Last mother’s day, we told you about former DU soccer star Kortne Ford’s mother, Laurie, who was battling aggressive terminal cancer. While she was given 3-6 months to live, her treatments have bought her valuable time and quality of life. Now, the cancer has returned and Ms. Ford will be undergoing a second round of aggressive treatment. These additional treatments are going to be expensive and Kortne has asked for our help on GoFundMe as well as our prayers.
Anything helps 🙏🏼 The doctors gave her 3-6 months to live, again… If you don’t have the means to donate, your prayers and retweets are sincerely appreciated. Thanks to everyone who helps play a role in my moms fight against terminal cancer. ❤️ https://t.co/NkamMAbWUEpic.twitter.com/GLnMlGWct6
The hiring of University of Maine Athletic Director Karlton Creech as DU’s new Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation looks to be a ‘safe’ hire for the University of Denver, likely to build incrementally on the legacy of the retiring Peg Bradley-Doppes, who spent the last 13 years in the position. Creech begins at DU on May 1, 2018.
Denver faced a sky high Omaha team with an NCAA birth on the line at Caniglia Field Saturday afternoon. It was a physical, tense game as the two teams traded punches in a highly physical match.
DU had the best of the first few minutes but the best chance came early at 10:49 on a direct kick from UNO’s Xavier Gomez from above the box. His shot went directly into DU’s defensive wall. At 23:29, the game got chippy when Xavier Gomex picked up a yellow for stepping on DU’s Ryan Barlow after a foul. Then, at 25:42, the Pioneers Scott DeVoss took advantage of some disorganization in the box and slipped the ball past all-conference goalie Joseph Ghitis, DU 1-0. But UNO countered quickly with a breakout that led to a penalty kick on a tripping foul by DU’s Tosh Samkange in the box. After a long approach and stutter step, Xavier Gomez tucked the ball into the left corner of the frame to knot the match, 1-1. Several minutes later, at 32:10, DU’s Kenny Akamatsu got the ball in the box and made a dangerous turn and shot opportunity from 10 yards out – but the shot went high over the crossbar. The teams spent the rest of the half battling at midfield with no serious threats. The half ended 1-1. Denver led in shots 5-4 but Omaha had the advantage on shots on goal 3-2. Continue reading Denver Falls to Omaha in 2 OT’s and 11 Round Shootout 1-1 (9/8)→
It was far from ‘the beautiful game’ as Eastern Illinois came out playing a defensive style while Denver took possession and attacked, especially in the first half..
Denver dominated the first half with six shots on goal to one and dominated time-of-possession. The Panthers played a defensive game but Denver created a number of good chances. The Panthers started with a 4-3-3 defense and put the game in the hands of their Summit League goalkeeper of the year Mike Novotny. Blake Elder, Andre Shinyashiki and Jacob Stensson took turns firing at goal while Eastern was content to pull back in the defensive half. The most spectacular chance in the half occurred at 35:08 when a Blake Elder scissor kick in the box was on-frame but stopped by Novotny. But shortly thereafter, at 38:15, DU took command with a quick restart to catch the Panthers off guard as Blake Elder put his second chance past Novotny, DU 1-0. Continue reading Denver Men’s Soccer Plays the Patient Game in 1-0 Semifinal Win→
“Sometimes I just sit here and stare,” said Jason Mims, Head Coach of the Omaha Mavericks. “It’s made such a difference to our program.”
Mims is talking about the Dodge Street pedestrian overpass, a ribbon of concrete and steel that winds its way over Dodge Street near the UNO campus and connects Elmwood and Memorial Parks.
The University of Denver Pioneers women’s soccer program is going back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013 thanks to the 85th minute heroics of senior forward Angelica Pacheco. Her goal gave the Pioneers a 2-1 lead after North Dakota State had tied it at 1 just minutes before on a penalty kick. The Pioneers bled out the rest of the clock to clinch the 2017 Summit League title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Continue reading Denver men’s and women’s soccer both punch postseason tickets→
In a sport where players utilize every inch of the field to work their way as unit with one common goal at stake; to put the soccer ball in the back of the net. Conversely, it takes an alternative mind to defend shots aimed at the 8-yard by 8-feet goal posts securing the net to the ground. Nick Gardner has that defensive mind. Continue reading Goals drive Denver goalie Nick Gardner to success in net→
Photo:Denver plays host to the UNO at CIBER Field Saturday night
The dust had hardly settled on their first conference win this past weekend when Omaha Mavericks (8-4-2, 1-0-2 Summit) head coach Jason Mims told omaha.com, “Guys are always excited when we go to Denver. Denver (8-6-1 overall, 3-0-0 Summit) is always a good team. It’s always a hard place to play at, but I think our guys are always ready for that challenge. They know it’ll be a battle.”
Omaha is defending their regular season Summit League title from last season when they earned the title on a tiebreaker (conference goal differential) against DU.
Photo:DU men’s soccer and women’s volleyball have a good chance for Summit League championships and NCAA repeat appearances this Fall.
It just feels different this year.
Maybe it was the men’s soccer (8-6-0, 3-0-0) 37-game regular season unbeaten streak being snapped, the women’s soccer team (8-8-1, 4-2-0) getting throttled by rival CU 6-1 at home or women’s volleyball (15-5, 6-2) falling at home during the Denver Invitational championship finals against San Diego State. Plus, it feels like there have been scheduling gaps where DU teams and fans can’t get into a rhythm. Continue reading Stretch Run Opens Possibilities for Fallpeat→
