Currently ranked No. 16 in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Preseason Poll and by Lacrosse Magazine, the women’s lacrosse team is preparing for their 2014 season. In Denver’s conference poll, Denver was picked as the No. 2 seed in the 2014 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Preseason Poll.
Last year, the Pioneers made their first NCAA Tournament debut in the university’s history and defeated Jacksonville 14-7 in the first round. Denver also went undefeated at home last year and ended their 2013 season with an 18-3 record.
Junior attacker Jill Remenapp and redshirt junior goalie Hannah Hook will be returning this year for Denver, looking to have another strong offensive season. Remenapp led the nation last year with 74 assists and is also tied for the second most assists in a single season in NCAA history. Hook ranked first in the nation with 90 saves last season. She is also ranked third with a save percentage of .514.
Denver has four seniors on the team this year. Senior attacker Jenn Etzel is returning after ranking 20th in the nation for goals scored last season. Midfielder Annabelle Gilbride recorded three hat-tricks for the Pioneers last season. Meredith Harris, also a midfielder, had 18 goals and five assists in 2013. Senior Sonorah Vinyard was ranked 56th in the nation last season for 27 caused turnovers as a Denver midfielder.
DU has 10 home games this season, which does not include the games during the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament. The Pioneers will face teams such as Vanderbilt University, Stanford University, Brown University and San Diego State University this spring.
The season opener for the Pioneers is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium at 3 p.m. Denver will be taking on the University of Colorado Buffaloes.
The 2014 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament will be hosted by Denver at Barton from May 1-3. The winner of this tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament from May 23-25 in Towson, Md.
