Colorado College officially kicks off its 34th season at the NCAA Division I level this week with a pair of matches against in-state rivals in the annual battle for the Colorado Cup.
The Tigers visit the University of Northern Colorado on Thursday, Aug. 16, at 7 p.m. on the Jackson Stadium pitch. Three days later, CC travels to Boulder, Colo., to face the University of Denver at 11 a.m. at Prentup Field.
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 and one point for a draw. In the case of a tie in the standings, positions will be determined by goals scored.
This year's champion will not be determined until Friday, Oct. 26, when Air Force visits CC 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 (2011) and Northern Colorado (2017) each has claimed it once. Colorado College finished second in both 2012 and '14.
The Tigers own a 15-3-1 advantage in the series with UNC, but the Bears are 3-1-1 in the last five 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.
Colorado College holds a 18-7-1 lead in the all-time series with Denver, including a 3-0 victory in the last meeting in 2016 in Boulder. In matches played as part of the Colorado Cup, the series is tied 3-3.
CC welcomes back 10 starters and 17 veterans from last year's squad that posted a 6-9-4 overall record and a 3-6-2 mark in the Mountain West. Led by seniors
Lauren Milliet and
Clara Richter, Colorado College returns all of its goal scoring and a fraction more than 97 percent of its point production.
Last year, Milliet led the team with personal single-season highs of seven goals, eight assists and 22 points. Richter was second with six assists and 14 points, and tied for second with junior
Catie McDonald with four goals. McDonald was third on the team with a career-best nine points.
In the defensive third, CC returns seniors
Rachael Martino and
Kelli Sullivan, and sophomore
Camille Weaver. The Tigers also have experienced goalkeepers in junior
Molly Hiniker and sophomore
Jade Odom.
The Tigers also added five newcomers to the program in 2018. Forwards
Jacqui Hand,
Abby Hubbard and
Kiley Suter, midfielder Toni Tsmasfyros and defender
Kayla Montoya will make their collegiate debut on Thursday against UNC.
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Colorado College plays host to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in its home opener on Friday, Aug. 24, at 3 p.m. The following week, Columbia University makes its first-ever visit to Stewart Field on Friday, Aug. 31.
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