Colorado College Tigers
Overall Rank: #43
#1 Mountain West
Colorado College Team Page
Colorado College is starting a new era and making the logical move to the Mountain West Conference. The Tigers finished their time in Conference USA by going 8-1-1 in conference play and earning their 11th bid to the NCAA Tournament. Once there the Tigers fell in a penalty shootout to Duke, who would end up in the quarterfinals, in the first round. This group may not dominant their new conference like they did their old, at least not yet, but they are the favorites to go back to the NCAA Tournament in 2014.
2013 Record: 15-4-3, 8-1-1
2013 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Geoff Bennett
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Jessie Ayers, Senior, M, 13
Assists: Kaeli Vandersluis, Senior, M, 9
Shots: Sarah Schweiss, Junior, M, 91
Saves: None
Other Key Returnees: F Chanisse Hendrix, F Jaclyn Silsby, M Alexis Long, M Jennifer Stoot, M Mary Bowman, D Julia Lauzon
Key Losses: F Lynn Froetscher, M Madison Whitehead, D Katie Uyenishi, D Sarah Haizlip, D Kecia Morway, GK Kate Scheele
Strengths:
The return of Jessie Ayers, Kaeli Vandersluis and Sarah Schweiss means Colorado College will not lack in the scoring department. Ayers, a three-time Conference USA first-team honoree and a Second-Team College Sports Madness All-American last season, netted 13 goals in 2013. She is one of the most efficient finishers in the country. Vandersluis added nine goals of her own and led the Tigers with nine assists. Schweiss added seven goals and seven assists. Sophomore striker Chanisse Hendrix may take a backseat to the upperclassmen in the midfield, but she is capable of having a breakout season after netting four goals as a freshman. The return of Rachel Herron, who was limited due to an injury, will help bolster the attack. This is a team that ranked 25th in the country with 2.18 goals per game and there is good reason to believe that the number of goals will go up in 2014.
Weaknesses:
As strong as the offense will be, the defense could be in some trouble. The unit allowed just 17 goals a year ago, but there will be a lot of new faces along the backline. Defenders Katie Uyenishi, Sarah Haizlip and Kecia Morway are gone, leaving sophomore Julia Lauzon as the most experienced back on the roster. Coach Geoff Bennett will have to rely on freshmen Ali Basom and Maddi Dunn to make an immediate impact. The story is the same between the posts. Heather Seeley is the only returning keeper and she has yet to play a game for the Tigers. Freshmen Rowan Frederiksen and Louisa Mackenzie will look to compete with Seeley for the starting job.
Final Projection:
The rest of the Mountain West will not appreciate having this offense in their conference. Ayers, Vandersluis, Schweis and company will score plenty of goals. But the question will be whether or not they can continue to win high scoring affairs. If a reliable goalie and a few reliable defenders are found, Colorado College will begin their stay in the Mountain West the same way they ended their time in Conference USA.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Tournament
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 2.18 (25th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Goals-Against Average: 0.741 (32, 1)
Shutout Percentage: 0.591 (16, 1)
Save Percentage: 0.819 (65, 1)
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