Buffs Land Two-Time RMAC Player of the Year

BOULDER—Colorado soccer continued to add to its 2023 roster, announcing the addition of Colorado Mesa transfer Lila Dere on Wednesday.

Dere is coming off back-to-back Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors, totaling 82 points in the last two seasons for the Mavericks. She was also the league's Freshman of the Year in 2020.

"Lila is a proven goal-scorer, who has the ability to score in every way possible," head coach Danny Sanchez noted. "We feel she is a fantastic addition to our attack this year. Lila has high aspirations for her soccer playing career and we will help push her towards her goals."

The Grand Junction, Colo., native, led all of Division II last year in goals per game (1.21), shots per game (6.16), shots on goal per game (3.21), total goals (23) and was second in the nation with her 48 points. Dere became CMU's first-ever First Team Daktronics/D2CCA All-American and was the 2022 Daktronics/D2CCA Region Player of the Year. She recorded seven games with two or more goals and had a pair of outings with three or more goals. She accounted for all four of CMU's goals and had nine shots on target in CMU's 4-0 win over Nebraska-Kearney.

Dere, a three-time First Team All-RMAC honoree, holds the CMU program record for goals, totaling 45 in her three seasons. She also owns school records for points (96), points per game (2.04), goals per game (0.96), shots (277), shots per game (5.89), penalty kicks made/attempted (6/6) and game-winning goals (15).

A two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-American was also the RMAC Academic Player of the Year and a United Soccer Coaches All-American.

Dere graduated from Fruita Monument as the program's all-time leading scorer. She led the state with 33 goals as a junior and was a four-time All-State honorable mention selection to go with her two Southwestern League Player of the Year honors.

Dere also played club at Fire FC and won the Surf Cup top bracket in 2019. She also played for the USA Premier team in Utah.

The addition of Dere brings the list of newcomers to the 2023 roster to 14. She also brings the total of Centennial State natives to eight, tied for the most since 2013.

Colorado opens the season on Aug. 17, against Northern Colorado. The game marks the program's first home night game with a 7 p.m. MT kickoff.

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