The Colorado College women's soccer team officially kicks off the 2017 season this week with a pair of games against intra-state rivals as part of the annual battle for the Colorado Cup.
The Tigers begin their 34th season of Division I soccer when they play host the University of Northern Colorado on Friday, Aug. 18, at 3 p.m. on Stewart Field. Two days later, CC
travels to Boulder, Colo., to face the University of Colorado at 3:30 p.m. at Prentup Field.
Fans can watch Friday's clash between UNC and Colorado College for free on the Tiger Sports Network (
http://www.cctigers.com/sports/2014/8/6/WSOC_0806143504.aspx?master=watch) or the Mountain West Network (
http://www.themw.com). Sunday's showdown with the Buffs is available on the Pac-12 Networks.
The Colorado Cup is a season-long series featuring all six Division I programs in the state, with the champion being determined by a points system that awards three points for a win, one point for a tie and one point for each goal scored. Since each team is limited to three games in which it can accrue points, Colorado College's Mountain West contest against Colorado State University on Sunday, Sept. 24, will not affect the standings.
This year's champion will not be determined until Thursday, Oct. 26, when CC visits Air Force for the final game of the regular season. Since its inception in 2011, CU has won the cup five times (2011, '12, '14, '15 and '16), while Denver has claimed it once (2013). CC finished second in both 2012 and '14.
The Tigers own a 15-2-1 advantage in the series with Northern Colorado, however the Bears are 2-1-1 in the last four meetings. CC won 14 consecutive matches against Northern Colorado before the Bears overcame a two-goal deficit to forge a 2-2 draw in Greeley in 2012. UNC picked up its first victory over the Tigers, 3-2, in 2014, but Colorado College prevailed, 1-0, the following year at Stewart Field.
Last year, the Bears took advantage of a penalty kick late in the first overtime to take a 2-1 victory. The Buffs own an 8-2-1 lead in the series with CC, including a 6-1-0 mark at Prentup Field. Since dropping the first two meetings with the Tigers, Colorado is 8-0-1 thanks in part to five one-goal victories and a scoreless tie. In the last meeting in 2015, CU recorded a 3-0 victory in Boulder.
Colorado College returns eight starters and 15 veterans from last year's squad that posted an 8-11-0 overall record and a 4-7-0 mark in the Mountain West. Led by junior midfielders
Clara Richter and
Lauren Milliet, the Tigers return 83.3 percent of their goal scoring and 79.2 percent of their point production from 2016.
Richter led CC with five goals and 11 points, while Milliet was second with four goals and 10 points. Junior midfielder
Tanner Haughn posted a team-best three assists and was sixth with three points.
The Tigers also have a pair of experienced seniors on the back line in
Ali Basom and
Anne-Sophie Lapointe, while sophomore goalkeeper
Molly Hiniker posted a 4-5-0 record and a 1.42 goals-against average last year.
Four of the most experienced Tigers will serve as team captains during the 2017 season. Seniors Basom and Lapointe, along with Milliet and junior midfielder
Kelli Sullivan, will help guide Colorado Collee during its fourth season as a member of the Mountain West.
CC welcomes nine newcomers – one sophomore transfer and eight freshmen – to the program in 2017.
Johanna Hamblett played at Mississippi State last year and has three years of eligibility at Colorado College.
Making their collegiate debut will be goalkeeper
Jade Odom, defenders
Moa Helgesson,
Camille Weaver and
Tayla Wheeler, and midfielders
Hannah Burgo,
Abigail Gray,
Riley Prillwitz and
Jenna Wilt.
Just like last year's squad, the 2017 Colorado College side is one of the youngest in head coach
Geoff Bennett's 14-year tenure. With eight sophomores and eight first-year players, two thirds of this year's Tigers are underclassmen. Only the 2010 team that featured 17 underclassmen among its 24 available players was statistically younger. The 2010 Tigers finished the season with an 8-7-4 overall record.
Following Sunday's game in Boulder, CC returns to action against the University of Albany on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 3 p.m. The next week, the Tigers travel to Lawrence, Kan., for their first night game of the season against the Kansas Jayhawks. Â
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