The Colorado College men's soccer team opens up play in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference this weekend against St. Thomas on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 4 p.m. MT. 
 
Last Time Out 
 
CC traveled east to Virginia Beach to take on No. 1 Mary Washington and then No. 13 Christopher Newport. The Tigers battled the Captains to a 1-1 draw on Friday evening before dropping a 1-0 battle to the top-ranked Eagles. 
 
The Tigers showed they belonged among the top programs in the country, and it was a great chance to gauge and analyze the team's state heading into conference play. CC has faced three opponents this year who are currently among the top 14 teams in the country. 
 
Junior Oliver Ramirez led the Tigers' scoring efforts. The midfielder found the back of the net against the Captains, but CNU eventually tied the game in the 27th minute to force the tie. 
 
For the first time all season, Mary Washington was shut out by the Tigers in the first half. The Eagles consequently scored in the 52nd minute to win the highly anticipated match. 
 
In The Polls
 
CC has been ranked as high as No. 3 in the United Coaches national poll this season, the highest ranking in program history. Currently, the Tigers are No. 7 entering the weekend, the highest of any team region and in the SCAC. 
 
In the Preseason SCAC Coaches Poll, the Tigers were picked to finish first in the SCAC for the second consecutive conference title. 
 
CC's historic 2023 season included a perfect 8-0 SCAC record, the first time in program history that the Tigers went unbeaten and untied in league play. The Tigers won their first regular-season conference title since 2019 and eventually made their first NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance in 30 years. 
 
Scouting The Opposition
 
St. Thomas is 4-2 entering the weekend. The Celts opened the 2024 campaign with three consecutive wins, including two shutouts against North America and Howard Payne. 
 
UST suffered back-to-back losses to Sul Ross State and Hardin Simmons before bouncing back with a 2-1 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor in its most recent matchup. 
 
Two players lead the Celts: Hani Ahmadie and Daniel Castro, who have three goals each. Castro is the team leader in points, with two assists in addition to the goals. Castro is also the main shot-taker for the Celts, aiming 21 shots (11 on goal) through the first six games. 

Up Next
 
CC will travel again next week for its first SCAC road game, which will be played on Friday, Oct. 4, against the University of Ozarks in Clarksville, AR.