University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Sunday, September 23
Missoula, MT
12 pm
University of Northern Colorado
at
Montana
@UNC_BearsSoccer starts Big Sky play with battle of the Bears
9/21/2018 4:04:00 PM | Women's Soccer
It is a month into the season, but this week feels like a new start for UNC soccer. A challenging non-conference schedule is over and the Bears open Big Sky play Sunday at Montana.
"Our non-conference season was a little up and down for us, but we learned a lot about ourselves," said UNC senior midfielder Maddie Roberts. "We are confident going into conference play and know what we need to do to be successful."
In what could be argued as the most difficult non-conference of any Big Sky team, UNC went 4-5. The Bears traveled to Austin to face No. 14 ranked Texas, the only other ranked team any Big Sky played was Washington State. In addition to the Longhorns, UNC played host to SMU who is ranked second in the south region by United Soccer.
"I think we played pretty well," said UNC head coach Tim Barrera. "It was a little up and down, but we have a young team so it was a good opportunity for us to asses our team in game situations."
The competition from the Lone Star State wasn't the only challenge of the pre-conference slate. The Bears traveled close to 1,700, which kicked off a four-match in eight-day against North Dakota State and South Dakota and ended with a pair of wins over Wyoming and Grand Canyon at home.
"Playing teams like SMU and Texas just helped us prepare mentally," said UNC senior midfielder Mariel Gutierrez. "Playing that kind of competition gets you ready for teams who are good technically and athletically. It helped us prepare for the conference season."
Bear Notes:
-Â Â Â UNC is tied for the most wins by any Big Sky team heading into conference play.
-Â Â Â The Bears lead the Big Sky in a number of offensive categories, Goals, Points, Goals per Match, Assists and Assists per Match.
-Â Â Â They have scored 13 goals in their first nine matches.
-Â Â Â Mariel Gutierrez and Maddie Roberts lead the conference in goals with three apiece.
-Â Â Â Roberts and Gutierrez lead the conference in points with nine and eight respectively.
Eastern Washington was the preseason favorite to repeat as conference champ, receiving eight of 10 first-place votes. UNC got one of the two other first-place votes and was picked second.
"Like most years the conference is kind of wide open. If you look at the teams who were at the top last year, we all lost quite a few players. Looking at it from the non-conference schedule can be hard to tell because most teams play some Power Five competition and get out on the road. The good thing is that we all start at 0-0," Barrera said.
EWU and UNC meet Sept. 30 at Jackson stadium.
Montana picked up the lone remaining first-place vote in the preseason poll and that's where the Bears start Big Sky play.
"They have a new coaching staff so they are playing a little different this season. They lost some players to graduation, but still, have some good players up and down their lineup and they always play well at home." Barrera said.
Get to know the Griz:
-Â Â Â Montana is the lowest scoring team in the Big Sky having only scored three goals in eight matches.
-Â Â Â The Griz are led by three players who have scored a goal apiece.
-Â Â Â Their lone win in the non-conference game against Vermont.
-Â Â Â UM comes into conference play 0-2-2 over their last four matches.
-Â Â Â Taryn Miller returns off her 2017 season when she was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year.
-Â Â Â UNC and Montana have one common opponent, the Bears beat Wyoming, 4-1, and the Griz played to a 0-0 draw vs. the Cowgirls.
Â
Montana Matchup:
-Â Â Â UNC leads the all-time series 7-5-3.
-Â Â Â The Bears won the last meeting in the Big Sky Tournament last season.
-Â Â Â Montana holds a 3-1-2 advantage on matches played in Missoula.
-Â Â Â UNC hasn't won in Missoula since 2006.
-Â Â Â The Griz have only scored one goal in the last three matches against UNC.
Â
"Our non-conference season was a little up and down for us, but we learned a lot about ourselves," said UNC senior midfielder Maddie Roberts. "We are confident going into conference play and know what we need to do to be successful."
In what could be argued as the most difficult non-conference of any Big Sky team, UNC went 4-5. The Bears traveled to Austin to face No. 14 ranked Texas, the only other ranked team any Big Sky played was Washington State. In addition to the Longhorns, UNC played host to SMU who is ranked second in the south region by United Soccer.
"I think we played pretty well," said UNC head coach Tim Barrera. "It was a little up and down, but we have a young team so it was a good opportunity for us to asses our team in game situations."
The competition from the Lone Star State wasn't the only challenge of the pre-conference slate. The Bears traveled close to 1,700, which kicked off a four-match in eight-day against North Dakota State and South Dakota and ended with a pair of wins over Wyoming and Grand Canyon at home.
"Playing teams like SMU and Texas just helped us prepare mentally," said UNC senior midfielder Mariel Gutierrez. "Playing that kind of competition gets you ready for teams who are good technically and athletically. It helped us prepare for the conference season."
Bear Notes:
-Â Â Â UNC is tied for the most wins by any Big Sky team heading into conference play.
-Â Â Â The Bears lead the Big Sky in a number of offensive categories, Goals, Points, Goals per Match, Assists and Assists per Match.
-Â Â Â They have scored 13 goals in their first nine matches.
-Â Â Â Mariel Gutierrez and Maddie Roberts lead the conference in goals with three apiece.
-Â Â Â Roberts and Gutierrez lead the conference in points with nine and eight respectively.
Eastern Washington was the preseason favorite to repeat as conference champ, receiving eight of 10 first-place votes. UNC got one of the two other first-place votes and was picked second.
"Like most years the conference is kind of wide open. If you look at the teams who were at the top last year, we all lost quite a few players. Looking at it from the non-conference schedule can be hard to tell because most teams play some Power Five competition and get out on the road. The good thing is that we all start at 0-0," Barrera said.
EWU and UNC meet Sept. 30 at Jackson stadium.
Montana picked up the lone remaining first-place vote in the preseason poll and that's where the Bears start Big Sky play.
"They have a new coaching staff so they are playing a little different this season. They lost some players to graduation, but still, have some good players up and down their lineup and they always play well at home." Barrera said.
Get to know the Griz:
-Â Â Â Montana is the lowest scoring team in the Big Sky having only scored three goals in eight matches.
-Â Â Â The Griz are led by three players who have scored a goal apiece.
-Â Â Â Their lone win in the non-conference game against Vermont.
-Â Â Â UM comes into conference play 0-2-2 over their last four matches.
-Â Â Â Taryn Miller returns off her 2017 season when she was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year.
-Â Â Â UNC and Montana have one common opponent, the Bears beat Wyoming, 4-1, and the Griz played to a 0-0 draw vs. the Cowgirls.
Â
Montana Matchup:
-Â Â Â UNC leads the all-time series 7-5-3.
-Â Â Â The Bears won the last meeting in the Big Sky Tournament last season.
-Â Â Â Montana holds a 3-1-2 advantage on matches played in Missoula.
-Â Â Â UNC hasn't won in Missoula since 2006.
-Â Â Â The Griz have only scored one goal in the last three matches against UNC.
Â
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
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