Colorado School of Mines Named 2021 RMAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Favorites
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines is the 2021 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) women’s soccer preseason favorite, the league announced Wednesday. The RMAC preseason women’s soccer poll is voted on by the league’s 13 head coaches.
The Orediggers lead the way in preseason voting with seven first-place votes and 138 points. Colorado School of Mines closed out the 2020-21 season in the semifinal round of the RMAC conference tournament. The Orediggers led the RMAC and ranked 12th nationally for shutout percentage (.700), 11th in the country for goals-against average (.281) and 10th in the NCAA for save percentage (.927) last season. Seniors Sierra Roth, Eliot Edwards and Emma Peterson return for Colorado School of Mines after earning all-conference accolades last season.
University of Colorado Colorado Springs holds the second-place position in preseason rankings, capturing a trio of first-place votes and 128 points. The Mountain Lions enter the 2021 season ranked No. 18 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll. UCCS closed out last season with an 8-1-0 overall record and a flawless 5-0-0 mark in conference play. The Mountain Lions return 20 competitors from last season’s roster and are led by reigning RMAC Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year, J.B. Belzer.
Colorado State University Pueblo holds the third-place spot in preseason rankings after securing three first-place votes and 121 points. The ThunderWolves enter the 2021 campaign as the reigning RMAC tournament champions after overcoming Westminster 5-4 on penalty kicks (April 25). CSU Pueblo returns Litzy Serna at forward and Nicole Genis in the net for the upcoming season. Serna was named a first team all-conference selection at midfield, while Genis claimed RMAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors last season.
Westminster checks in at fourth place with 110 points, just ahead of fifth-place Fort Lewis with 95 points. Regis occupies the sixth-place position with 87 points, followed by Colorado Mesa in seventh place with 85 points and Metropolitan State University Denver in eighth place with 66 points.
Adams State holds the ninth-place spot with 51 points, ahead of 10th-place Colorado Christian with 50 points. Western Colorado (33 points), Black Hills State (30 points) and New Mexico Highlands (20 points) round out the final three positions in preseason rankings.
2021 RMAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
| Institution (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. Colorado School of Mines (7) |
138 |
| 2. University of Colorado Colorado Springs (3) |
128 |
| 3. Colorado State University Pueblo (3) |
121 |
| 4. Westminster |
110 |
| 5. Fort Lewis |
95 |
| 6. Regis |
87 |
| 7. Colorado Mesa |
85 |
| 8. Metropolitan State University Denver |
66 |
| 9. Adams State |
51 |
| 10. Colorado Christian |
50 |
| 11. Western Colorado |
33 |
| 12. Black Hills State |
30 |
| 13. New Mexico Highlands |
20 |