Colorado University Athletics
Coaches Pick Buffs Fifth
August 13, 2019 | Soccer
SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 Conference soccer coaches picked the University of Colorado to finish fifth in the league for the second-consecutive season on Tuesday. The Buffaloes received 77 points in the preseason poll, following a fifth-place ending to the 2018 season (13-4-3).
Stanford (117), UCLA (113), Southern California (102) and Washington State (88) complete the top-five teams in the poll.
The Buffs return 14 players from last season, including senior captains Jalen Tompkins, Taylor Kornieck, Kelsey Aaknes and Stephanie Zuniga. Tompkins, an All-Pac-12 goalkeeper the past two seasons, ranked second in the conference last season and 23rd in the nation with a .851 save percentage. Kornieck starts the season on the MAC Hermann Watch List, as one of the nation's top players, coming off a 28-point (9 G, 10 A) season in 2018.
Senior Tatum Barton will look to build off her 26-point (11 G, 4 A) effort last season. Classmate Camilla Shymka had a strong spring season and will be in the mix at the top of the Buffs' formation.
Colorado boasts 11 newcomers in 2019, including two transfers. Hannah Sharts came over from UCLA in the spring, while 2018 Southwestern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year Haileigh Adams joined the team from Grambling State in late June.
The Buffs were snubbed from the NCAA Tournament in 2018 and will look to get back into the tournament field for the fifth time since 2013. CU opens the season on Aug. 22 against Drake (5 p.m.). The Buffs will take on five NCAA Tournament teams in the non-conference season. Boston, Texas and Baylor all visit Prentup Field. The team will face two more on the road with trips to defending national champion Florida State and Denver.
The first chance to see Colorado in action is the Black and Gold scrimmage this Saturday, Aug. 17. There will be a clinic run by the team at 10 a.m. MT. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
2019 Pac-12 Women's Soccer Coaches Poll
| Rank | School (First Place votes) | Points |
| 1. | Stanford (7) | 117 |
| 2. | UCLA (5) | 113 |
| 3. | Southern California | 102 |
| 4. | Washington State | 88 |
| 5. | Colorado | 77 |
| 6. | California | 66 |
| 7. | Arizona | 58 |
| 8. | Utah | 48 |
| 9. | Arizona State | 43 |
| 10. | Washington | 36 |
| 11. | Oregon | 32 |
| 12. | Oregon State | 12 |
