The Colorado College Tigers are poised to kick off their 2024 women's football season on Thursday, 15 August, with a trip to Missoula, Montana for the "Rumble in the Rockies" tournament. The Tigers will face the University of Montana Grizzlies in their season opener, followed by a clash against the University of Iowa.
"The players are really excited to get their first game under their belts and be on the road in Montana," said head coach Keri Sanchez. "We've been looking very good [in training] and are improving every day, which is exactly what we want from the players."
A Year of Rebuilding
Colorado College enters its 48th season as a programme looking to bounce back from a 3-13-2 record in 2023. The Tigers have a 20-game regular season schedule, including nine non-conference matches to start the year. With 20 returners on the roster, including eight key starters from last season, the team is aiming to build upon its foundation.
"We're constantly working on defining 'who we are'," said Sanchez. "What is Colorado College and what kind of football team do we want to be? We know our values as a team, and we want to continue to press forward, be a dynamic and exciting attacking team to watch, and be tough and gritty defensively."
Despite the team's ambitions, the Tigers were picked to finish 12th in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll. Last year, CC finished with a 3-7-1 MWC record, falling just two points short of a spot in the conference tournament.
A Fresh Face on the Coaching Staff
Keri Sanchez enters her third season as head coach at Colorado College, having been appointed the eighth head coach in the history of the school's Division I women's football programme in December 2021.
Sanchez, a four-time NCAA National Champion as a player at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a former United States Women's National Team player, brings a wealth of coaching experience spanning Division I and Division III.
During the off-season, Sanchez added two new coaches to her staff: Chris Dodd, who most recently served as head coach of DI Houston Christian University, and Kelsey Brouwer, a former assistant coach at Purdue University with six years of DI coaching experience.
"I'm incredibly excited about the addition of Chris to our staff," Sanchez said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge about the game and how to teach it. He's passionate and committed to helping his players reach their full potential. His competitive spirit will help our programme reach a new level."
Dodd joins Colorado Springs with nearly a decade of Division I experience at Houston Christian University (formerly known as Houston Baptist University). He started as the goalkeeping coach in 2014 and steadily rose through the ranks before becoming the head coach.
Brouwer brings seven years of NCAA Division I coaching experience to CC, having coached numerous current professional players.
A graduate of Middle Tennessee State, Brouwer was an exceptional collegiate goalkeeper, earning the 2015 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year award. After graduating in 2016, she played as the starting goalkeeper in the 2016 UEFA Women's Champions League for Apollon Ladies F.C. in Limassol, Cyprus, and also played professionally in the United States for FC Kansas City.
"Kelsey quickly rose to the top of the list of an impressive pool of candidates," said Sanchez of Brouwer. "She's thoughtful in her approach, good at building relationships, and genuinely cares about the athletes she coaches. She has a fantastic playing background, will be a positive role model for our players, and will push our staff to be at their best."
Players to Watch
Three Colorado College players were named to the Mountain West Players To Watch list: seniors Kaelin Enga and Alexis Wessler, and junior Makenna Kolson.
Enga, a Colorado Springs native, will enter her fourth season at CC after appearing in 14 games in 2023. The midfielder logged 980 minutes (eighth on the team) with two full 90-minute performances against Boise St. and San Jose State. She will be a crucial part of the midfield this season.
Wessler, another Colorado product from Highlands Ranch, was one of only three players to start in all 18 matches last season. The midfielder/defender was a consistent performer in 2023, leading the Tigers with 1,564 minutes played and logging 14 full 90-minute performances. Since 2017, Wessler has played in 63 games, missing only one start in 2021.
Kolson, a midfielder/defender from Ladera Ranch, CA, made 11 starts during her sophomore campaign and was fifth on the team with 1,091 minutes played. Kolson can play across the pitch and also possesses a good shot. She took 10 shots in 2023, including a season-high three against Louisana Tech in the season opener.
Season Opener Preview
CC boasts a 26-11-2 record in Division I season openers. Their most recent first-game victory came in 2022 when the Tigers defeated UC Santa Barbara, 2-1, in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Facing the Grizzlies
The Tigers have a 4-5-0 record against the Grizzlies, with their most recent meeting in 2005. Montana enters the season fresh off a 13-3-3 record and an appearance in the Big Sky Championship Tournament as the No. 1 seed. However, they ultimately lost to Northern Arizona in the semi-finals.
The Grizzlies return all five of their first-team All-Big Sky selections from last year and are favoured to repeat as Big Sky regular-season champions.
How to Watch
The match on Thursday evening will be broadcast on ESPN+ and available to anyone with a subscription.
Live stats for the games can be found [link to stats page].
