special. I low-key almost cried because I was like, 'I'm so happy to be here and then to do that with Faith,'" Hope said. "It's really awesome."

"We're just happy for our team. We all get to enjoy this together," Faith added. "So super blessed that we get to do it in our home state together."

For head coach Danny Sanchez, whose parents and wife were also in attendance, winning in front of so many family members and friends made the afternoon more meaningful.

"We had hundreds, literally hundreds of family and friends, which really pushed us over the edge," Sanchez said. "And like I told the team after the match, I mean, you couldn't write a better script than Faith and Hope to come back against the hometown team and to get both goals."

"You couldn't write it down any better, and they just want to win," he added. "But you know, obviously that was maybe a little extra special."

Goerish made five of her seven saves after halftime to record her sixth solo shutout of the season. Colorado earned its 10th team shutout and finished the two-match Arizona trip without conceding a goal.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Colorado created the first six shots of the afternoon, with Sloane Phillips testing Arizona State goalkeeper Izzy Duink twice in the opening 12 minutes. Hope added three shots as the Buffs searched for the opening goal, while Arizona State registered its first attempt in the 17th minute.

"I thought we put a lot of pressure on Arizona State's backline and goalkeeper today, especially early in the match," Sanchez said. "Even though we didn't get a goal early, I think it set the tone for the match."

Faith put her body on the line in the 22nd minute, closing down an Arizona State attacker and getting a foot to the ball to deny an open look at goal. She took a kick to the knee on the follow-through, leaving both players down as play stopped, but was back on her feet and stayed in the match after the stoppage. Goerish helped keep the Sun Devils at bay later in the half, punching away a corner before diving to her right to deny Kierra Blundell in the 29th minute.

Michaela McGowan put a shot on target in the 31st minute and sent another attempt high less than a minute later, before Colorado broke through at 32:11. Whiteaker made an immediate impact off the bench, delivering a high ball into the box from the right side. Hope met it in the air for the picture-perfect finish, powering a header into the upper-left corner for a 1-0 lead just 19 seconds after Whiteaker entered.

Kaia Santomarco-King tested Duink less than two minutes later, while Goerish turned away Emmie Ennis in the 42nd minute to preserve the lead. The Buffs took their 1-0 advantage into halftime, outshooting the Sun Devils 12-5 with a 5-2 edge in shots on goal.

Arizona State registered the first two shots of the second half, with Goerish denying Tano Uzezi-Itesa in the 52nd minute. Hope tested Duink before Colorado extended its lead in the 62nd minute.

Reagan Kotschau drew a foul to earn a right-side free kick near midfield. Swierenga delivered the free kick into the box, where Faith Leyba rose near the penalty spot and buried a header in the upper-right corner, doubling Colorado's lead in the 62nd minute.

Goerish protected the two-goal lead less than a minute later, turning away an open, left-footed shot from Addison Baltodano inside the box. Colorado's defense cleared the danger in a crowded box, keeping the Sun Devils off the scoreboard as they closed in on goal.

Phillips and Vivi Zacarias each forced another save from Duink as Colorado looked to add to its lead. Arizona State continued to test Goerish late, but she stopped the Sun Devils' final three shots on goal, including Lucy Fazackerley's attempt with 15 seconds remaining, to finish the 2-0 shutout.

The Buffs outshot Arizona State 20-14 and held a 9-7 edge in shots on goal. Hope Leyba led CU with six attempts, while Phillips put all three of her shots on target.

With a tournament berth secured, Sanchez kept his focus on the two remaining regular-season matches.

"I think there's a lot of parity in the league, and we're excited to be there," Sanchez said. "But we still got work to get done in the regular season."

UP NEXT: Colorado returns to Prentup Field to host Cincinnati Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. MT. The match will stream on ESPN+. Tickets for Colorado's return home against Cincinnati are available here.

SOCIALS: For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.