Riding a roller coaster never looked so good
The 8th ranked DU men’s soccer team played the game of the weekend on Saturday in a back and forth affair with IPFW. Defensive midfielder Graham Smith scored the game’s opening goal in the first half and the final goal in the 79th minute to squeak by Fort Wayne 4-3 in DU’s Summit League opener at CIBER Field. This game was called ‘sloppy’ by head coach Jamie Franks but overall, it’s tough to call and 8-0-2 record a disappointment.
Next Up: Saturday, October 1st against Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Illinois at 11:00 MT.
Taking care of business
DU Women’s volleyball ventured to Omaha in a showdown of last year’s Summit League championship. With a number of graduating seniors, UNO was a decided underdog to the Pios but they put up a valiant fight at home. The favored Pioneers dropped the first set but swept the next three. DU’s big three – Kayla Principato, Nola Basey, and Ruth Okoye battled at the net with an astounding 45 kills. The Pios learned earlier this year, in a loss to UNC in Greeley, that it takes a great effort to win on the road. The experience that came from that match may have carried DU in Omaha. Denver is now 9-4, 1-0 Summit.
Next Match: Friday, September 30th against Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, Indiana at 5:00 MT.
Rain & pain
On Thursday night, DU women soccer traveled to #4 BYU and were thrashed 7-0 in a rain-delayed event. The 3-6-1 Pioneers continued their offensive woes as they have yet to score a goal in a loss. While this appears to be another down year, it’s important to remember the proud tradition of Denver women’s soccer. Head coach Jeff Hooker has not forgotten how to coach. Since 2006, the Pioneers have gone 155-55-18 overall and 80-14-5 in conference play. Heading into this season’s conference play, they can still finish the season on an upward note. But, clearly, they need to recruit some skilled players up front in the offseason to help take the pressure off their defense.
Next Game: Friday, September 30th against Western Illinois in Macomb, Illinois at 2:00 MT.