It has been a long year for DU sports, a year full of ups and downs. Records have been broken and so have hopes. Some teams have performed their best in recent history, while others demonstrated sub-par efforts. A combination of drama and heartache made for an interesting sporting year for the Pioneers.
DU’s ski team won its second straight and 20th overall national championship this season in Bethel, Maine. This is the sixth national championship for the Pioneer skiers in this decade. The ski team won when it counted, as the championship was the first and only meet that the Pioneers won all season.
The women’s and men’s tennis teams were less than stellar this season. The Pioneer men finished with a 10-11 overall record and a 1-3 conference record. The women had more luck finishing with a 16-5 record with a 3-1 conference record. They also qualified for an NCAA regional appearance.
The women’s basketball team surprised many as it finished third in the SBC after the regular season. DU tied an NCAA record this season with 19 blocks as a team in a single game. At home, the Pioneers finished an impressive 14-4.
The Pioneer gymnasts finished No. 18 in the nation. DU had a final record of 7-1 at home and finished fourth in the North Central region. The Pioneers faced 14 top 25 opponents going 5-9 against them.
The volleyball team impressed this season with a 25-7 record, the best in program history. The team’s 16-1 record at home was the best since turning Division I.
Men’s basketball improved greatly this year under head coach Joe Scott. The Pioneers went 3-0 against teams from last years’ NCAA tournament. DU fielded the youngest team in the country, at an average of 18.92 years. The team shows great potential for the coming years.
To many, the Pioneer hockey team was quite the disappointment this season after being eliminated early in the NCAA regional tournament. The Pioneers posted their school record-tying eighth consecutive season with 21 or more wins, placed second in the WCHA, advanced to the WCHA final five championship game and appeared in its 20th NCAA tournament.
The men’s lacrosse team had a disapointing 7-8 overall record. The sad season was followed by the resignation of head coach Jamie Munro. The women’s lacrosse team had a much more successful 10-8 record as well as a strong performance in the SBC tournament.
The men’s soccer team had a promising season with a 10-7-2 record. In their spring season they had the chance to compete against the professional Colorado Rapids losing 1-3. The women’s team had an even better year finishing 19-3-2. The women signed several more athletes in hopes to better the team and make an NCAA championship run.
