After one of the most successful seasons in program history, the postseason honors keep rolling in for the Colorado women’s soccer team.
On Tuesday, junior forward Hope Leyba and senior goalkeeper Jordan Nytes both were named to the 15-player semifinalist list for the Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to the top player in the nation.
CU, which finished 17-4-3 and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for just the third time, was one of four teams to land two players on the Hermann semifinalist list (also Notre Dame, Stanford and Vanderbilt).
Additionally on Tuesday, four CU players were named first team All-Region by the United Soccer Coaches, with Leyba and Nytes getting joined by sophomore forward Jace Holley and junior defender Faith Leyba. Midfielder Reagan Kotschau received fourth-team All-Region honors.
Hope Leyba set team records with 22 goals and 45 points, winning the Big 12’s Forward of the Year honor. Nytes won her third Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year honor after posting a save percentage of .852, the fifth-best season mark in program history. A native of Aurora, Nytes finished her career as CU’s all-time leader with 26 career shutouts and her career save percentage of .829 ranks third all-time.
Holley and Faith Leyba were first team All-Big 12, with Holley ranking in a five-way tie for fourth among CU’s season leaders with 12 goals. Faith Leyba’s first team All-Big 12 selection was her second in a row, and she also recorded career-highs with four goals and four assists.
Kotschau, a former standout at Broomfield High who spent her first two collegiate seasons at Washington State, posted a career-high seven goals after scoring the game-winners in both of CU’s NCAA Tournament victories.
The United Soccer Coaches All-American teams will be announced Dec. 5. Three finalists for the Hermann Trophy will be announced on Dec. 10, with the winner to be announced on Jan. 9.
