Ava de Leest, a sophomore who guards the net for Boise State, has been selected for the United Soccer Coaches 2026 goalkeepers to watch list. She stands as the sole Pac‑12 goalkeeper on the roster and is one of only three sophomores nationwide to receive the honor.
Watch List Recognition
During her freshman campaign, de Leest collected a suite of accolades, including Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. She earned All‑Pacific Region Second Team honors and was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week three times, as well as Freshman of the Week twice.
She appeared in 20 of the team’s 21 matches, posting a 0.931 goals‑against average that placed her third in the conference and a 0.771 save percentage that ranked sixth. Her six shutouts ranked her third among Mountain West keepers, underscoring her impact between the posts.
The watch list is part of a series of positional previews the United Soccer Coaches are publishing ahead of the 2026 season. A full list will be released on August 12, 2026, just before Boise State opens its campaign at home against CSUN at 7 p.m. MT.
Boise State’s athletics department, showcased on BroncoSports.com, will look to build on de Leest’s momentum as the team aims for a strong start. The recognition highlights both the player’s personal excellence and the growing visibility of the program on a national stage.