Weekly Release No. 12 >

Colorado College begins the 2014 postseason on Tuesday, Nov. 4, when it squares off with Utah State University in the first round of the Mountain West Championship at San Diego State University. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. MT at SDSU's Sports Deck.

The Tigers improved to 11-5-3 overall and secured the fourth seed in the MW tournament with a 2-0 victory over Air Force last Friday. CC enters the postseason having won five of their last six games. Colorado College, which is playing at a neutral site for the first time this season, is 3-5-1 on the road this season, but 3-3-0 in conference play.

Utah State, the No. 5 seed, slipped to 10-7-2 overall and 6-4-1 in the conference after dropping a 1-0 decision at Boise State University on Friday in its regular-season finale. The Aggies, who are 2-5-2 away from home this season, also will be playing at a neutral site for the first time.   

Utah State holds a 1-0-1 record in two previous games against the Tigers. On Sept. 26, CC and the Aggies played to a 1-1 tie at Stewart Field. In the first-ever meeting, USU defeated the Tigers, 2-1, on Aug. 26, 2011, in a game in which CC finished with a 21-2 advantage in total shots and a 17-1 margin corner kicks.

Colorado College qualified for a conference tournament berth for the fourth season in a row and the eighth time in nine years. As an affiliate member of Conference USA, the Tigers advanced to the postseason seven times in eight seasons.

Last year, the Tigers captured their first tournament crown by edging the University of Tulsa on penalty kicks in the first round, blasting East Carolina, 5-0, in the semifinals, and cruising to a 3-0 triumph over North Texas in the championship match. CC officially was 6-5-2 all-time in C-USA Championship matches.

Balance continues to be the key for the Colorado College offense, with 11 players having scored a goal and 15 recording at least one point. Junior midfielder Sarah Schweiss leads the offense with career highs of nine goals and 21 points, while senior forward Rachel Herron is right behind with six goals and 17 points.

Senior midfielders Jessie Ayers (5g/4a) and Kaeli Vandersluis (5g/2a) are tied for third and fourth with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Junior forward Chanisse Hendrix is second on the team lead with four assists.

Rowan Fredericksen is 10-4-2 in goal with six shutouts. The freshman keeper is tied for sixth in the league with a .750 saves percentage and is seventh with a 1.23 GAA.

Seven current Tigers have recorded points in conference tournament games. Ayers and Vandersluis lead the team with three goals and assist, and have scored one game winner apiece.

Schweiss has one tally and a pair of assists, while senior forward Jaclyn Silsby has one goal. Herron has a pair of assists, while Hendrix and junior defender Alexis Long each has set up one goal. Vandersluis also has scored in each of her two NCAA Tournament matches.

The winner of Tuesday's Colorado College-Utah State game will face No. 1 seed and host San Diego State in Thursday's second semifinal match at 7 p.m. PT. The first semifinal will feature No. 2 seed Wyoming against the winner of Tuesday's opener between New Mexico and Boise State.