COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer team opens the 2012 season when they face Fort Hays State at 7 p.m. Friday night at Mountain Lion Stadium. This kicks off a six-game homestand for the Mountain Lions.
 
This is the second straight meeting between the Tigers and the Mountain Lions. Last year the Mountain Lions pulled out an overtime win. In the game the Mountain Lions scored first and then scored early into the first overtime to pull it out when Julia Saenz scored. This is the second straight year and second game overall against a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association team.

Fort Hays State is in its second year as a program. They went 6-11-1 in their first year under head coach Craig Shaw. The Tigers return their starting goalkeeper from last year along with their top two leading scorers: Joanne Glynn who had nine goals and Cindy Benitez who had seven goals.

The Mountain Lions begin the season with several offensive players in reach of career records. Agnes Arnadottir currently stands in sixth place in career points with 13 points, but with three of points this weekend, she can make it into the top five in career points. Ashley Hooper currently has 11 points and  she is currently two points behind Arnadottir. Hannah Rather is  five points behind Arnadottir on the career points list.

Arnadottir is also in reach of a record in career goals with six goals and needs three to move into fourth on the career goals list. Hannah Levett has three assists and needs three assists to move into the top five in career assists. Hannah Rather is one assist behind Levett.

Starting goalkeeper Kelly Schroeder is also in reach of  program records. She already holds the record for career shutouts with six in her first two years-the next closest three goalkeepers have four each. She is also within reach of the program record for career saves. She is currently at 139 and she needs 11 to tie the record of 150 set by Amie Kern in 2008.

This is the fifth year overall for the program and also for Nichole Ridenour, who returns 11 student-athletes with playing experience from last year's team. Ridenour will be joined on the sideline by assistant coaches Craig Decker and Devin Williams.

The Mountain Lions will be one of four RMAC teams in action tomorrow. Colorado Mines will play Montana State-Billings at 1p.m. Colorado Mesa will take on West Texas A&M at 3 p.m., and Fort Lewis will play at Midwestern State at 4 p.m.