COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference released its preseason coaches poll for women's soccer Tuesday that saw the Colorado School of Mines women's soccer team picked to repeat as league champions.
 
The Orediggers garnered nine first place votes coming off an 18-2-3 campaign and were unbeaten in the RMAC with a mark of 10-0-2 as they swept both the regular season and tournament titles last year before hosting the first and second rounds of the 2022 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship and going on to win the South Central Regional title.
 
Under the direction of the 2022 RMAC Coach of the Year Kevin Fickes, Mines brings back an experienced group that led the RMAC and ranked inside the top 10 nationally in scoring last year and includes nine returning starters, highlighted by All-American Reese McDermott and the RMAC Freshman of the Year a season ago in Afton Rasco.

UCCS, Regis, Westminster and MSU Denver rounded out the top five while the remaining first place ballots were split among the Mountain Lions, Rangers, Griffins and 10th place Adams State.
 
#4 Mines kicks off the 2023 season with six consecutive matches at Stermole Soccer Stadium, beginning September 1 and September against San Francisco State and Chico State.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines women's soccer on Twitter and Instagram at @mineswsoc. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.
 
2023 RMAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Colorado School of Mines (9) – 131 points
2. UCCS (1) - 116
3. Regis (1) -112
4. Westminster (1) - 107
5. MSU Denver - 96
6. Colorado Mesa - 86
7. Fort Lewis - 75
8. CSU Pueblo - 72
9. Western Colorado - 56
10. Adams State (1) - 52
11. Colorado Christian- 51
12. Black Hills State - 35
13. New Mexico Highlands - 25