Caley Swierenga played in the NCAA Tournament twice before transferring to Colorado.
One look at Swierenga’s assist total can tell anyone who wants to know about the firepower in the Buffaloes’ lineup.
The Buffs have been a high-scoring bunch all season, producing the highest scoring marks in program history. As was the case during last week’s first-round victory against Utah Valley, the Colorado women’s soccer team could be in store for another potential shootout, as the 12th-ranked, third-seeded Buffs face Xavier in a second-round match hosted by Michigan State on Thursday afternoon.
“They score goals in bunches, so they’re not unlike Utah Valley in that sense,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said of Xavier. “They have some really big results in their league. They’re good at attacking. They’re experienced in the back. It’s what you expect out of a three-six matchup in the NCAA Tournament.”
Swierenga is one of several Colorado natives who transferred back to their home state during the past year, a group that includes midfielder Reagan Kotschau, whose header goal in the second overtime saved the Buffs against Utah Valley at Prentup Field last week.
Swierenga was a regular on two NCAA Tournament teams at LSU, but in 38 appearances with the Tigers she recorded only three assists. As a defender, creating scoring chances obviously never led Swierenga’s list of game-day responsibilities. Yet playing on a CU team that has a pair of double-digit goal-scorers for just the third time in program history — Hope Leyba, who has a CU record 21 goals, and Jace Holley, who has 12 — Swierenga has been credited with nine assists.
Swierenga’s assist total is tied for the fourth-most in team history, but on a squad that has set new program scoring standards, the junior defender doesn’t even lead the Buffs in that department. That honor goes to senior forward Emerson Layne, a Fort Collins native who has tied the team record with 10 assists.
In CU’s first-round win against Utah Valley, Swierenga, goalie Jordan Nytes and the rest of the Buffs’ defense contained UVU’s Faith Webber, whose 22 goals made her the only player in the nation with more than Leyba. Against Xavier, CU will face a similar defensive challenge from the Musketeers’ Samantha Erbach, who leads the nation in points (52) and assists (16), while ranking fifth in goals (18).
Xavier is tied with Utah Valley for the second-most goals in the nation with 70. The Buffs are tied for fifth with 54.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better season, to be honest,” Swierenga said. “It was hard coming from a team where everyone wasn’t bought-in. So coming here, where everybody is bought-in and I’m surrounded by people who are like-minded and want to win just as much as I do has really helped me. I’ve been more bought-in than I’ve ever been, and it’s paying off.
“A lot of times at LSU, how many times are you going to serve the ball in the box and no one is going to touch it. Coming here and finally getting rewarded for that has been awesome.”
Xavier Musketeers vs. No. 12 CU Buffs women’s soccer
KICKOFF: 1 p.m. MT, Thursday, DeMartin Stadium, East Lansing, Mich.
TV: ESPN+
RECORDS: Xavier 16-3-2, 8-1-1 Big East; Colorado 16-3-3, 8-1-2 Big 12.
KEY PLAYERS: Xavier — F Samantha Erbach, So. (18 goals, 16 assists); F Elin Hansson, Sr. (16 goals, five assists); F Regan Dancer, Sr. (six goals, 10 assists); F Emma Flick, Sr. (seven goals, seven assists); F Peyton Kohls, R-So. (six goals, eight assists); GK Maria Galley, Sr. (.727 save percentage, 0.95 goals-against average). Colorado — F Hope Leyba, Jr. (21 goals, one assist); F Jace Holley, So. (12 goals, six assists); F Emerson Layne, Sr. (five goals, 10 assists); M Reagan Kotschau, Jr. (six goals, six assists); M Ava Priest, Jr. (two goals, six assists); D Caley Swierenga, Jr. (nine assists); D Faith Leyba, Jr. (two goals, three assists); GK Jordan Nytes, Sr. (.850 save percentage, 0.850 goals-against average).
NOTES: The winner will play on Sunday against either second-seeded Michigan State or Wake Forest, last year’s national runner-up that eliminated the Buffs in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. … The Buffs are seeking the third Sweet 16 in program history. Colorado previously reached the Sweet 16 in 2006 and 2013, the latter of which was CU’s second season under Sanchez. … CU has posted team records for goals (54), assists (59) and points (167). … The Buffs’ 16 wins are the most in team history. CU had 15 wins in 2003, 2004 and 2016. … With six goals, Kotschau, a former standout at Broomfield High School, has surpassed the total she recorded in two seasons at Washington State (five). … This will be the first matchup between CU and Xavier. … Xavier was the second seed for the Big East tournament after losing to Georgetown 4-0 at home in the regular season finale, but turned around to defeat the Hoyas 2-0 in the conference championship match. … The Musketeers defeated Dayton 2-0 in the NCAA Tournament first round behind second-half goals from Dancer and Hansson that were scored just 1 minute, 22 seconds apart. Erbach recorded assists on both tallies.
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