Welcome back to campus, Pioneers! If you are new, congratulations and welcome to the number one Division I non-football school. To all returning Pioneers, welcome back. Although this school may number 12,000 total, DU is regularly honored for its commitment to athletic and academic achievement. This fall season alone, DU fields one top-ten ranked team, three projected favorites to win the Summit League Championships as well as David Carle as the new hockey coach in his first season with the Pioneers.
The Men’s Soccer team is ranked No. 2 in the Top Drawer Soccer Poll and No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. Senior Andre Shinyashiki (Sao Paulo, Brazil) was named the College Soccer News Player of the Week for the week of Aug. 27, 2018, and senior transfer Moshe Perez (Shim’a, Israel) was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week for the week of Sept. 4, 2018. The strength of the team was reflected in the recruited class and the additional signing of U-20 member, freshman Gideon Davis (Barcelona, Spain). Beyond the signing class, head coach Jamie Franks also increased the Pioneers’ chances of making the NCAA Tournament by improving the strength of the schedule. This year, the Pioneers will play eight teams that made the 2017 NCAA Tournament, including three-time defending champion, Stanford. This year will prove to be an important one for the Pioneers as they seek to return to the NCAA Tournament following a shocking loss in the Summit League Championships last year.
The Women’s Soccer team is projected to win the Summit League Championships following the near doubling of the team through a large incoming freshman class and the addition of two transfers from prestigious schools, such as Clemson University. The Pioneers are also returning much of their starting 11 from last year, including the return of senior Cristiana Behnken (Ogden, Utah). Returning sophomore and 2017 Summit League Freshman of the Year Meg Halvorson (Englewood, Colo.) looks to make a big impact on DU’s midfield line and has already been named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week for the week of Sept. 4.
The Women’s Volleyball team has also been named as a favorite to win the Summit League Championships. They return a majority of their starting lineup, including senior Rebecca Latham (Austin, Texas) who, last year, was named to the 2017 US Collegiate National Team-China Tour. The team was recently ranked at No. 9 in Volleyball Magazine’s Mid-Major tour as of Sept. 4, jumping five spots up from a previous ranking of No. 14.
Hockey, one of the sports that DU is best known for, begins again in October. After losing seven student athletes from the 2017-2018 roster to various professional leagues, including five to the National Hockey League, as well as former Head Coach Jim Montgomery, who is now with the Dallas Stars, the Pioneers look to a strong freshman class to make a large impact. Returning students like sophomore Ian Mitchell (Calahoo, Alberta) and senior captain Colin Staub (Colorado Springs, Colo.) will also be expected to lead the team to winning another Frozen Faceoff and a return trip to the Frozen Four.
