Colorado secures strong group of eight freshmen ahead of 2026 season

BOULDER — The No. 12-ranked Colorado Buffaloes will welcome eight new freshmen next fall for the 2026 season, head coach Danny Sanchez announced.

“This class of new Buffs fills multiple needs for our 2026 roster and beyond,” head coach Danny Sanchez commented. “We are losing five seniors, and we feel each of these student-athletes has the potential to make an immediate impact. We have attracted depth and quality in goal, three new defenders, three new midfielders and a striker. Three of our new signees will be joining us in January, and we can’t wait to have all of them in the fold in July. They all understand the culture of our program and are motivated to continue to push our program to even greater heights.”

Colorado 2026 Signing Class

Sienna McAthy | 5’6″ | Midfielder

Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.
High School: Huntington Beach H.S.
Club: Slammers
Highlights:

-Three-year varsity captain
-2025 Huntington Beach Team MVP
-Three-time First Team All-Sunset League
-Three-time First Team Southwest All-Conference ECNL
-Scored 32 goals in three high school seasons
-Top Drawer ranking: Southern California #37

Sloane Phillips | 5’6″ | Midfielder

Hometown: Temecula, Calif.
High School: Temecula Valley H.S.
Club: City SC GA (2023-25), Legends FC ECNL (2021-23)
Highlights:

-First Team All-Southwestern League as a freshman – her only season playing in high school
-Scored 10 goals and had 12 assists as a freshman
-Selected for GA Southwest Talent ID (2024 & 25)
2022 U-15 FIFA Supercopa Femenil Champions
-Selected for the 2025 GA National Talent ID & National Selection Game
– Top Drawer ranking: IMG Academy 200 #136, Southern California #23

Bianca Willis | 5’9″ | Defender

Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz.
High School: Xavier College Prep
Club: RSL/Royals (2017-21), Slammers FC (2021-24), Royals FC (2024-26)
Highlights:

-Two-time 6A State Champion
-2025 6A First Team All-Conference
-2024 6A Second Team All-Conference
-Two-Time ECNL First Team All-Conference
-USYNT Talent IDC
-Top Drawer ranking: #24 Rocky Mountains & Southwest

Jaiden Sidhu | 5’11” | Defender

Hometown: Oceanside, Calif.
High School: Mission Vista H.S.
Club: Vista Storm, City SC San Diego (2022-26)
Highlights:

-2024 Team Defensive Player of the Year
-2024 Second Team All-Avocado League
-2023 Team Rookie of the Year
-National Talent ID (2023 & 25)
-Top Drawer ranking: #61 Southern California
-Also played varsity basketball and was All-League in track

Lindsey George | 5’6″ | Midfielder

Hometown: Centennial, Colo.
High School: Grandview H.S.
Club: Colorado Storm (2011-17), Real Colorado (2017-2025)
Highlights:

-State Cup 2018 & 2019
-2022 ECNL Conference Champions
-2025 ECNL National Champions

Brooke Goerish | 6′ | Goalkeeper

Hometown: Blaine, Minn.
High School: Spring Lake Park H.S.
Club: Blaine Youth Soccer Club (2012-20), Twin Cities Fire Soccer Club (2019-20), Tonka Fusion Elite (2022-23), Minnesota Thunder Academy (2023-24)
Highlights:

-Three-time All-Conference
-Five letters in soccer
-All-Minnesota Team
-Two-time First Team All-State
-Played in High School All-America game
-38 career shutouts and 679 career saves
-Also lettered in Tennis, golf and basketball
-Three-time USA Cup Champions
-Two-time Gothia Cup Puma Division Champions
-Top Drawer ranking: #32 Midwest

Ellyse DeBolt | 5’10” | Defender

Hometown: Littleton, Colo.
High School: Heritage H.S.
Club: Colorado Rush ECNL (2015-25)
Highlights:

– ECNL National Selection Game (2025)
– ODP National Team (2023 & 24)
-2024 U16 USYNT Camp (Germany)
-Helped Heritage to the 2022 & 2023 5A State Semifinals
-2023 U15 USYNT Camp (Florida)
-IMG Academy 200 #79
-Top Drawer rankings: #7 Rocky Mountains & Southwest
-Also played basketball

Kaia Santomarco-King | 5’5″ | Forward

Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
High School: Harvard Westlake H.S.
Club: Los Angeles Breakers
Highlights:

-Ranked #34 in the Southern California region by Top Drawer Soccer
-Team Southwest 20024 ECNL Conference Cup
-2024 U17 First Team All-Southwest Conference ECNL
-2023 Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Team
-Top Drawer ranking: #34 Southern California