Leyba's Two Scores Lead Buffs’ Charge Over Baylor

Thursday, October 8

Boulder, Colo.

7 p.m.

Colorado

9-3-1, 3-2-0

Baylor

10-2-1, 3-1-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Baylor	0	0	0
Colorado	2	1	3

October 08, 2026 | Soccer

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By: Marcelo Brant, Athletic Communications Student Assistant

BOULDER – The Colorado Buffaloes soccer team upset No. 7 Baylor 3-0 in a Big 12 contest on Thursday night at Prentup Field.

The win improves Colorado's record to 9-3-1 overall and 3-2-0 in conference play. For Baylor, the loss snapped its nine-game unbeaten streak, bringing the team to a 10-2-1 overall record and 3-1-1 against Big 12 opponents.

"This is a good team that doesn't give up goals," head coach Danny Sanchez said. "I thought we played really well."

CU claimed its eighth home win of the season with two goals by forward Hope Leyba and one by forward Jace Holley.

Leyba's two goals gave her sole possession of third on Colorado's all-time scoring list, passing Taylor Kornieck, with 41 total scores.

"It gives me something to work for," said Leyba, about setting program records. "And it's really exciting. And I like how it brings my whole family together and my teammates too."

Holley's score was her first of the season after missing the first nine matches to injury.

"It means a lot to me because coming back from injury is hard," Holley said. "Getting back into the swing of things, getting back into the lineup and playing with your teammates, it's hard. So it means a lot to get a goal, and the energy's just gonna build from there."

Goalkeeper Brooke Goerish put on another standout performance, recording her fifth solo shutout of the season. The two-time Big 12 Freshman of the Week had six saves, including a highlight-reel diving stop in the 59th minute on a shot by Baylor forward Noelle Sather.

"Fantastic," said Sanchez about Goerish's performance. "You know, she didn't have to make a ton of big saves, but man, that save she made when it was maybe 2-0, maybe 1-0. World class."

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Buffaloes opened the scoring in the 11th minute, when Leyba drove the ball to the right side of the box after passes from forward Berkley Mensik and midfielder Reagan Kotschau, and shot it to the top center of the net to give CU a 1-0 lead.

Baylor had its first chance in the 14th minute, when forward Aryanna Jimison shot a low-driven ball to the bottom left corner, forcing Goerish to make a full stretch save. The Bears recorded another shot on goal in the 22nd minute, again defended by Goerish.

Colorado scored their second goal in the 42nd minute. Kotschau set an aerial ball to Holley, who passed it in the box for Leyba, who then headed it over Baylor goalkeeper Azul Alvarez to extend the Buffs' lead to 2-0.

By halftime, the Buffaloes had recorded seven total shots to Baylor's three. CU also held a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal. Neither team recorded a corner kick.

Colorado recorded their first shot attempt of the second half in the 49th minute, when Alvarez saved a shot by forward Michaela McGowan.

In the 59th minute, Sather drove the ball into CU's box and shot it towards the top right corner of the goal, forcing Goerish to make a flying save for the Buffs.

As the 67th minute wound down, Meyer passed the ball to Phillips, who crossed it into the box, and Holley dove for the header, deflecting it into the bottom left corner to increase the score to 3-0.

The Buffaloes kept applying offensive pressure for the remainder of the second half. In the 84th minute, Colorado recorded its fourth corner kick of the game, but was unable to convert.

The final whistle confirmed the Buffs' 3-0 win vs. Baylor in front of 1,277 home fans. "We need this crowd for Kansas. Kansas is a very good team," Sanchez said.

UP NEXT: The Buffaloes will stay in Boulder to face Kansas on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. MT. Tickets to watch Colorado face off with the Jayhawks 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.
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