Next week the Big 12 soccer season will be getting started.

The team to beat?

Colorado.

No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 13 Oklahoma State will have a lot to say about it of course.

But the Buffs (5-1-1 overall, 1-0 conference) -- who are making their first appearance in the National Soccer Coaches Association poll this week at No. 21-- have been alone in first place since Aug. 29, when they beat Texas Tech in an unusually early Big 12 matchup.

The victory in Lubbock was CU's first of the season after an 0-1-1 start and sparked a five-game winning streak the team will ride into this weekend's Colorado Soccer Classic at Prentup Field.

The Buffs will play Gonzaga at 4 p.m. on Friday and Fresno State at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The University of Denver will play Fresno State at 2 p.m. on Friday and Gonzaga at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

"We've been very fortunate. But it's nice to be able to win on the road, no doubt about it," CU head coach Bill Hempen said. "Winning on the road in conference is very difficult and winning at Texas Te ch really helped with our confidence."

CU is now 3-0 away from Boulder after beating Mississippi (3-2 in overtime) and Memphis (2-1) last weekend.

"In the non-conference, because of the lack of familiarity with the opponent, it's a little easier on the road," Hempen said. "There's usually no history and you don't really know what you're getting into."

The victories in Oxford, Miss., and Memphis were both of the come-from-behind variety. Alex Cousins and Kelly Butler scored second-half goals to erase the Tigers' 1-0 lead; Nikki Marshall scored two goals and Nikki Keller another as the Buffs erased a 2-0 deficit against Ole Miss.

"When we've been down it hasn't been because we were outplayed. I think the kids have realized that we're getting our opportunities and just need to stick one," Hempen said. "And when we score that first goal it seems to energize us again and it's like, 'Let's get the next one.'"

Keller's goal, which tied the game late against the Rebels, was perhaps the most important of the trip.

"Nikki Keller doesn't score a lot but she picked a good time to get us even against Ole Miss," Hempen said. "She has been an unsung hero for us."

Marshall, Butler and goalkeeper Kirstin Radlinski swept the Big 12 players of the week honors for CU for all conference games played Sept. 9-15.

Volleyball

Speaking of good road teams, CU volleyball is 6-0 away from Boulder this season.

And 0-3 at home after four-game losses to Colorado State, Florida and North Carolina last weekend.

The Buffs (6-3) hope to change their fortunes at the Coors Events Center tonight when they host Kansas in the Big 12 opener. The match is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. and fans wearing black will be admitted for $1.

"I think we just have to look forward to Kansas coming in here. That's going to start off the Big 12 season, and I think we just have to look forward on what we can do with them," CU junior Kaitlyn Burkett said. "I think we could start a real good winning streak right there with Kansas. I think that's what we're looking forward to right now."

The Buffs had their chances in each of the last three matches against marquee opponents but failed to come up with big points late in games.

"It has been a tough experience but we can learn a lot from this," sophomore Schylur Edelman said. "It really helped to see some better competition. Now we know what to expect, now we know what to look for, we've got to prepare ourselves every day in practice."

The Jayhawks are also 6-3 so far this season. CU will put its perfect road record to the test on Saturday night against No. 18 Kansas State in Manhattan at 6 p.m.

Cross country

Mark Wetmore's nationally ranked cross country teams return to action on Saturday at the Iowa State Invitational in Ames.

On the women's side, freshmen Emma Coburn (23:39) and Katie Cumming (23:39) placed 1-2 at the CU Time Trial last month to open the schedule. The men's team took eight of the top 10 spots in their race, led by Brett Walters (27:02) in third place.

The CU men are ranked third in the USTFCCCA preseason poll and the women are ranked 23rd.

Golf

The women's golf team will compete at the New Mexico Invitational Thursday through Saturday in Albuquerque.

Freshman Emily Childs (71-67-71--209) took second place in her first collegiate tournament to lead the Buffs to a runner-up finish in the Colorado State Classic at Ptarmigan last week.