Colorado Buffaloes forward, Hope Leyba, celebrates with teammates after scoring against Texas Tech on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Scott Tan/CU Independent)
No matter which way you cut it, Prentup Field hosted a top-tier Big 12 matchup Thursday.
Both the No. 22 Colorado Buffaloes (12-2-3, 6-1-2 Big 12) and the No. 5 Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-2-2, 6-1-2 Big 12) have top three offenses and defenses in the Big 12, leading to a game where small details matter.
The nation’s 16th ranked Red Raiders defense couldn’t handle the nation’s 11th best Colorado offense, as the Buffs got a statement win, 3-0, on a historic night where three different records were set.
The Buffs offense was as advertised, as early momentum helped Colorado fire two shots in the first minute and a half.
Ava Priest was the one who found the back of the net first, making a quick move past an outstretched Red Raider defender and sliding her shot past the diving Texas Tech goalie, Faith Nguyen, to put the Buffs on the board in the 12th minute, 1-0.
Not two and a half minutes later, a wonky goal for the Buffs found the back of the net. A high lifting ball off a flip throw-in from Priest bounced around and found the head of Hope Leyba. Her shot got some help from an outstretched Red Raider’s defender’s foot, altering the shot past a formerly well-positioned Nguyen, putting the Buffs up 2-0 in the 15th minute.
Texas Tech put five shots out in the span of eight minutes, attempting to respond, including a strong cross that couldn’t quite connect with sophomore Sam Courtwright, keeping the game 2-0.
A well read pass found the head of freshman Vivi Zacarias, who dropped the ball through the Red Raiders’ defense for Leyba, as her shot went square off the goal post, keeping it out the net.
Texas Tech’s stellar passing offense was on full display. However, the Colorado defense was able to read the pass and held great positioning to prevent any damage and hold the Red Raiders off the scoresheet in the first half.
Texas Tech’s offense still had its motor, taking 14 shots, and peppering Colorado goalkeeper Jordan Nytes with four shots on frame.
Leyba looked to redeem her shot that went off the post when the ball settled at her foot just outside the penalty box as four Texas Tech defenders closed in on her. Leyba couldn’t get the shot to break as it soared over the crossbar, keeping the score 2-0.
A subsequent attack hit off of the crown of Reagan Kotschau’s foot, soaring wide, marking the third shot in a two minute stretch as the Buffs continued to generate offense.
The Red Raiders’ defense adjusted their approach in the second half, playing farther back to prevent the long balls that worked so well for the Buffs in the first half.
The dam eventually broke for Leyba and the Buffs as she snuck her second goal of the game, and 17th of the season, past a diving Ngyuen, putting the Buffs up 3-0. This marks Leyba’s fifth multi-goal game of the season.
Texas Tech’s offense started generating buzz as they found themselves in a hole. A lofting Red Raiders kick was pushed over the cross bar by a diving Nytes.
Nytes and the Buffs survived the late surge from Texas Tech, as Nytes pitched her sixth shutout of the season, stopping a season-high ten shots that came her way.
Nytes recorded her 25th shutout of her CU career, tying the school’s career shutout record.
“Shutouts come from the whole team and I’m just so proud of every single person,” Nytes said. “It’s awesome being able to tie the record, but there’s more work to do and the goal is to beat it.”
Jessica Keller set the record for shutouts in a season in 2004. Jalen Tompkins tied the record in four years as a Buff, graduating in 2019.
A 2006 record was tied against Texas Tech, as Nikki Marshall’s 17 goal season-single goal record was matched by Leyba’s second goal of the match.
“It [shows] all my hard work and… the hard work of my teammates,” Leyba said.
The records didn’t stop there, as defeating No. 5 Texas Tech matches the school’s highest-ranked win in program history, and marks the second top-five win in the Buffs’ 30 seasons.
“I think it started in the pregame. We were super focused,” head coach Danny Sanchez said. “I was really pleased with how, when we won it, we kept it. And we kept them at bay, because this is a very good team.”
With three points from the win, the Buffs jumped to second place in the Big 12, setting themselves in good positioning for the Big 12 Conference Tournament.
“I don’t think there’s any surprises at this late part of the season,” Sanchez said. “We’re a good team. They’re committed.”
“We’ve faced the toughest teams in this conference and I think we’re all just riding high right now,” Nytes said. “We have some really great momentum and we’re prepared to play anybody.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jake Chau at jake.chau@colorado.edu.
