COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines leads the way in the 2023 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women’s soccer preseason poll, which was announced Wednesday. Voted on by the league’s 13 head coaches, the Orediggers hope to defend their conference and tournament titles from last season.
Mines was excellent at home last season with 12 wins, nine by shutout, while outscoring opponents 32-4 at Stermole Soccer Stadium. The Orediggers stand atop the RMAC preseason poll with 131 points and nine first-place votes. Mines is coming off an incredible run in 2022, where they knocked off No. 1-seed DBU in the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championships before securing a berth in the tournament’s quarterfinal round. The Orediggers have added depth to an already impressive roster and enter the season ranked fourth in the United Soccer Coaches (USC) preseason poll.
UCCS checks in at number two in the RMAC preseason poll with 116 points and one first-place vote. The Mountain Lions return six goal scorers from last year, including their top-two goal scorers from last season, Jadyn LeDoux and Kaitlin Hinkle, who registered seven goals each. UCCS will lean on a strong midfield and a new face in goal to continue its balanced program from previous seasons. Head coach J.B. Belzer and his squad enter the 2023 season ranked No. 22 in the USC preseason poll.
Regis follows closely in the third spot with 112 points and a lone first-place vote of its own in RMAC preseason voting. Under second-year head coach Jeff Frykholm, the Rangers will aim to grow with a strong contingent of veteran players. Regis was nothing short of impressive in the 2022 campaign and battled its way to the RMAC Tournament Championship game.
Westminster sits in fourth place with one first-place vote and 107 points, while Metropolitan State University of Denver files in at fifth with 96 points. Colorado Mesa receives 86 points for its spot at sixth in preseason voting.
Fort Lewis holds down seventh place with 75 points, just ahead of Colorado State University Pueblo in eighth place with 72 points and Western Colorado in ninth place with 56 points.
Adams State receives 52 points and the league’s final first-place vote to round out the top 10 spots. Colorado Christian collects 51 points to occupy 11th place, followed by Black Hills State (35 points) and New Mexico Highlands (25 points).
The RMAC women’s soccer season kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 29, and continues throughout the remainder of the week with all 13 teams in action. Each match hosted by a RMAC institution will be broadcast on the
RMAC Network.
2023 RMAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
| School (First-place votes) |
Points |
| 1. Colorado School of Mines (9) |
131 |
| 2. UCCS (1) |
116 |
| 3. Regis (1) |
112 |
| 4. Westminster (1) |
107 |
| 5. MSU Denver |
96 |
| 6. Colorado Mesa |
86 |
| 7. Fort Lewis |
75 |
| 8. CSU Pueblo |
72 |
| 9. Western Colorado |
56 |
| 10. Adams State (1) |
52 |
| 11. Colorado Christian |
51 |
| 12. Black Hills State |
35 |
| 13. New Mexico Highlands |
25 |