Pioneers Enjoy Success at Home

Denver Triathlon participated in the Longmont Oktoberfest Sprint Saturday morning against the nation’s top teams and finished second, trailing only defending national champion Arizona State University. Sunday morning, the teams competed in a two-event Mile High Relays (swimming and running) on the Denver campus, a first for the program, to include swimming and running. Denver finished second once again and is proving that they may be within shouting distance of a national title in their newest sport. Still, Arizona State continues to look like the dominant program in Women’s Triathlon. Look for a repeat of this event next season and a possible full collegiate triathlon event at Aurora Reservoir.

The DU Triathlon team posed with head coach Barbara Perkins (left) for photos after the Mile High Relays

Denver men’s soccer (5-2-2, 1-0) faced off against rival Oral Roberts Saturday night in a conference showdown and controlled the ball for the first 75 minutes against the Golden Eagles (shots 20-1, SOG 6-0). A goal by first-time starter sophomore Oje Ofunrein was the game-winner (51:17) for Denver. Denver went down to ten players with a red card in the second half and ORU lost two players due to red cards. The Golden Eagles were most dangerous in the final 15 minutes with eight players and Denver playing in their own end with nine players. Goal scoring continues to be a challenge for Jamie Franks’ squad.

Denver women’s soccer (5-4-2, 2-0) started conference play Friday night with a record home crowd (1837) against North Dakota State University. Denver scored two unusual first-half goals and coasted to a 2-0 win as goaltender Nerea Arrazola held the Bison scoreless. A header by DU’s Hannah Gallegos (30:32) found the inside the left post for a 1-0 Denver lead. Delaney McGowan found the net (32:23) as her shot from the right side caromed over the goalie’s head and found the inside of the goal. On Sunday, Denver clobbered an outmanned North Dakota side, 2-0, on a pair of first-half goals by Camryn MacMillan (2:34) and Ella Frost (28:20). Denver outshot the Fighting Hawks 24-4 and SOG 10-2.

Women’s volleyball (7-6, 1-1) split a pair of 3-1 matches against South Dakota State University (W) and South Dakota (L). Denver is still managing the coaching change with Tom Hogan sidelined for road trips and a host of new players and coaches. South Dakota’s Elizabeth Junke continues to torture DU with 25 kills, 17 digs, and 7 blocks in a single match. Watching Denver against South Dakota homecoming weekend (October 20th) will be fascinating to see the overall improvement over the next month and a plan to neutralize Junke.

3 thoughts on “Pioneers Enjoy Success at Home”

  1. Great round-up. I must show my local NJ librarian the Triathlon photos and write up. Men’s Soccer looks like our savior for NCAA points. Dunker believes we win 1-2 NCAA games Does women’s soccer win Summit Tournament and make NCAA’s with a strong league tournament championship?

  2. Dunker again. Michigan favored to win NCAA hockey tournament at 7:1. Next Minn St and gophers at 8:1. We are 9:1. Bigger population bases draw more money. Go Pios.

  3. Was hoping that DU would break through to win the home triathlon meet, but ASU is still apparently miles ahead of the Pios as a program at this point. However, given Colorado’s training advantages, at some point in the next few years, DU should be as good or better than the Sun Devils. Just not right now…

    Men’s soccer is tied for #10 in national RPI and needs to take care of business in the Summit League (0 losses the rest of the way) and they should be hosting an NCAA pod with a first round bye, as the top 16 teams typically host pods. But a loss to a Summit League team would kill their RPI…

    The DU women are having a very average year by their standards, and will get an NCAA bid only if they win the Summit League tourney autobid, but they clearly are not good enough to be hosting. I am of the view that given Denver’s soccer recruiting advantages over other Summit League schools, they should not lose in Summit play, men or women. Same in golf, tennis, and swimming.

Leave a Reply