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Colorado College officially kicks off its 30th season of Division I soccer when the Tigers travel to Greeley, Colo., to face the University of Northern Colorado on Friday at 7 p.m. The competition shifts to Stewart Field on Sunday when CC plays host to rival University of Denver at 2 p.m.
 
The contests are the first of four against intra-state opponents that will help determine the 2015 Colorado Cup champion. Unlike the first two years when the Colorado Cup was a four-team tournament, all six Division I programs in the state are participating, with the victor being determined by a points system based on outcomes of the matches along with goals scored for and against.
 
The Tigers return six starters and 15 veterans from last season's squad that posted a 15-4-3 overall record, won the Conference USA regular-season and tournament crowns, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in program history. Included among the veterans is two-time C-USA Midfielder of the Year and first-team all-conference selection Jessie Ayers, who paced the team with 13 goals and tied for first with 27 points.
 
CC's explosive midfield includes senior Kaeli Vandersluis, the 2013 Conference USA Midfielder of the Year, who led the Tigers with nine assists and tied for first with 27 points, and junior midfielder Sarah Schweiss, who tied for second with seven assists and finished third with seven goals and 21 points.
 
Colorado College, which makes its debut in the Mountain West this season, was picked second in the conference's preseason poll in a ballot of its head coaches. The Tigers were edged out by defending champion San Diego State by a 115-112 margin. Both teams received five first-place votes.
 
CC is 14-0-1 in the previous 15 encounters with the Bears. However, the last time the Tigers ventured to Greeley, Northern Colorado overcame a two-goal deficit to forge a 2-2 tie. Still, Colorado College has outscored its neighbors to the north by a combined 44-4 margin.
 
The Tigers own a 13-7-1 lead in the all-time series with Denver, but the Pioneers prevailed in overtime by a 2-1 count in last year's season opener at CIBER Field. CC's most recent victory against DU took place at UNC in the first game of the 2012 campaign.
 
Next week, Colorado College plays the second of its nine road games when the Tigers travel to Hamilton, N.Y., to face Colgate University on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. ET.