There is no better time to be a UCCS sports fan, as every fall sport is humming right now. Many of these teams had high expectations placed on them by the preseason coaches’ polls and they have not disappointed.
Multiple teams have been nationally ranked at some point in the season and many of them will likely see postseason play.
With the success the teams are having, it is important to understand how they got here. Transfers and graduations can rock teams down to their core; it is up to the coaches to recruit their teams back to full strength.
So, who are the players creating magic for the Mountain Lions this season?
Men’s Cross Country
The men’s cross country team was coming off a fourth-place finish in the RMAC last season. The preseason coaches’ poll predicted that not much would change and that another fourth-place finish was inbound.
One of the biggest challenges for the team this season was replacing the production of Jagger Zlotoff, a first-team all-RMAC athlete who transferred to Grand Canyon University.
At the Lucian Rosa Invite, UCCS finished fifth as a team out of the 25 participating schools. Their best performer during the 8k was junior Brett Davis.
This performance cemented UCCS as a conference contender and has created optimism heading into the rest of the season.
Unfortunately, the biggest hurdle for the Mountain Lions is the strength of the RMAC. While being ranked twelfth in the nation has fans hopeful, there are four RMAC teams occupying spots in the top 10.
With the conference being this cutthroat, cross country will have to remain consistent to keep up with the competition.
Women’s Cross Country
Women’s cross country was also ranked fourth in the preseason coaches’ polls.
They look to replace the now graduated Anna Fauske who earned first-team all-RMAC honors last season. Losing Fauske without a clear replacement in the form of a transfer spelled uncertainty at the beginning of the season.
However, the team showed a lot of promise at the Lucian Rosa Invite, finishing third out of 23 teams.
Freshman Kate Henderson and freshman Elizabeth McQuitty both had top 10 finishes in the 6k. With both top performers for the team being freshmen, this creates hope that UCCS will remain competitive for years to come.
Similar to the men’s rankings, the RMAC is stacked with talent and dominates the rankings. While the Mountain Lions are ranked eighth in the nation, there are three RMAC teams ahead of them, including the number one-ranked Colorado School of Mines.
With so much talent in the RMAC, the team will have to remain consistent to compete and their performance at the Lucian Rosa Invite showed that they have what it takes to hang with the best of them.
Men’s Soccer
The team had a lot of expectations heading into the season, with being projected to top the RMAC.
While their non-conference games caused the team to stumble, they currently sit at a 4-3-3 overall record and a 2-0 record in conference play.
Leading this team offensively are senior forward Miles Seminario and senior transfer forward Nick Walker.
While their production has been helpful, the team has struggled to pull away in games. Every game besides one has been decided by one goal or less.
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Hugo Sjoberg has done a good job at replacing the services of Soren Russell, who transferred to Division I school SMU, as Sjoberg has not allowed more than two goals in a single match.
The Mountain Lions are currently on a three-game win streak, which is a great sign as the team looked to be stuck in first gear during their non-conference stretch. With the team seeming to find their rhythm, UCCS remains the favorite to host the conference tournament in November.
Women’s Soccer
This team was projected to finish second in the conference,which is where they sit right now.
The team graduated midfielder Fie Steenberg over the offseason, a major hit considering that she was the only Mountain Lion to receive first-team all-RMAC honors last season.
When one door closes, another one opens, as stellar performances by junior goalkeeper Nylah Mirshafiei has led her to earn goalkeeper of the week honors as the team has only allowed eight goals through 10 games, compared to the 25 goals they have scored.
The team currently has a 7-1-2 record and has remained unbeaten in the past seven games. This is a shot of momentum that is vital as they will play what will likely be their two most important regular-season games in the coming week.
On Oct.12 they will host Regis, who are currently at the top of the RMAC and on Oct.17 they will travel to Golden to take on Colorado School of Mines, who were projected to finish at the top of the RMAC during the preseason.
The results in these two games will have serious effects on where the conference tournament is hosted. With the team on fire right now, fans will be excited to see how they perform during this important stretch of games.
Volleyball
This is one of the most surprising teams this season. Projected to finish eighth in the RMAC and miss the conference tournament entirely, volleyball has a 12-1 record and is receiving votes to be nationally ranked.
On the offensive, sophomore outside hitter Payton Thompkins and junior middle blocker Nicole Martin have racked up the points for the Mountain Lions.
Their contributions have led to UCCS having the best offense in RMAC, as the Mountain Lions lead the conference in total points, points per set, assists, kills and serving aces.
The team will look to carry their offensive masterclass into the last week of October, where they will host two key matchups. The first one is on Oct.24 against CSU Pueblo, the school who handed them their first and only loss. The second matchup is the very next night against Colorado Christian.
Those are the two teams ahead of UCCS in RMAC and that weekend will be the best opportunity for volleyball to show why they deserve to be ranked higher than eighth.
Beyond the playing field
While the success of fall sports is great for the fans and athletes, having a good sports scene comes with hidden benefits that affect the school as a whole.
One of the main benefits is reputation. With teams finding their way onto national rankings, it has helped put UCCS on the map and become one of the more respected Division II schools in the nation.
“I’ve been part of some national committees and when I’d show up with my UCCS shirt on, they’d be like ‘oh, where are you from in California?’ Whereas now, UCCS is really established as a leader in athletics,” said Athletic Director Nathan Gibson.
Being a leader in athletics is not just about being good at sports. UCCS boasts high graduation rates, high retention rates, and high community engagement among student athletes. For Gibson, providing the best experience for student athletes is what he has been most proud of.
“I love that we’re good and that we’re competitive and that we’re competing at a national level, but it’s all the other factors that make this place so special,” Gibson said.
The athletes themselves are also impacting the campus outside of their sport. Their contributions to the campus culture are something that should not be taken for granted.
“Our student athletes are some of the best students we have on campus and some of our best community members. I think having student athletes and adding to the diverse mix of what makes up as, I think it’s really important,” Gibson said.
For everyone on campus, a healthy sports scene can help invoke a sense of community and a sense of pride, as going to games can elevate the experience of students.,
“They want to go to blackout night, they want to go to homecoming events, and they want to go to the other things that are really fun to do and be part of a campus community and be proud of what your campus is doing,” Gibson said.
The success of fall sports is having right now should not only be celebrated because of the talented coaches and athletes making it happen, but it should also be celebrated because of how good it is for the culture of UCCS.
Follow along as the Mountain Lions progress through their seasons through the RMAC Network at https://rmacnetwork.com/purchase/. Games are available through a subscription plan or a pay-per-view plan.
Editor’s Note: The Scribe’s editor-in-chief Joseph Impellitteri is a member of the men’s cross country team.