Women’s soccer ties record, sets sights on championship

The UCCS women’s soccer team has enjoyed success so far this season, already tying the school record for wins with eight of its first 10 games.

     “Our goal every year is to obviously win a Division II championship, and all we need is a shot,” said Craig Decker, assistant head coach.

     After a successful 8-9-1 campaign last season, the Mountain Lions entered this season with a young but experienced core group of players.

     “We have built a winning culture here at UCCS, and girls are looking at UCCS as a viable option to come play Division II soccer,” Decker said.

     The Lady Mountain Lions’ success could be a surprise to some, as they compete in one of the nation’s toughest conferences, the RMAC. But Decker is not surprised by their success so far.

     “The RMAC is one of the toughest conferences in all of Division II. Every game is a battle, but our girls get hyped for big games,” he said.

     A mix of solid defense and a complimentary offense has been critical to the success of the Lady Mountain Lions this season.

     According to Decker, a team-first mentality has helped the Mountain Lions gain much of their success this year.

     “This year the girls are playing with a team-first mentality,” Decker said. “They want to win for each other and have been playing for each other this season.”

     The defense, anchored by keeper and two-time RMAC Defensive Player of the Week Kelly Schroeder, is one of the better defensive teams in the nation.

     Schroeder, a junior and Colorado Springs native, has had an impressive six shutouts in 10 games. Her shutout percentage is tied for 16th best in Division II.

     On offense, the team has been steady, scoring and providing a boost to the stout defense. Hannah Levett has been the leader of the offense thus far. Levett, a sophomore from Fraser, Colo., has paced the team with five goals and five assists through 10 games this year.

     While the Mountain Lions have been successful thus far, the team needs to keep a sharp focus and play as a team. A top-three finish in the RMAC would give the team a chance to win a Division II championship, the ultimate goal.

     “It’s like the holy grail of college sports,” said Decker. And judging from the way the team has been playing, getting there might be possible.