BILLINGS, Mont. - The Battlin' Bears will play their first games of record this weekend, taking on three NAIA opponents in Arizona, which will conclude their non-conference schedule.

This Week's Matchups

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Rocky Mountain College (0-0) vs Benedictine University at Mesa (1-2)
Thursday, August 28th - 8 pm (MT)
Mesa, Arizona

Rocky Mountain College (0-0) vs Arizona Christian (1-1)
Saturday, August 30th - 6:30 pm (MT)
Glendale, Arizona

Rocky Mountain College (0-0) vs #17 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) (0-0)
Monday, September 1st - 7 pm
Prescott, Arizona

Game Notes

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2025 Non-Conference Wraps Up
The Battlin' Bears will play their first games of record this weekend, taking on three NAIA opponents in Arizona, which will conclude their non-conference schedule. The Battlin' Bears faired well against non-CCC competition last season, compiling a record of 2-1 in their non-conference games. The Battlin' Bears faired well in their two scrimmages to open the season and earned a controlling 2-0 victory over Rimrock Rivals MSU Billings this past Saturday in an exhibition matchup. 

All-Conference Returners
The Battlin' Bears return two of their three All-Conference performers from 2024. Senior Emma Lensing tied for fourth in the CCC a season ago in goals scored with 11 and was second in shots on goal with 43 to earn First Team All-CCC honors. Junior Charlize Davis ranked second in the CCC last season in assists, totaling seven on the season, along with three goals scored to earn Second Team All-CCC honors. In total, the Battlin' Bears return six players who started eight or more matches in 2024 and will look to build momentum from a 9-6-2 campaign a year ago, which earned them a trip to the CCC Semifinals. 

Scouting the Competition
The Battlin' Bears will begin their weekend against Benedictine Mesa, who has started their season 1-2 overall. Their two losses have come at the hands of fellow Cascade Conference members, Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech, by a combined score of 9-0. The Red Hawks earned their lone victory against Justice College on Tuesday with a final score of 4-1. Benedictine Mesa finished the 2024 season with an overall record of 3-13-1, missing the GSAC Conference Tournament. Senior forward Brylee Rod is the team's leading scorer, scoring a pair of goals in their win over Justice. 

Saturday evening, the Rocky women will take on Arizona Christian in Glendale. The Firestorm enters their matchup with a record of 1-1, having won 2-0 against Caltech and lost 2-0 to the University of La Verne. ACU compiled a record of 6-10-2 in 2024, also missing out on postseason play. The Firestorm returns their starting goalie from 2024 in junior Tayler Wonderly, who totaled 57 saves in 2024 at a 72.2% save percentage. 

The Battlin' Bears conclude their road trip with a strong matchup with preseason No. 17-ranked Embry-Riddle (Ariz.). The Eagles touted a 15-3-3 overall record in 2024, winning the GSAC Tournament Championship and advancing to the NAIA Opening Round, where they fell to UC Merced at home. ERAU will have to replace the production of two graduating All-Americans in 2024, but still return their leading goal scorer from a year ago in midfielder Jamie Black, who totaled 14 goals and six assists last season.