University of Northern Colorado Athletics
University of Northern Colorado
University of Colorado
Familiar foe awaits as Bears begin season in Boulder
2/10/2021 9:11:00 AM | Women's Soccer
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado Soccer officially gets its season underway with a familiar trip to Boulder on Thursday.
The Bears and Buffaloes went toe-to-toe twice a season ago, with CU edging out UNC both times.
Head coach Tim Barrera returns 11 starters and 19 letterwinners, including the 2019 co-Big Sky Defensive MVP Maddie Barkow and the Big Sky Tournament MVP Taylor Bray.
Northern Colorado was tabbed second in the preseason coaches poll, finishing one point behind Montana.
UNC has made a habit out of postseason play under Barrera. There hasn't been a Big Sky Tournament that didn't feature Northern Colorado for eight years. In fact, the Bears have played in the championship game of the tournament in four of the past five seasons, winning in 2015 and 2019.
Back in January, the Big Sky announced changes to the conference season. This year, the conference will split into two divisions (Northwest and Southeast) with each team playing their respective divisional opponents twice in the same weekend at one location, similar to basketball and volleyball.
The top two teams in each division will meet in the conference tournament in Ogden, Utah.
Northern Colorado has been placed in Southeast Division along with Idaho State, Northern Arizona, Southern Utah and Weber State.
SCOUTING THE BUFFALOES
Ninth-year head coach Danny Sanchez is aiming for another run in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, the Buffs made it 11 trips to the big dance, eventually falling to North Carolina in the second round.
Sanchez welcomes seven new faces to a team that was voted to finish eighth in the PAC-12. CU will also look to replace its top goal scorer from the 2019 campaign as well as its starting goalkeeper.
Sophomore Tessa Barton remains the team's top threat, scoring five goals and notching three assists a season ago.
WHAT'S AHEAD
Northern Colorado will welcome the Colorado School of Mines for one last exhibition before the Big Sky season begins. The Bears will face the Orediggers on February 28. UNC's first conference matchup will be at home in Jackson Stadium against Southern Utah on Friday, March 12.
To stay up to date on all things UNC soccer, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
