2022 CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF THURSDAY
The Colorado College women's soccer program officially kicks off its 38th season at the NCAA Division I level with a pair of road games. The Tigers visit UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 8 p.m. (MT). Four days later, CC travels to Orem, Utah, to face Utah Valley University at 7 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.

THE KERI SANCHEZ ERA BEGINS
Keri Sanchez was named the eighth head coach in the history of the school's Division I women's soccer program in December of 2021. Sanchez, who won four NCAA National Championships as a player at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, brings 25 years of coaching experience that spans Division I and Division III. During her standout professional career, Sanchez played at the highest level. She notched 13 caps with the United States Women's National Team and played in the first-ever World Cup qualifying tournament in 1991. Additionally, she played for the WPSL's California Storm and Silicon Valley Red Devils, as well as the WUSA's Boston Breakers (2001-02) and San Jose Cyberrays (2003), before finishing her pro career with the Los Angeles Sol of the WPS in 2009. As a four-year letterwinner at UNC from 1991-94, Sanchez was part of four straight NCAA Division I National Championships and four Atlantic Coast Conference title teams that compiled a 97-1-1 combined record under legendary head coach Anson Dorrance. During her time in Chapel Hill, Sanchez totaled 32 career assists while earning a Soccer News All-American nod (1993), a pair of all-ACC selections (1991, '94), three NCAA all-Tournament choices (1991, '92, '94) and three Academic All-American selections. She also registered the match-winning strikes in consecutive national championship games with goals against Duke (1992) and George Mason (1993). Sanchez, the winningest head coach in the history of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's soccer program with 148 career victories (2004-17), spent the 2021 season as the women's soccer coach at Illinois Wesleyan University, leading the Titans to a 9-8-1 overall record and a tie for first place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.

FOLLOW THE TIGERS
Fans can watch this week's games and follow live stats via links on the women's soccer schedule at CCTigers.com.

SEASON OPENERS
Colorado College owns a 25-10-2 all-time record in Division I season openers. In their first game of the 2021 campaign, the Tigers fell to Northern Colorado, 3-1.

FOR THE RECORD
Colorado College posted a 5-10-3 overall record and a 4-4-3 mark in the Mountain West last season. The Tigers finished in a tie for sixth place in the conference standings, but just missed a berth in the league tournament due to tiebreakers. UC-Santa Barbara finished the 2021 campaign with an 8-9-3 record, while Utah Valley posted a 13-7-2 overall mark.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. OPPONENTS
UC Santa Barbara owns a 5-4 advantage in the series with Colorado College. The teams last played in 2002, with UCSB capturing a 2-0 victory in Colorado Springs. Monday will be the Tigers' second meeting ever with Utah Valley. The teams battled to a scoreless draw at Stewart Field in 2004.

EXHIBITION RECAPS
The Tigers split a pair of exhibition games last week. CC defeated UTEP, 2-1, on Wednesday, then fell to UCCS by the same score on Saturday. Kaelin Woodruff scored in both games, while Ava Risser collected the game-winner in the 86th minute at UTEP.

A LOOK AT THE TIGERS
Junior Lily Byrne and sophomore Kaelin Enga are the team's top returning scorers, with each recording five points (2g,1a) last season. Joining the 16 returners are one transfer and seven freshmen. Shalom Prince played two seasons at the University of Oklahoma, while Mea Allex, Evie Biggs, Erin Ewers, Makenna Kolson, McKenna O'Toole, Kylie Smith and Haley Williams comprise the Class of 2026.

MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON POLL
The Tigers were picked 11th out of 12 teams in the Mountain West preseason poll as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.
 
Pl. Team (1st place votes) Points
1. New Mexico (11) 121
2. San Diego State 100
3. Boise State (1) 99
4. Fresno State 96
5. Utah State 82
6. UNLV 63
7. Colorado State 57
8. San José State 48
9. Nevada 34
9. Wyoming 34
11. Colorado College 32
12. Air Force 26

UP NEXT FOR THE TIGERS
Colorado College plays Bucknell in the 2022 home opener on Friday, Aug. 26, beginning at 5 p.m. Two days later, the Tigers host Army at 12 p.m.