University of Colorado Athletics
Five CU Stars Shine In Big 12 Preseason Coaches' Poll
August 03, 2026 | Soccer
Buffs picked to finish second in league race
BOULDER – The Big 12's head coaches voted five Colorado soccer standouts onto the conference's Preseason All-Conference Team, announced Monday. Under the spotlight are Hope Leyba, Faith Leyba, Caley Swierenga, Reagan Kotschau and Jace Holley.
CU was the only school to have five selections on the 27-player list, with Hope Leyba being one of two players to receive a unanimous decision.
Hope Leyba led the NCAA with a program-record 22 goals during the 2025 campaign, becoming the first player in Colorado soccer history to surpass the 20-goal mark. The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year finished with CU records with 45 points and six game-winning goals, ranking 10th nationally in shots per game. Leyba capped off the season ranked No. 2 in TopDrawerSoccer's Postseason Top 100 after earning First Team All-America honors.
Faith Leyba anchored Colorado's back line, contributing offensively with four goals and four assists. Her final assist of the season was to her twin sister, Hope, for her CU record-breaking 18th goal. The senior started all 24 matches and logged 2,097 minutes, second-most on the team. She earned First Team All-Big 12, First Team All-Midwest Region, TDS Postseason Top 100 (No. 36), and Third Team All-America honors following the season.
Swierenga became one of the nation's top playmaking defenders in her first season with the Buffaloes, starting all 24 matches and recording a career-high nine assists, the second-most in a single season in program history. Swierenga finished with 1,868 minutes and became the second CU player in history with multiple matches of 2+ assists. Her breakout campaign earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors.
Kotschau enjoyed a career year with seven goals, six assists and a career-high 20 points while tying for eighth nationally with six game-winning goals. The senior delivered Colorado's NCAA Tournament first-round winner against Utah Valley and earned CSC Academic All-District and Big 12 All-Academic Team recognition.
Holley followed up her All-Freshman campaign with a First Team All-Big 12 season after totaling career highs of 12 goals, six assists and 30 points. Her 30 points tied for the fourth-most in a single season in program history, while her 12 goals rank tied for third in CU history. Holley concluded the season, averaging 1.25 points per game with two game-winning goals under her belt, earning First Team All-Midwest Region honors.
Buffs Slotted Second in Conference Preseason Poll
Colorado will open the 2026 Big 12 season picked 2nd in a poll of the conference's 16 head coaches on Thursday.
The No. 2 selection marks the highest preseason ranking in program history. Colorado's previous best preseason projection in the Big 12 was third, achieved in 2004, 2007 and 2009.
TCU was picked to win the 2026 Big 12 race, totaling 222 points with 13 first-place votes. Colorado had 187 points with one first-place vote. Kansas and West Virginia tied for third with 182 points, with the Mountaineers receiving a first-place vote. Texas Tech was fifth with 180 points, receiving one first-place vote.
Colorado concluded the 2025 season with an overall record of 17-4-2 and an 8-1-2 record in conference play. The Buffs advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third time in team history.
The first opportunity to catch the Buffaloes will be Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m., at Prentup Field in the Rocky Mountain showdown with Colorado State.
For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.
CU was the only school to have five selections on the 27-player list, with Hope Leyba being one of two players to receive a unanimous decision.
Hope Leyba led the NCAA with a program-record 22 goals during the 2025 campaign, becoming the first player in Colorado soccer history to surpass the 20-goal mark. The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year finished with CU records with 45 points and six game-winning goals, ranking 10th nationally in shots per game. Leyba capped off the season ranked No. 2 in TopDrawerSoccer's Postseason Top 100 after earning First Team All-America honors.
Faith Leyba anchored Colorado's back line, contributing offensively with four goals and four assists. Her final assist of the season was to her twin sister, Hope, for her CU record-breaking 18th goal. The senior started all 24 matches and logged 2,097 minutes, second-most on the team. She earned First Team All-Big 12, First Team All-Midwest Region, TDS Postseason Top 100 (No. 36), and Third Team All-America honors following the season.
Swierenga became one of the nation's top playmaking defenders in her first season with the Buffaloes, starting all 24 matches and recording a career-high nine assists, the second-most in a single season in program history. Swierenga finished with 1,868 minutes and became the second CU player in history with multiple matches of 2+ assists. Her breakout campaign earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors.
Kotschau enjoyed a career year with seven goals, six assists and a career-high 20 points while tying for eighth nationally with six game-winning goals. The senior delivered Colorado's NCAA Tournament first-round winner against Utah Valley and earned CSC Academic All-District and Big 12 All-Academic Team recognition.
Holley followed up her All-Freshman campaign with a First Team All-Big 12 season after totaling career highs of 12 goals, six assists and 30 points. Her 30 points tied for the fourth-most in a single season in program history, while her 12 goals rank tied for third in CU history. Holley concluded the season, averaging 1.25 points per game with two game-winning goals under her belt, earning First Team All-Midwest Region honors.
Buffs Slotted Second in Conference Preseason Poll
Colorado will open the 2026 Big 12 season picked 2nd in a poll of the conference's 16 head coaches on Thursday.
The No. 2 selection marks the highest preseason ranking in program history. Colorado's previous best preseason projection in the Big 12 was third, achieved in 2004, 2007 and 2009.
TCU was picked to win the 2026 Big 12 race, totaling 222 points with 13 first-place votes. Colorado had 187 points with one first-place vote. Kansas and West Virginia tied for third with 182 points, with the Mountaineers receiving a first-place vote. Texas Tech was fifth with 180 points, receiving one first-place vote.
Colorado concluded the 2025 season with an overall record of 17-4-2 and an 8-1-2 record in conference play. The Buffs advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third time in team history.
The first opportunity to catch the Buffaloes will be Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m., at Prentup Field in the Rocky Mountain showdown with Colorado State.
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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