Homecoming weekend was a fantastic success for DU athletic teams as they went 5-0-1 along with an exhibition win in lacrosse.
Women’s Volleyball
DU women’s volleyball (13-6 overall, 5-2 Summit) returned home to play two matches at Hamilton Gym following a tough mid-week road loss to Oral Roberts. On Friday night against North Dakota State University, Denver was cruising to victory with two sets in hand but NDSU rallied and took the match to a fifth and deciding set. Denver squeaked by in a nail biter 16-14 to take the critical win behind Kayla Principato’s 19 kills. Then, on Sunday, Denver faced the league-leading undefeated University of South Dakota Coyotes (7-0). With two league losses, Denver needed a win or would have fallen 3 games back in the Summit League standings. DU swept all 3 games in convincing fashion and now trails the Coyotes by just one game in the Summit League standings.
DU takes S3 25-21 to hand USD first loss in league play #DUGameDay #PioHoco #DUvsUSD pic.twitter.com/6ssH3sJ0dp
— Denver Volleyball (@DU_Volleyball) October 16, 2016
Next match: Friday, October 21st against South Dakota State University in Brookings South Dakota @ 6PM MT.
Men’s Soccer
The 3rd-ranked DU men’s soccer team (12-0-2, 4-0-0 Summit) took to the field Saturday night against the Western Illinois Leathernecks. With WIU dropping back into their defensive half, a patient Pioneer squad took a 1-0 lead in the first half on a penalty kick converted by Karsten Hanlin. In the second half, Western Illinois marked Denver more closely and was within striking distance until the 83rd minute when a cross from Sam Hamilton to Alex Underwood found the back of the net, Denver 2-0. The game remained 2-0 until the final whistle.
Next match: Wednesday, October 19th at 7:00 PM against the University of New Mexico Lobos (7-5) at CIBER Field.
Women’s Soccer
The never-say-die DU women’s soccer team (6-7-1, 3-0-1) remained in first place in the Summit League with a tough scoreless draw against North Dakota State in Fargo, North Dakota – despite being outshot 16-4 by the Bison.
Next match: Thursday, October 20th vs. Oral Roberts (7-9-1, 2-3-0) at CIBER Field at 6:00 PM MT.
Ski Team Honored
We all know what happened on Friday and Saturday when DU Hockey swept #2 Boston University. What you may have missed was DU’s 2015-2016 National Championship ski team hitting the ice wearing skates between periods Friday night to celebrate another national championship.
They ski better than they skate.
Next Series: Friday, October 21 & Saturday, October 22 at Michigan State in Lansing, Michigan at 5:00 & 3:00 MT, respectively.
Lacrosse – Exhibition
Bill Tierney and DU lax made a trip to Sparks, Maryland to face Princeton in a spring tune-up game on Saturday. After William G. Tierney Field was formally unveiled for its first collegiate game, Denver scooted past the Tigers 16-8.
.@DU_MLAX is taking on @TigerLacrosse at @USLacrosse in honor of Bill Tierney. Follow on Snapchat: 👻 uslaxsnaps pic.twitter.com/5FfTwvZj2Z
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) October 15, 2016
The Men’s Lacrosse team returns to Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium this weekend to take on the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Champion, the Canadian Senior National Team on Saturday. The game is slated for 1:00 PM.