The Colorado Buffaloes soccer team will be in search of a new captain going into the 2025 season, as junior midfielder Juliauna Hayward has entered the transfer portal. The Broomfield, Colorado native is coming off a productive season in which she played a major leadership role in the Buffs’ second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. Colorado lost in the second round to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
A highlight of Hayward’s season was her one and only goal against the Michigan Wolverines, which contributed to head coach Danny Sanchez’s 300th win.
Colorado had a tumultuous 2024. The highs included dominating non-conference wins against the likes of Wyoming, a three-game win streak to open Big-12 play, and a No. 14 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll. Unfortunately for the black and gold, the pendulum swung just as far in the other direction, as well.
The month of October was not kind to Colorado. A 6-1 defeat versus the TCU Horned Frogs, which dropped them completely out of the rankings, set the stage for a disastrous month. The Buffs only scored four points in the seven October games. Out of those games, they only managed to win one, the first round matchup versus Utah in the conference championship.
Colorado is expected to lose a few more top-level players as all-time great Shyra James and fellow captain Rachel Rosen are both out of eligibility. There will be a large void at the top of the roster in many different ways that need to be filled by young, incumbent talent in order for this team to make a third consecutive playoff push.
The portal opened on November 18 and will remain open through December 17. It remains to be seen how active Colorado will be in their own transfer recruitment.
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