This Week's Matchup
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer team is on the road to kick-off conference play this week as the Mountain Lions visit the Western Slope to take on Western Colorado University for a 3 p.m. match in Gunnison, Colo. on Thursday, Sep. 23 before traveling to Durango, Colo. to play Fort Lewis College at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Sep. 26.
 
Game Coverage
Live Stream
Live Stats at Western Colorado
Live Stats at Fort Lewis
 
Last Time Out

• UCCS comes off their second consecutive road sweep of the year after recording a pair of shutout victories over University of Tampa, 1-0, and Saint Leo University, 3-0.
• An unassisted Tarah Patterson game-winner in the 29^th minute was the difference maker against the Tampa Spartans on Wednesday as the Mountain Lions outshot UT 14-6 and 6-3 in shots on goal.
• The 3-0 win over SLU was UCCS' match from start to finish as Jadyn LeDoux scored in the opening minutes with a strike in the third minute, followed up by her second goal of the game in the 85^th minute.
• It was another solid display of defense for the Mountain Lions as SLU recorded just five shots and two shots on goal as UCCS gave up six shots on goal in total between the two matches.

RMAC Records/Standings

• UCCS tallied their third and fourth consecutive wins to hold a 5-1 overall record on the season, serving as the only RMAC team with more than three wins.
• Metropolitan State University of Denver and Westminster College are the only two unbeaten teams through non-conference play with the Roadrunners at 3-0-2 and the Griffins at a 3-0-1 record.

National Ranking

• UCCS continues to climb the national ranks as the Mountain Lions move up one spot to No. 6 in the nation in the latest United Soccer Coaches National Poll.  

The Series

• The Mountain Lions and Mountaineers of Western Colorado hold an all-time series that dates back to Sep. 12, 2012. UCCS has a commanding 10-2 record against WCU as the Mountain Lions look to extend their current six-game winning streak.
• In that six-game span, UCCS has surrendered three goals to the Mountaineers and have outscored Western 17-3.
• UCCS' and Fort Lewis' history goes back a bit further with their first match being played in September of 2008 as the Skyhawks carry a 15-5 record over UCCS.
• As of recent, the Mountain Lions have begun to work their way back in the all-time series by winning the previous three matchups and outscoring the Skyhawks 11-2.  

Scouting Western Colorado

• WCU ended their non-conference schedule last week in Texas where a 3-6 loss to St. Mary's University and 3-2 win over Texas A&M International University puts them at a 3-2 overall record.
• The Mountaineers have allowed as many goals as they have scored with nine. WCU's goals per game and GAA are identical at 1.80.
• Junior Caileen Sienknecht and senior Casey Ober have scored more than one goal for WCU with Sienknecht leading the Mountaineers in goals and points at three and six, respectively.
• An RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week selection earlier this season, Kaeyla Noble has started all five matches in frame for the Mountaineers where she holds a 1.68 GAA with 39 saves off 73 shots faced for an .830 save percentage and two shutouts.

Scouting Fort Lewis

• The Skyhawks (2-2) enter conference play not having played a match since Sep. 12 when they shutout Eastern New Mexico University, 2-0.  
• FLC has outscored the opposition 8-5 in four games and averages two scores a game while recording a 1.25 GAA.
• Senior Katie Smith and Madyson Barela have scored six of Fort Lewis' eight goals as they each have registered a team high three goals and six points.
• Fort Lewis has had three goalkeepers notch playing time this year with Katherine Dunbabin starting in all four games to record one shoutout win, and one combined shutout. In 42 shots faced, Dunbabin has bagged 14 saves for .737 percentage and GAA of 1.43.

Hot Takes

• Jadyn LeDoux came away with a number of career firsts on Saturday with the freshman recording her first collegiate goal, brace, and game-winning goal. LeDoux is now one of eight Mountain Lions to tally at least one goal on the stat sheet through five games, and one of six to have two or more goals.
• Makayla Merlo and Tarah Patterson are UCCS's goal leaders with three each which is tied for the second most in the RMAC. Patterson is also tied for the team lead in assists with Fie Steenberg as both have notched three on the season to tie for the second most assists in the conference.
• The UCCS' offense has continued to produce by outscoring their opponents 16-7 and averaging 2.67 goals per game to rank fourth in the RMAC and fifth in the South Central Region for scoring offense.
• Riding a four-game win streak into conference play, the Mountain Lion defense has turned the page by allowing just two goals in the four games and posting two shutouts in the process. UCCS has yet to give up more than five shots on goal in a single game this season with a team GAA of 1.17.
• Chloe DeShazer has aided in the defensive success by holding an individual GAA of 0.76 that ranks fourth in the RMAC. She also adds 11 saves off 36 shots faced to reach a 0.733 save percentage and a 4-1 record in frame.
• Head coach J. B. Belzer faces two familiar opponents as he's coached against Western Colorado and Fort Lewis a combined 52 times and holds a winning record against both teams. Belzer is currently undefeated against the Mountaineers with an 8-0 record and holds an impressive 29-12-2 record against the Skyhawks.

Weather

• Thursday's forecast in Gunnison, Colo. calls for partly cloudy skies and a high of 74 degrees. Winds are predicted to reach as high as five to 10 miles-per-hour during the match.
• Sunday's forecast in Durango, Colo is set to be mostly sunny with some clouds, and a high of 81 degrees. Winds are also forecasted at five to 10 miles-per-hour.

Award Winners

• UCCS collects an RMAC Player of the Week honor for the second consecutive week as Jadyn LeDoux garners her first career RMAC Offensive Player of the Week award.
• LeDoux burst onto the scene in the Saint Leo match by scoring her first two collegiate goals, including the game-winner, off two shots for a perfect SOG percentage in the match. LeDoux also finished the road trip with a perfect SOG percentage by landing her one shot on frame against Tampa.

UCCS Under Head Coach J. B. Belzer

• Head coach J. B. Belzer enters his second season at the helm for UCCS and 26^th total season as a Division II head coach after spending 24 seasons at Regis University.
• Belzer holds a 329-148-37 record for the seventh most wins in NCAA Division II Women's Soccer history.

• Last season Belzer received his seventh career RMAC Coach of the Year honor as he coached six All-RMAC selections, including Tarah Patterson who was voted RMAC Player of the Year and RMAC Academic Co-Player of the Year.

Upcoming Games

• No. 6 UCCS is scheduled to return home to Mountain Lion Stadium on Friday, Oct. 1 after playing six road games in three states over a 20-day period. The Mountain Lions will play host to Westminster College Friday morning at 11 a.m. then turn around to host Colorado Mesa University on Sunday, Oct. 3 for a 12 p.m. match.

 
SOCIAL
Twitter - @GoMountainLions
Instagram - @gomountainlions 
Facebook – Go Mountain Lions
 
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 16 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.