Hope Leyba’s historic season keeps marching forward.
On Tuesday, the junior forward from the Colorado women’s soccer team was one of 35 players across the country named to the midseason watch list for the Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to the top player in the nation.
Leyba, who also was on the preseason watch list for the Hermann Trophy, leads the Big 12 and shares the national lead with 14 goals. That total leaves Leyba well within sight of Nikki Marshall’s team record of 17 goals set in 2006 with a minimum of seven games remaining.
Earlier this season, Leyba became the first CU player to record two hat tricks in the same season, scoring three goals against Fordham on Aug. 21 and doing it again against Iowa State on Sept. 25.
Leyba’s 29 points rank sixth among CU’s all-time season leaders, and she continues to climb the Buffs’ list of career leaders with 24 goals (seventh) and 52 points (ninth).
CU (9-2-2, 3-1-1 Big 12) entered this week’s United Soccer Coaches poll at No. 24 after winning at then-No. 7 TCU last week before seeing a five-game unbeaten streak end on Sunday with a 2-1 loss at Baylor. The Buffs host Arizona State (9-2-2, 2-2-1 Big 12) on Friday night at Prentup Field (7 p.m., ESPN+).
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.