With the regular season opener just around the corner, the University of Northern Colorado soccer team is gearing up for another shot at a Big Sky title.
The Bears already started their season with an exhibition against the Air Force last week, but the regular season doesn’t start until Thursday when Wyoming comes to town.
UNC lost several senior players, including Big Sky Offensive MVP Lexi Pulley and All-Conference selections in Taylor Bray, Erika Hall and Olivia Seddon.
The team, however, will have several returning players and feature many new faces.
Here are players to watch and things to note as the season begins.
Maddie Duren, defender
Duren returns to UNC as a graduate student, receiving additional eligibility due to COVID-19. She is the reigning Big Sky Defensive MVP and a longtime member of the program.
The veteran helped lead the defense, which only allowed an average of 1.11 goals per game last year.
Although not a primary scorer for the program, Duren still helps on offense. She has scored four goals during her career at UNC and took more than a dozen shot attempts last season alone.
Lucy Hart, defender
Hart became a key figure on the Bears’ defense as a true freshman last year. She earned one assist last year, which came in the team’s 7-2 win over Idaho State to clinch the regular season title.
Additionally, Hart played the entire game in three matches. She received an All-Big Sky Honorable Mention nod after her early success in 2021.
With the graduation of Erika Hall and Isabella Almazan, Hart — who has already proven her impact — could see even more playing time on the pitch.
Abby Bush, midfielder
Bush is one player local fans will want to keep an eye on. The incoming freshman from Windsor signed with UNC as a junior in high school, saying she liked getting to stay near her family and other loved ones. Both of her parents graduated from UNC.
She also said it was going to be nice to have community members follow her college career.
Most recently, Bush scored a late game penalty kick to push the Wizards into the 4A State finals in May. Windsor was the state runner-up.
The forwards
Replacing Pulley and Bray is not going to be an easy task, even with players who have experience. The duo went no. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the Big Sky last year for goals scored. They also rank in the program’s all-time top 10 in goals, game-winning goals, shots, shots on target and points.
UNC coach Tim Barrera thinks senior Britney Donais, sophomore Lauren Fuller, junior Melina Faris, freshman Riley Kaali-Nagy and sophomore Lauren Woodhull will all be forwards to watch this year.
Kaali-Nagy scored the Bears’ lone preseason goal against Air Force. Barrera said Kaali-Nagy is “dangerous” because she is athletic and can read the game well. Fuller is a transfer from CSU with game experience, while the other three have gotten playing time with UNC.
Trying to replace two of the best players in UNC history is going to be a challenge, but these women look to be the best bet.
Coaching staff
In addition to the players themselves, the program’s coaches have a lot of experience.
Barrera, the 2021 Big Sky Coach of the Year, is entering his 24th season at UNC and nearly 30 years overall. He is joined by assistant coach Amy Kolowsky, who has been part of the program since 2020. She previously coached at Appalachian State, focusing on the goalkeepers.
Everton Do Prado joins the staff this year, as well. He started playing the sport as a child and has coaching experience on multiple levels. Do Prado coached high school in Hawaii, served as an assistant with the Utah men’s soccer team, and was an assistant for the Haiti National Team.
Between the three, there are roughly four decades of experience, with Barrera and Kolowsky both being part of conference tournament-qualifying teams.
The Bears won the league regular season title outright for the first time in 2021. They have also played in a conference-high nine Big Sky Tournaments and were picked to win the league again in 2022.
UNC will begin the regular season at 7 pm Thursday when it hosts Wyoming at Jackson Stadium.
.