Colorado Buffaloes forward, Jace Holley, playing against the University of Arizona on Senior Day at Prenup Field on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (Aspen Doust/CU Independent)
The No. 12 nationally and No. 3 in the Big 12 Colorado Buffaloes (15-2-3, Big 12 8-1-2) had more late-game magic in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament against the No. 6 University of Central Florida Knights (11-3-5, Big 12 5-1-5) Monday, Nov. 4. Junior Hope Leyba’s two goals lifted them to a 3-2 victory.
Colorado’s identity was tested early as the Knights outshot the Buffs 7-0 within the first 12 minutes. The Knights’ seventh shot slid to Rajanah Reed, who snuck it past Colorado goalkeeper Jordan Nytes, ricocheting off both posts and past the goalline to put the Knights up 1-0 in the 12th minute.
Colorado’s offense began to buzz, facing an unfamiliar deficit. Leyba got a rising ball from Reagan Kotschau to connect with her head, but it was tipped out by UCF’s goalie Genesis Perez Watson.
UCF, going the other way, got chaos on a corner kick. The ball was kicked out of the box before landing at the foot of Gabi Berchon. Her shot was deflected up into the air on its way to the goal, finding its way through two Colorado defenders on the goalline before collapsing into the net for UCF’s second goal in the 30th minute.
Colorado put its foot on the gas as it kept building momentum, earning four corner kicks in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Despite four shots in that time frame, UCF and Perez Watson took a 2-0 lead at the half.
Colorado came out with a high motor, finally banking on their growing momentum despite being down 2-0.
Leyba was fed a pass from midfielder Emerson Layne in the box and used her head to sneak the ball between a diving Perez Watson and the post to cut the Knights’ lead, 2-1 in the 53rd minute.
Kotschau put a high lofting pass right on the foot of Jace Holley, who put her shot past the reigning Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week, Perez Watson, to deadlock the score at two in the 57th minute.
The Buffs’ momentum shift resulted in back-to-back corner kicks. Ava Priest used an in-swinging ball to find Leyba, who headed it in to break the tie and get her 21st goal of the season.
Junior midfielder Ava Priest on a fast break in the game against The University of Arizona at Prentup Field on Oct. 26, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
Colorado never let their foot off the gas, firing three more shots in the 90 seconds following its third goal.
UCF had a late surge to try to force overtime, but was held off by the defense and Nytes, who ended with five saves.
“Both teams came out ready to play. They just came out more ready at the start,” head coach Danny Sanchez said.
The Buffs outshot the Knights 12-4 in the second half. Outside the first 12 minutes of play, where UCF outshot CU 7-0, Colorado took the reins and outshot the Knights 19-7. Colorado also had seven corner kicks in the second half alone, while the Knights had three all game.
“At halftime, we were just saying that we were going to work as hard as we could,” Leyba said. “We’re going to press every single time. We won’t stop trying until the whistle blows.”
Leyba has scored in each of her last five games, tallying seven goals in that stretch. This is her sixth multi-goal performance of the season.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jake Chau at jake.chau@colorado.edu.
