Rams set to host Eastern Washington and Grand Canyon

This Week
Colorado State Rams (1-1-2) vs. Eastern Washington Eagles (2-2-1)
Friday, Sept. 7, 2018 | 4 p.m. MT
CSU Soccer Field | Fort Collins, Colo.
Coverage: CSURams.com/live (MW Network) | Live Stats
All-Time Series: First meeting
Colorado State Rams (1-1-2) vs. Grand Canyon Lopes (1-5-0)
Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 | 12 p.m. MT
CSU Soccer Field | Fort Collins, Colo.
Coverage: CSURams.com/live (MW Network) | Live Stats
All-Time Series: First meeting
Goals Leaders: CSU – Two players, 1 | EWU – Four players, 1 | GCU – Four players, 1
Assists Leaders: CSU – Taylor Steinke, 1 | EWU – Three players, 1 | GCU – Three players, 1
Points Leaders: CSU – Two players, 2 | EWU – Allison Raniere, 3 | GCU – Four players, 2
Shots Leaders: CSU – Hannah Gerdin, 12 | EWU – Allison Raniere, 13 | GCU – McKenzie Cook, 22
Saves Leaders: CSU – Hunter Peifer, 22 | EWU – Kelsee Winston, 11 | GCU – Abby Burton, 37
Colorado State Women's Soccer Information: Twitter | Roster | Schedule

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – After a week away from competition, the Colorado State women's soccer team returns to the pitch this weekend with home matches against the Eastern Washington Eagles and Grand Canyon Lopes

Colorado State (1-1-2) opens this weekend's slate of matches against Eastern Washington (2-2-1) on Friday, with kickoff slated for 4 p.m. MT. CSU closes the weekend with a 12 p.m. MT match against Grand Canyon (1-5-0) on Sunday. Both matches will be held from CSU Soccer Field.

Eastern Washington, which has won the Big Sky in each of the past two seasons, was projected to win the conference for the third straight season, just ahead of Northern Colorado (78 points for EWU, 69 points for UNC in preseason polling). The Eagles welcome 18 newcomers to their club in 2018, but return All-Big Sky midfielder Jenny Chavez and honorable mention all-conference defender Grace Klinkenberg.

Grand Canyon, off to a 1-5-0 start in 2018, was picked by WAC coaches to finish fourth in the conference this season. The Lopes are led into this weekend's action by Preseason All-WAC midfielder McKenzie Cook, who is the team's returning goals, assists and points leader from 2017.

Each match will be streamed live on the Mountain West Network and can be found on CSURams.com/live. Live stats will also be made available. Links to each are available above and on the women's soccer schedule page on CSURams.com.

Three Things to Know

Colorado State opened its season with a 1-0-2 record to reach a pair of program firsts. The Rams had never previously been undefeated in their first three matches of a season, and had not previously gone undefeated over a three-match stretch in The Colorado Cup.
The Colorado State women's soccer team returns 20 letterwinners from its 2017 roster, the most of any team in the Mountain West this season. That group returning includes the team's top eight scorers from 2017, as well as 18 players with 10 appearances or more in 2017. The Rams return nine of 11 regular starters from 2017, the second-most in the conference.
CSU's first-ever All-Mountain West selection, redshirt junior goalkeeper Hunter Peifer, also recently became the program's first Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week (Aug. 20, 2018). She joins Ally Murphy-Pauletto as the only players to receive weekly conference recognition (MW Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 4, 2017).

Rams Begin Second Season at CSU Soccer Field

The Colorado State women's soccer program, which enters its sixth season in 2018, moved to a new, permanent home in 2018. After playing its matches in Fort Collins at The Lagoon from 2014-16, the Rams called CSU Soccer Field.
The Rams' new facility, which was designed with consideration to both training and official matches, is located directly adjacent to Moby Arena and CSU softball's Ram Field at the intersection of Shields and Elizabeth Streets.
Fans looking to attend a home CSU soccer match may park in the Moby Arena parking lot, conveniently located immediately next to the Rams' new facility. Entrances to the Moby Arena parking lot are located on Shields Street and on Plum Street.
Fans attending a CSU home match can expect seating and set-up similar to game days at The Lagoon, and are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets or other similar items to use for seating at a match. Some bleacher seating is available.

Rams Complete First Undefeated Three-Match Colorado Cup

The Colorado State women's soccer team has played in The Colorado Cup since the program's origins in 2013, and this season, completed its first-ever undefeated three-match tour though tournament play.
Colorado State drew with Denver and Colorado, earning respective 1-1 and 0-0 results on the road. Denver is the Summit League's preseason favorite, while Colorado is an early national top-25 contender.
CSU finished off The Colorado Cup with a 2-1 win over Northern Colorado from CSU Soccer Field. Caeley Lordemann and Ally Murphy-Pauletto each scored to finish off the Bears, which are projected to finish second in the Big Sky in 2018.

Rams Hold Their Own in Difficult Nonconference Schedule

In preparation for the upcoming 2018 Mountain West slate of matches, Colorado State has navigated a challenging nonconference slate of matches.
Of the foes the Rams have faced to this point, none of those opponents have been picked any lower than fifth in their respective conference. Of the Rams' first six opponents, half are either expected to win their conference or picked as the runner-up.
See below for a breakdown of some of the Rams' early competition.

Colorado State Nonconference Opponents, Preseason Projection, Result
at Denver – First, Summit League – T, 1-1 (2OT)
at Colorado – Fifth, Pac-12/receiving votes, top 25 – T, 0-0 (2OT)
Northern Colorado – Second, Big Sky – W, 2-1
Northern Iowa – Fourth, Missouri Valley – L, 1-0
Eastern Washington – First, Big Sky – Friday, Sept. 7
Grand Canyon – Fourth, WAC – Sunday, Sept. 9

Rams' Top Eight Scorers from 2017 Return for 2018

In addition to the return of a conference-high 20 letterwinners, Colorado State returns each of its top eight points scorers from the 2017 squad. Makenzi Taylor, a senior in 2018, paced the Rams with eight points last season (two goals, four assists).
Each of sophomore Karli Eheart, junior Halley Havlicek and sophomore Ally Murphy-Pauletto had seven points in 2017 (three goals, one assist).

Havlicek and Ornes Named Captains for 2018 Season

Colorado State women's soccer and head coach Bill Hempen announced on Friday, March 23 that junior Halley Havlicek and senior Kaija Ornes were named team captains for 2018.
Havlicek, a defender from Spring Grove, Ill., has appeared in 37 matches with 35 starts through her first two collegiate seasons. Havlicek started all 19 matches in 2017, leading the team with 1,780 minutes played. The junior tied for the team lead with three goals in 2017, and ranked second on the team with seven points last season.
Ornes, a forward from Prior Lake, Minn., has appeared in 56 with starts in 43 for Colorado State prior to 2018. Ornes enters 2018 with five career goals, tied for the third-most in a career in CSU soccer's five-year history. The rising senior forward was the Rams' leading scorer as a sophomore in 2016, pacing the team in points (eight) and goals (four).

Rams Return Program's All-Time Leading Scorer

Senior Hannah Gerdin enters the 2018 season as the holder of 15 of CSU soccer's all-time records. Among the records she holds are the program's all-time points lead (19 entering 2018) and goals (seven entering 2018).
Gerdin became the Rams' all-time career goals leader with her goal against Utah State on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. That goal against Utah State, the seventh of her career, broke a tie with Gianna Bertana. Gerdin had five goals her freshman season and one in 2016.
Gerdin already ranks as the program's all-time points leader after her sophomore season. The Colorado Springs, Colo., native entered the 2017 season with a program-best 17 points and added a pair of points as a junior.

Nationally Recognized

Following a historic offensive weekend, then-freshman forward Ally Murphy-Pauletto gained national attention when she was named the NCAA Soccer Women's Player of the Week on Sept. 6, 2017.
Murphy-Pauletto became the first student-athlete in program history to record a hat trick in the Rams' 5-1 win over then-undefeated New Mexico State (Sept. 4, 2017). CSU's win was its first-ever at CSU Soccer Field, while the Rams' five goals against the Aggies marked a new single-match team record.
Murphy-Pauletto is the fastest Ram to register her first three career goals, reaching that mark before any Ram ever reached her first two career goals (Hannah Gerdin – two goals in first six career matches in 2015).

Quick Hits on Colorado State's Returning Letterwinners

Colorado State returns 20 letterwinners in 2018, more than any other team in the Mountain West. See below for highlights on each of those returners.
For each athlete's full notes and bio, click on their respective links below. Each bio includes accolades, current Mountain West and CSU season ranks and records held.
No. 00 Hunter Peifer – Colorado State's first All-Mountain West selection … owns seven CSU records entering the 2018 season … went 4-8-5 with 75 saves in 2018 … in 2017, set CSU single-season records in GAA (1.50) and shutouts (four).
No. 1 Sydney Hall – 1-1-0 in her career in goal for the Rams … has started twice and made five collegiate appearances … made a career-high seven saves at No. 24 Northwestern on Sept. 4, 2016 … shut out Denver on Aug. 19, 2016.
No. 2 Alex Lanning – Tallied four points on two goals and an assist in 2017 … has appeared in 34 matches and started in 27 in her collegiate career … has scored goals against UNLV (Oct. 6, 2017), New Mexico State (Sept. 1, 2017) and SIUE (Aug. 28, 2016) … recorded her assist at Air Force (Sept. 22, 2017).
No. 3 Makenzi Taylor – led CSU with eight points in 2017 on two goals and a program-record four assists … scored the fastest goal in CSU history with a tally in the second minute at Nevada (Oct. 8, 2017) … played in 40 matches in her career … registered the first multi-assist performance in program history against North Dakota State (Sept. 1, 2017).
No. 4 Taylor Steinke – Registered five points on two goals and an assist in 2017 … second-fastest Ram to her first career goal in program history (third career match – Aug. 24, 2017 at Northern Colorado) … appeared in all 19 contests with 11 starts in 2017.
No. 6 Lexi Swenson – Played 18 matches and made 16 starts in 2017 … scored her first career goal in the Rams' win over North Dakota State on Sept. 10, 2017 … career-high 102 minutes against No. 25 Colorado on Aug. 18, 2017.
No. 7 Maddie Kessler – Started in two of her 14 appearances in 2017 … registered a pair of shots on goal in 2017 … career-high minutes played in 70 vs. Utah State on Oct. 15, 2017 … played in each of the Rams' final nine matches in 2016.
No. 8 Danielle Laughrey – Has made 18 appearances and four starts in her collegiate career … career-high minutes played is 67 at Nevada (Oct. 8, 2017) … registered a pair of shots in 2017.
No. 11 Kaija Ornes – voted one of the Rams' two captains for the 2018 season … has five career goals, which is third in CSU history … led the Rams in points (eight) and goals (four) in 2016 … has played in 56 matches with 43 career starts.
No. 12 Lauren Jones – Made her first career start against Boise State on Oct. 13, 2017 … also appeared in the Rams' 2017 season finale vs. Wyoming … logged 27 minutes played in 2017.
No. 13 Caeley Lordemann – Tied for the team lead with three goals in 2017 … fifth on the team with six points in 2017 … made appearances in all 19 matches with 18 starts last season … tallied her first goal in a CSU uniform against North Dakota State on Sept. 10, 2017.
No. 14 Hannah Gerdin – Owns 15 CSU records entering the 2018 season … CSU's all-time career points, goal and shots leader … appeared in 15 matches with six starts in 2017 … finished last season with a goal and an assist.
No. 15 Madisann Relph – Appeared in 11 contests last season … tallied an assist against North Dakota State on Sept. 10, 2017 … finished 2017 with three shots … scored her first career goal at San Jose State on Oct. 16, 2016.
No. 16 Alyssa Yoshida - Made appearances in 17 matches and made starts in six ... recorded her first collegiate point on an assist against New Mexico State (Sept. 1, 2017) ... took a career-high four shots (two on goal) against the Aggies ... played a season-high 103 minutes vs. Boise State (Oct. 13, 2017).
No. 17 Ally Murphy-Pauletto - NCAA Soccer Women's Player of the Week (Sept. 6, 2017) … Mountain West Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 4, 2017) … scored the first hat trick in program history against New Mexico State (Sept. 1, 2017) ... finished tied for second on the team with seven points in 2017.
No. 18 Beth Plentl - Had five points on a goal and three assists in 19 starts in 2017 ... second on the team in assists (three) and minutes played (1,717) last season ... recorded the second multi-assist game in CSU's five-year history in the Rams' win over Utah State (Oct. 15, 2017) ... played 90 minutes 15 times in 2017, including four 110-minute efforts.
No. 19 Bailyn Furrow – Made 12 appearances and seven starts in 2017, including starts in five of the Rams' final six matches … played 90 minutes or more four times last season … made her first collegiate start at Kansas State on Sept. 17, 2017.
No. 21 Halley Havlicek – Voted one of the team's captains for 2018 … started in all 19 matches for the Rams in 2017 ... led the team with 1,780 minutes played and tied for the team lead with three goals ... tied for second on the team in points (seven) ... played 90 minutes or more 16 times in 2017 and all 110 minutes in all five of the Rams' ties ... recorded the sixth multi-goal game in program history with a pair of tallies against Wyoming (Oct. 27, 2017).
No. 22 Karli Eheart – Enters 2018 as the Rams' career points per game (0.50) and goals per game (0.21) leader among qualifiers … tied for the team goals lead in 2017 … tied for second on the team in points (seven) ... appeared in 15 matches in her freshman campaign.
No. 23 Emma Shinsky - Appeared in 18 matches in her freshman season, including one start ... scored her first collegiate goal at Air Force (Sept. 22, 2017), her first career Mountain West match ... registered her first collegiate assist at New Mexico (Oct. 20, 2017).

Get to Know the Newcomers

Of Colorado State's 27-athlete roster, 14 are either freshmen or sophomores. Half of that group joined the roster this season in the Rams' most recent signing class. See below for quick hits on each of those newcomers.
To view each athlete's full bio and notes, click on their respective links below. Each bio includes accolades, current Mountain West and CSU season ranks and records held, if applicable.
No. 0 Gabi McDonald - Northern Colorado Female Athlete of the Year (2017), runner-up for Northern Colorado Female Soccer Player of the Year (2017) and Northern Colorado Female Soccer Player of the Year (2016) ... a CHSSCA all-state and a CHSAA all-state honorable mention in soccer.
No. 5 Samantha Studt - Rated a three-star athlete by TopDrawerSoccer.com ... competed in soccer for Mountain Range High School and the Colorado Storm ... team captain her final three seasons ... voted by coaches as the team's offensive MVP every season ... a three-time academic all-state honoree.
No. 9 Jackie Balderrama - All-city and all-district selection ... named 2016 Texas District 1-5A Offensive Player of the Year ... captained El Paso in 2017 and 2018 ... ranked seventh in the state in assists (19) in her sophomore season, as well as 13th in Texas in points (56) and 23rd in goals (19).
No. 20 Ariell Hopkins - All-district honoree each season ... helped Rockwall High School to bi-district titles in 2015, 2016 and 2017, an Elite Eight regional finish and a district championship in 2017 ... in cross country and track & field, was a four-time all-district performer and two-time district champion.
No. 24 Scout Bohlender - Two-sport athlete in high school ... earned four varsity letters in soccer and one in badminton ... played her club soccer for Arsenal Colorado ... competed against current CSU teammate Bailyn Furrow during each player's respective high school/club careers.
No. 25 Marissa Porras - Helped club team Sting ECNL '99 to a North American Cup title in 2015, Disney Cup crowns in 2015 and 2016, a Plano Labor Day Cup in 2016 and a second-place finish in the South Texas State Cup in 2017 ... voted by her teammates as the team's "most skilled player" in 2015.
No. 26 Baylee Bedard - Two-year member of the Kansas State women's soccer team ... in high school, honored as an All-Front Range Honorable Mention and the 2016 Arsenal Colorado Girls Player of the Year ... her senior year, Rocky Mountain HS went 11-5-1 and held opponents to 18 goals in 17 matches.

Up Next
The Colorado State women's soccer team finishes off its nonconference schedule with a pair of matches at CSU Soccer Field next week. CSU hosts Gonzaga at 4 p.m. MT on Thursday, Sept. 14 and SMU at Noon MT on Sunday, Sept. 16.

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