United Soccer Coaches Top 25
 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The first polls of the 2025 season were released Thursday by the United Soccer Coaches as the association's preseason rankings saw the Colorado School of Mines women's soccer team pick up where they left off as the fourth-ranked team in NCAA Division II.
 
2024 national champions and the team who ended Mines' run last fall Cal Poly Pomona (22-1-2) topped the rankings with Columbus State (22-1-2) second and national runners-up Minnesota State (18-2-7) third. Behind the Orediggers (20-1-2) in fourth, perennial power Grand Valley State (15-1-8) rounded out the top five.
 
Looking down the rankings, regional rival Dallas Baptist (16-3-3) checked in at #15 with Angelo State (14-2-5) three positions behind at #18. Fellow RMAC member Colorado Mesa (14-2-4), whom Mines defeated in penalties in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, was ranked #22. Former Division II champion Western Washington, a fixture on the schedule in past seasons and once again this year, along with Seattle Pacific both received votes in the preliminary rankings.
 
2024 saw the Orediggers sweep the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference titles and advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II women's soccer championship for the second time in the last three seasons. Mines also made history last fall, attaining the program's first-ever #1 ranking in the USC Top 25 and holding that spot through six consecutive weeks of polling before ultimately finishing fourth at season's end.
 
Despite the departure of a talented and experienced senior class, the Orediggers head into the 2025 season with what is again a deep and talented roster, led by RMAC Co-Player of the Year and 2023 Freshman of the Year Bella Campos, who scored 14 times with seven assists for 35 points, and 2022 Freshman of the Year Afton Rasco, who tallied five goals and three assists for 13 points. 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Natalie Rouse, who has seven goals in 24 career matches, also returns after missing most of last fall due to injury along with Kaitlyn Manalili, an Honorable Mention All-RMAC selection a season ago following a breakout campaign in which she tied for fourth on the club in points with 12 behind three goals and six assists.
 
The Orediggers begin fall practice later this month before heading to Texas for the season opener on September 4 when they square off in a rematch of last season's South Central Region Championship against Angelo State. The home opener for Mines is Wednesday September 10 at Stermole Stadium against 2022 national champions Western Washington.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines women's soccer on X and Instagram at @mineswsoc. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, X and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.