COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) announced the 2025 women's soccer preseason coaches' poll on Thursday afternoon in addition to the 2025 Preseason All-RMAC Team. Black Hills State, who remained in the hunt for a conference tournament bid up until the final week of the regular season, is coming off a 3-11-4 (3-8-1 RMAC) record in 2024 and an 11
th place finish in the league standings. In the preseason poll the Yellow Jackets are predicted 11
th, as head coach John Hutchinson looks to continue the upward trajectory of the program in what will be his third year in Spearfish.
The Yellow Jackets return one of three players who earned Honorable Mention All-RMAC a year ago, as
Ainsley Wilson is back for her senior season. She was one of just two BHSU players to appear and start in all 18 games last season, tallying 1,553 minutes, the second most minutes on the team. The Loveland, Colorado, native was a part of a back line defense that posted three shutouts on the year, the second most in a season in program history, and helped notch the best single game defensive performance in school history against Minnesota Crookston. When Black Hills State secured the shutout against UMC, Wilson played the full 90 minutes as they held the Golden Eagles to the fewest shot attempts (3) and shots on goal (1) in a single match in BHSU history.
Offensively, BHSU returns seven different players who found the back of the net a year ago, including
Katy Vinton and
Jayda Hammer who each scored three times. Additionally, Vinton tied for the team lead with three assists for a total of nine points in 2024. On two occasions, in wins against New Mexico Highlands and Western Colorado, Vinton scored and assisted for a career-high of three points in the matches. Alongside Wilson on the backline, the Yellow Jackets also return defenders
Bria Sargent and
Rylee Barnes who appeared in 18 and 17 games respectively. In goal, the Green & Gold bring back
Zoe Wiggall who made four appearances, recorded 12 saves, and was a part of one combined shutout.
Black Hills State bolstered the talent on their roster during the offseason with eight newcomers, three freshmen and five transfers. Highlighting the incoming talent are a pair of NCAA Division I transfers,
Ally Boysen and
Peyton Hill, who both make their way to Spearfish from Laramie and the University of Wyoming. During her two seasons with the Cowgirls, Boysen appeared in 16 matches as a forward for UW. Other notables include the Jayhawk Conference (NJCAA) Division II Offensive Player of the Year,
Audrey Smith, who scored 21 goals and assisted on nine more for 51 points at Allen Community College in 2024. In goal BHSU will be welcoming
Karsyn Fraser-Slothower and
Rian Barthel. Fraser Slothower broke the Hutchinson Community College career saves record, while Barthel was a 4-time All-State selection in Wyoming and a 2-time West Region Olympic Development Team selection.
| 2025 RMAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Rank |
Team (1st-2nd-3rd) |
Points |
| 1. |
Colorado School of Mines (9-2-1) |
140 |
| 2. |
UCCS (3-5-3) |
130 |
| 3. |
Colorado Mesa (1-3-2) |
117 |
| 4. |
MSU Denver (0-1-3) |
109 |
| 5. |
Fort Lewis (0-2-2) |
95 |
| 6. |
Westminster (0-0-1) |
90 |
| 7. |
Regis |
76 |
| 8. |
Colorado Christian (0-0-1) |
71 |
| 9. |
CSU Pueblo |
52 |
| 10. |
Western Colorado |
50 |
| 11. |
Black Hills State |
34 |
| 12. |
Adams State |
31 |
| 13. |
New Mexico Highlands |
19 |
