Leybas Named To MAC Hermann Trophy Mid-Season Watch List
September 30, 2026 | Soccer
BOULDER – Colorado seniors Faith Leyba and Hope Leyba were named to the 2026 MAC Hermann Trophy Mid-Season Watch List, announced Wednesday.
Presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club, the Hermann Trophy is the nation's highest individual honor in college soccer and recognizes the Division I National Player of the Year. The mid-season watch list includes 24 remaining selections from the 62-player preseason list along with six new additions.
The twins from Phoenix, Ariz., are among 30 players representing 21 schools recognized for their performances through the first half of the season. Colorado is one of seven programs with multiple selections and the only Big 12 school with two players on the list.
Hope has continued to lead the Buffs up front, tying for the team lead with seven goals in the 2026 season. She has also recorded three assists for 17 points through 11 matches. The senior forward leads Colorado with 50 shots and 26 shots on goal, highlighted by a hat trick in the Buffs' 6-0 win over Denver on Sept. 11.
A Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2025, Hope is coming off a season in which she led the nation with a school-record 22 goals. She earned first-team United Soccer Coaches All-America honors and was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Faith has anchored Colorado's back line, helping the Buffs record seven shutouts and limit opponents to nine goals through 11 matches. A team captain, she leads CU with 920 minutes played, has started every match, and has contributed two assists. Colorado posted five consecutive shutouts from Sept. 3-24.
The senior defender earned third-team United Soccer Coaches All-America recognition last season and has received first-team All-Big 12 honors in each of the past two years.
The field will be narrowed to 15 semifinalists on Dec. 4 following NCAA Division I All-America voting. Division I head coaches will then vote to determine three finalists, with the winner announced Jan. 8, 2027, at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
UP NEXT: Colorado returns to action Friday, Oct. 2, at UCF. Kickoff in Orlando, Fla., is set for 5 p.m. MT on ESPN+. The Buffs return to Prentup Field to host Baylor on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. MT. Tickets 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.
