The Colorado Buffaloes soccer team recently started their spring schedule with a dominant 3-1 win over the Air Force Falcons. In the game, the starting 11 featured four new faces from the fall, so here’s a look at all of the new additions to the roster for the 2025 season.
Jordan Whiteaker, Sophomore Defender
Whiteaker, a Colorado native, suited up for the TCU Horned Frogs last season. In her freshman year, the defender appeared in 18 games and even assisted a goal in TCU’s victory over BYU.
While at Dakota Ridge High School, Whiteaker was named Colorado Player of the Year, Jefferson County League MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. She even led Dakota Ridge to a 4A State Championship in 2023.
Riley MacDonald, Freshman Midfielder
MacDonald most recently played for LSU. In her first season, she appeared in 11 games, taking two shots on goal.
The midfielder attended Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. While in high school, MacDonald was named Player of the Year for Mountain Vista and received First-Team All-Conference and Second-Team All-State honors during the 2023 season.
Caley Swierenga, Junior Defender
Swierenga was teammates with MacDonald at LSU. During her two seasons as a Tiger, the defender started 26 games and was a substitute in another 12. She assisted three goals and played a total of 2509 minutes.
Swierenga attended Lutheran High School in Parker, Colorado, and received First-Team All-State honors. While in high school, the defender was also selected to appear in US Soccer Youth National Team pools.
Lexi Meyer, Sophomore Midfielder
Meyer played her freshman season at Alabama, appearing in 20 games and tallying four assists.
Meyer, like the three aforementioned players, is also a Colorado native. The midfielder went to Highlands Ranch High School and was ranked the 37th-best player in the country by TopDrawerSoccer. She also received Conference Player of the Year honors in the 2021-22 season.
Morgan Struttman, Junior Forward
Struttman played her first two years at Kansas State. While at K-State, the striker appeared in 34 games and earned the start in 18 of them, scoring two goals and assisting another three.
The forward attended Liberty High School in St. Louis, Missouri, and is her school's all-time leader in points (213) and assists (63). During her high school career, the striker scored 75 goals and received First-Team All-GAC honors three times.
Reagan Kotschau, Junior Midfielder
Kotschau played her freshman and sophomore seasons at Washington State. She appeared and started in 38 games while scoring five goals and assisting another eight. The midfielder received Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors in 2023.
Kotschau is another Colorado native. While attending Broomfield High School she scored 35 goals and had 16 assists. She helped her team reach two state championships, winning in 2021 and losing in 2022. In her senior season, she earned 5A CHSAA All-State First Team honors.
In her first games as a Buff against Air Force, Kostchau scored a freekick from above the box and assisted Emerson Layne’s first goal.
These new Buffs hope to fill the shoes left by departing players like CU’s all-time leading scorer Shyra James, NWSL players Rachel Rosen and Phoenix Dawn Miranda, and Georgia transfer Juliauna Hayward.
Colorado will take on the Colorado State Rams in its second spring game. The game will take place Sunday at noon in Fort Collins.
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