As fall sets in on campus and in Denver alike, CIBER Field once again illuminates against the iconic Williams Carillon Tower as fans gather to watch the DU men’s and women’s soccer programs take the pitch. Both highly respected programs enter the 2016-17 regular season competition. The men’s team opened conference play on Sept. 24 with a 4-3 win over Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne. The women’s team opens regular season play on Sept. 30 against Western Illinois University.
The men’s team returns after a record-breaking season last year in which the Pioneers remained undefeated throughout the regular season. Furthermore, the team had a 29-game home streak dismantled after Southern Methodist University defeated the Pioneers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
This season Jamie Franks enters his second year as head coach after leading the team to top-ten rankings and a third-consecutive Summit League title last year, all while being the youngest Division I coach according to the NCAA, at 29 years old.
The Pioneers graduated captain and disciplined center-midfielder Jordan Schweitzer (Everett, Washington), along with goalkeeper Dan Jackson (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) last season. The remaining lineup returns, while adding transfers redshirt junior Blake Elder (Forth Worth, Texas) and junior Graham Smith (Highlands Ranch, Colorado) who have integrated nicely amongst the team. Elder, who transferred following the 2014 season from the United States Air Force Academy, has netted five goals this season, four of which were in four consecutive games for the Pioneers. Smith, a Colorado local who transferred after the 2015 season from Oregon State, has filled the role Schweitzer left behind nicely by collecting three goals so far. Nick Gardner (Marvin, North Carolina), who redshirted in 2015, mans the posts. The goalkeeper has logged 19 saves within the 10 games played so far this year.
The Pioneers currently boast a 8-0-2 record after competing in challenging matchups against Rutgers University, Northwestern University and Creighton University.
The women’s program strives for a brighter future after finishing 4-12-1 last season. Head oach Jeff Hooker returns for his 25th season, maintaining a 322-132-41 record as leader of the program.
Redshirt seniors Karina Fredette (Gatineau, Quebec) and Francesca Garzelloni (Parker, Colorado), alongside true seniors Lilly McSwain (Glenwood Springs, Colorado) and Cassidy Rey (Arcadia, California) look to lead the Pioneers throughout their final run. The program welcomed four freshmen, including California natives, Hannah Adler (Oak Park, California) and Heather Turcios (Azusa, California) and Colorado natives Cheyenne Shorts (Denver, Colorado) and Brittany Wilson (Littleton, Colorado).
The Pioneers currently hold a 3-7-0 record, including a 3-1 win over Arizona State on Sept. 4.
The men’s team returns home to CIBER Field on Oct. 15 to face Western Illinois University at 7 p.m. Following a four-game road stint, the women’s team returns to campus on Oct. 9 to play South Dakota University at 12 p.m.
