Colorado Buffaloes forward, Hope Leyba,playing against Arizona State University on Friday, Oct. 10th, 2025. (Remi Krupinski/CU Independent)
Two goals from two Lebyas helped the No. 21 Colorado Buffaloes to a 2-2 tie Monday in Provo against the BYU Cougars.
The first half had both teams’ offenses going full speed as the Buffs took three shots in the first seven minutes.
The Cougars’ third shot of the game came in the 15th minute and put them on the board. Sophomore midfielder Mika Krommenhoek was able to slide the ball past the outstretched leg of defender Greer Maguire to Ellie Walbruch, who put enough on the ball to get it past Colorado goalkeeper Jordan Nytes, giving BYU a 1-0 lead.
Junior Ava Priest was quick to respond, as just seven minutes later a front flip throw-in deep in the Buffs’ end got enough height and distance to land at the feet of defender Faith Leyba. Leyba was able to get enough to push it past three BYU defenders and the goalkeeper, who were all late to react, giving the Buffs the equalizer.
The score didn’t stand long as just 40 seconds later, Faith’s sister, Hope Leyba capitalized on a collision between BYU goalkeeper Paiton Collins and midfielder Camryn Jorgensen. The collision left Leyba open to lift home her 15th goal of the season, and give the Buffs a 2-1 lead.
Jorgensen made up for the mistake as she was able to connect with freshman Mia Goettsche who lofted in a ball that went just over the fingertips of Nytes to even the score 2-2 in the 28th minute.
BYU had another opportunity to take back the lead late in the first half as back-to-back corner kicks had them buzzing, but a missed shot kept the score even at 2-2 going into the half.
BYU’s Walbruch had a golden opportunity to open the second half, but with consecutive shots blocked, the Cougars’ top goal scorer was held quiet by the Buffalo defense.
The Cougars had a change at goalie, bringing in junior Chelsea Peterson for her first appearance in the 61st minute.
Freshman defender Lilian Zamorano was the first to test her in the 66th minute, putting a low shot on goal, but Peterson stood tall. Caley Swierenga took a heavy swing on the ball after an attempt to clear landed at her foot, but Peterson was able to jump and push the ball over the crossbar.
By the 71st minute, things had largely settled as the two teams didn’t want to give up a late goal. The Buffs had back-to-back corner kicks but couldn’t settle.
Colorado’s defense was on point as Nytes, the reigning Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week, stopped two shots in the final 10 minutes, including a looping rocket off the right foot of Walbruch that took a dive at the end, requiring Nytes to reach behind her while airborne to push it above the crossbar and keep the score deadlocked, 2-2.
Outside the fast-paced eight-minute window in the first half that saw all four goals, action remained limited as Nytes and the two Cougar goalkeepers were able to hold it down.
BYU outshot the Buffs, 12-8 in the second half, with Nytes recording four of her seven saves in the second frame.
“I was really pleased with how we responded after giving up the goal in the first 15 minutes,” head coach Danny Sanchez said. “It’s a tough atmosphere. I think this bodes well for us going forward.”
Hope Leyba found the back of the net for her 15th goal of the season, putting her just two goals away from tying the nearly 20-year-old single-season goal record of 17, set by Nikki Marshall in 2006. Leyba has three games remaining in the season to try to get it.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jake Chau at jake.chau@colorado.edu.
