Hope Leyba

Last updated

Hope Leyba
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-07-05) July 5, 2005 (age 20)
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position Striker
Team information
Current team
Colorado Buffaloes
Number 45
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2023– Colorado Buffaloes 63 (31)

Hope Leyba (born July 5, 2005) is an American college soccer player who plays as a striker for the Colorado Buffaloes. She was named the Big 12 Forward of the Year in 2025.

Contents

Early life

Leyba grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, the daughter of Joe and Kelly Leyba, and has a twin sister and older brother. Her sister, Faith, plays with her as a defender at Colorado. [1] [2] The twins began playing soccer together in first grade. [3] Leyba played club soccer for Real Salt Lake's academy in Arizona, earning ECNL All-American honors. [4] She committed to Colorado during her junior year at Boulder Creek High School, where she scored 32 goals in 16 games in her lone high school season as a senior. [1] [5]

College career

Leyba started all 21 games for the Colorado Buffaloes as a freshman in 2023, but scored only twice despite ranking second on the team in shots and shots on goal. [3] She led the Buffaloes with 8 goals in 22 games as a sophomore in 2024, closing the season strong with three goals in four games in the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments. [6] She built on that form as a junior in 2025, opening the season with goals in five consecutive games and netting two hat tricks by her tenth game, becoming the first Buffalo to score multiple hat tricks in one season. [7] She broke Nikki Martin's single-season program record after reaching 19 goals in as many games. [8] She was unanimously named first-team All-Big 12 and the Big 12 Forward of the Year. [9]

Honors and awards

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "Hope Leyba". Colorado Buffaloes . Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  2. "Faith Leyba". Colorado Buffaloes . Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Loma-Guzman, Aramis (October 15, 2025). "Hope Leyba's record-breaking season a testament to work ethic and dedication". Sko Buffs Sports. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  4. "ECNL Girls 2022-23 All-American Teams". Elite Clubs National League. August 24, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  5. Clark, Travis (August 9, 2021). "SIMA Recruiting Roundup: August 9-15". TopDrawerSoccer . Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  6. Rooney, Pat (November 21, 2024). "Women's soccer: Red-hot Hope Leyba leads CU Buffs into NCAA 2nd round at Wake Forest" . Daily Camera . Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  7. Rooney, Pat (September 25, 2025). "Hope Leyba hat trick makes history as CU Buffs soccer tops Iowa State" . Daily Camera . Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  8. Rooney, Pat (October 29, 2025). "Jordan Nytes, Hope Leyba honored again as CU Buffs eye shot at Big 12 title" . Daily Camera . Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  9. "2025 All-Big 12 Soccer Awards Announced". Big 12 Conference. November 4, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025.