University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Defending Big Sky Champions Women's Soccer lock in conference schedule
11/5/2020 9:53:00 AM | Women's Soccer
FARMINGTON, Utah – Officials from the Big Sky Conference have unveiled the 2021 Women's Soccer schedule, finally bringing Northern Colorado its chance to defend its championship title from a season ago.
"We are excited to have a schedule and the opportunity to compete this spring," said head coach Tim Barrera. "We have had a great fall training and I give a lot of credit to our athletic training staff for all of the testing and care for our student-athletes, and their enthusiasm and focus during these interesting times."
Normally held in the Fall, the conference moved the Women's Soccer season to the spring in response to changes brought by COVID-19. Each team will compete in nine games across five weeks. There will be no Big Sky tournament this year, meaning the team at the top of the conference standings at the end of the regular season will punch a ticket to the NCAA Championships.
UNC kicks off the season with three straight road contests at Sacramento State, Portland State and Montana before returning to Jackson Stadium to take on Idaho. Notably, the 2019 Big Sky Championship rematch against Eastern Washington is slated for March 28 at Jackson Stadium.
"The schedule is a little tougher this year as we have five away and four at home, but our players are excited to play," Barrera explained. "Playing in the Big Sky always has an unknown weather factor and this spring will be no different.
"The conference, overall, will be stronger and better across the board and each game will be more important without the Big Sky Conference Tournament. I feel that we should be a better team this year but it will be different with a smaller non-conference schedule."
A season ago, the Bears finished 9-11-4 overall with a conference mark of 4-2-3, good for fourth place heading into the Big Sky tournament. Wins against Northern Arizona and Montana landed UNC in the championship game against Eastern Washington, inevitably emerging victorious with a dramatic 1-0 effort.
Barrera returns a strong squad from 2019, including Big Sky Co-Defensive Player of the Year and All-Big Sky First Team member Maddie Barkow, All-Big Sky Second Team members Lindsi Jennings, Olivia Seddon and Lexi Pulley, and All-Big Sky Honorable Mentions Cara Quinn and Taylor Bray.
In total, UNC returns 11 players who started at least 13 and 10 starters from the conference final. The Bears' depth also features 18 returners that started at least one game and 17 players that played in at least 17 games a season ago.
Northern Colorado is hoping to schedule a small number of non-conference games before Big Sky play begins.
The full Big Sky schedule can be found below:
March 12 – at Sacramento State
March 14 – at Portland State
March 21 – at Montana
March 26 – vs. Idaho
March 28 – vs. Eastern Washington
April 2 – at Weber State
April 4 – at Idaho State
April 9 – vs. Northern Arizona
April 11 – vs. Southern Utah
To stay up to date on all things UNC soccer, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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"We are excited to have a schedule and the opportunity to compete this spring," said head coach Tim Barrera. "We have had a great fall training and I give a lot of credit to our athletic training staff for all of the testing and care for our student-athletes, and their enthusiasm and focus during these interesting times."
Normally held in the Fall, the conference moved the Women's Soccer season to the spring in response to changes brought by COVID-19. Each team will compete in nine games across five weeks. There will be no Big Sky tournament this year, meaning the team at the top of the conference standings at the end of the regular season will punch a ticket to the NCAA Championships.
UNC kicks off the season with three straight road contests at Sacramento State, Portland State and Montana before returning to Jackson Stadium to take on Idaho. Notably, the 2019 Big Sky Championship rematch against Eastern Washington is slated for March 28 at Jackson Stadium.
"The schedule is a little tougher this year as we have five away and four at home, but our players are excited to play," Barrera explained. "Playing in the Big Sky always has an unknown weather factor and this spring will be no different.
"The conference, overall, will be stronger and better across the board and each game will be more important without the Big Sky Conference Tournament. I feel that we should be a better team this year but it will be different with a smaller non-conference schedule."
A season ago, the Bears finished 9-11-4 overall with a conference mark of 4-2-3, good for fourth place heading into the Big Sky tournament. Wins against Northern Arizona and Montana landed UNC in the championship game against Eastern Washington, inevitably emerging victorious with a dramatic 1-0 effort.
Barrera returns a strong squad from 2019, including Big Sky Co-Defensive Player of the Year and All-Big Sky First Team member Maddie Barkow, All-Big Sky Second Team members Lindsi Jennings, Olivia Seddon and Lexi Pulley, and All-Big Sky Honorable Mentions Cara Quinn and Taylor Bray.
In total, UNC returns 11 players who started at least 13 and 10 starters from the conference final. The Bears' depth also features 18 returners that started at least one game and 17 players that played in at least 17 games a season ago.
Northern Colorado is hoping to schedule a small number of non-conference games before Big Sky play begins.
The full Big Sky schedule can be found below:
March 12 – at Sacramento State
March 14 – at Portland State
March 21 – at Montana
March 26 – vs. Idaho
March 28 – vs. Eastern Washington
April 2 – at Weber State
April 4 – at Idaho State
April 9 – vs. Northern Arizona
April 11 – vs. Southern Utah
To stay up to date on all things UNC soccer, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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