QUICKLY: The University of Colorado women’s soccer team enters its third season in the Pac-12 Conference and its second under head coach Danny Sanchez. Nine newcomers and 16 returning players will face a schedule that includes four instate opponents and four opponents who rank in the NSCAA pre-season top 25.

ALUMNI GAME: CU welcomes back 17 former players for the 2013 Alumni Game. Jen (Almquist) Lehman (1996), Devan (Hansen) Haas (1999-2001), Ellen (Falender) McCready (’01-04), Fran Munnelly, Darci Smerchek and Ashlie Mihalcin (’02-05), Orly Ripmaster (2003), Laura Munnelly (’03-06), Ally Goodman (’06-09), Kim Lowry (’07-10), Maggi Steury and Caroline Danneberg (’08-11), Kelly Moore (’09-10), Quinn Krier, Shaye Marshall and Lauren Shaner (’09-12) and Kayla Millar (’10-12) will all be in attendance. Players and head coach Danny Sanchez will be available after the game for the first media opportunity of the season.

CU women's soccer

PRENTUP PASS: General admission and parking are still free at Prentup Field for all CU soccer games. However, fans interested in supporting CU soccer while receiving great benefits can purchase a Prentup Pass, Prentup Pass Gold or Prentup Pass Platinum for the 2013 season. For more information please visit CUBuffs.com/prentuppass.

WHO’S RETURNING: The Buffaloes return 16 players, including 13 letterwinners and eight starters. Four of the team’s top five scorers return, led by senior Anne Stuller, who netted eight goals and had two assists last season. Fellow seniors and co-captains Hayley Hughes (two goals and three assists) and Annie Brunner (70 saves and 7.1 shutouts) hope to lead the team to victory in the 2013 season. The team also has a strong young presence. Sophomores Madison Krauser, a member of the Pac-12 Freshman Team, andEmily Paxton combined for a total of 11 points in their first season.

WHO’S GONE: The Buffs bid farewell to nine players, including six seniors, three of whom were starters. Midfielder Amy Barczukconcluded her career at CU by breaking numerous records and earning a place on the All-Pac-12 Second Team. Barczuk has continued her soccer career as a second round draft pick by the Western New York Flash in the inaugural NWSL Draft. Other 2012 senior starters Shaye Marshall and Quinn Krier combined for eight assists in the midfield. Reserve keeper Kayla Millar closed out a career that included helping CU to its first win in the Pac-12. CU also lost two more seniors, Lauren Shaner and Erin Bricker, who provided extra minutes off the bench. Jenna Glad, Courtney Dudley and Elise Romano, who played a combined 386 minutes in their freshmen campaigns, will not be returning this season.

WHO’S NEW: CU welcomes nine newcomers. The group includes seven freshmen and two transfers. Californians lead the pack with four players: Alyssa Herwatt, Hannah Dearborn, Mikaela Kraus and Tori Cooper. Washington follows with two: Sydney Carlson andBrianna Hooks. Three other players expand Buff Nation, becoming the first players from their respective states. Kenzie Tillitt hails from Nevada, Brooke Rice from Wyoming and Alex Huynh from New South Wales, Australia. Cooper and Rice both have two seasons of collegiate experience under their belts, coming to Colorado by way of Georgia and Santa Clara, respectively.

PAC-12 COACHES POLL: Colorado finished 10th in the 2013 Pac-12 Women’s Soccer Coaches Poll. UCLA led the group with seven out of 11 possible first-place votes. Four-time defending conference champion and 2012 NCAA runner-up Stanford was just two points shy of the top stop in the poll.

1. UCLA
2. Stanford
3. California
4. Washington
5. Arizona State
6. Oregon State
Washington State
8. USC
9. Utah
10. Colorado
11. Oregon
12. Arizona

STIFF COMPETITION: Four of the Buffs’ opponents this season found a place on the NSCAA Preseason Rankings. Stanford and UCLA both made the top 5, at No. 2 and No. 5, respectively. California also represents the conference at No. 20, and regional foe Denver rounds out the top 25 with the final spot. Two more Pac-12 competitors, USC and Arizona State, also received votes.

2013 CAPTAINS: Colorado natives Hayley Hughes and Annie Brunner are the 2013 captains. Both seniors had terrific campaigns last season. As a forward in 2012, Hughes started all 20 games and scored two goals and added three assists. She was named to the DU Invitational All-Tournament Team early in the season, helping lead the Buffs to 2-1 victory over Cincinnati. She was also a first-team Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District and NSCAA Scholar All-West Region honorable mention selection. Brunner played all 20 games, recording 70 saves and a 1.14 goals-against average. Her record-setting three shutouts to open the season helped her to the first Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week title of the year. She earned CU Athlete of the Week honors for helping shutout out more back-to-back opponents in September. Both excelled in the classroom, with Hughes earning Pac-12 All-Academic first-team and Brunner receiving honorable mention honors.

BUFFS IN THE LEAGUE: Three former Buffs are currently competing in the newly formed National Women’s Soccer League. Amy Barczuk (2009-12) was selected by the Western New York Flash in the second round (the 14th overall pick) of the inaugural NWSL draft. After playing for multiple teams in multiple leagues, Nikki Marshall (2006-09) signed as a free agent with Portland Thorns FC for the inaugural season. Michelle Wenino (2005-08) returned to the Chicago Red Stars as a third round selection in the supplemental draft. The NWSL regular season concludes on Sunday, Aug. 18, with the top four teams moving on to the playoff semifinals on Saturday, Aug. 24.

PRO SOCCER: Kate Russell (2008-11), who got her professional start earlier this year as a reserve player with the Boston Breakers, recently signed overseas with LUV Graz in the Austrian Women’s Bundesliga. The team opened the season on August 11, with a 6-1 loss to USC Landhaus. Their next match is on August 25 versus ASV Spratzern.

UP NEXT – COLORADO CUP: The Buffs open the regular season with the 2013 Colorado Cup. The Buffs are undefeated in two Cups, taking home trophies in back-to-back seasons. CU looks for a three-peat as they take on Northern Colorado on Friday, Aug. 23 at 5 p.m. The Buffs host the final day, Sunday, Aug. 25. Denver will take on Northern Colorado in the opening match at Noon. Then, CU faces Colorado College at 2:30 p.m. Last year, CU shut out UNC 3-0 and CC 0-0 (2OT), winning the title by goal differential.

CU press release
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