Led by two top-five finishes in the all-around – Heather Huffaker in fourth place and Sasha Sullivan in fifth – the University of Denver women’s gymnastics team qualified Saturday night for the NCAA championship tournament for the second time in school history and the first time since 2001.
Denver scored 195.825 points for second place in the North Central Regional at DU’s Magness Arena. The Pioneers trailed champion Georgia (197.275). Penn State was third (195.775), Brigham Young fourth (193.300) and Minnesota fifth (192.900).
Georgia swept at least the top two spots in each individual event. DU’s Ellen McCarthy earned the Pioneers’ highest finish, third place in the balance beam, with a score of 9.850.
Rapids face Fire in MLS match tonight
Three Major League Soccer teams earned victories in Week 1, and two will match up at new Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City tonight at 6 p.m.
The Colorado Rapids, coming off a 2-1 win over D.C. United, will face the Chicago Fire, a 1-0 winner over the New England Revolution.
The teams split a two-game series last season, each earning a 1-0 home victory. The Fire hasn’t won in Colorado since 1999.
Mammoth hosts Stealth next weekend
The Colorado Mammoth (12-4), the National Lacrosse League’s West Division champion, will begin postseason play against the San Jose Stealth (9-7) on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Pepsi Center. Four teams in each of the two divisions qualify for the NLL playoffs.
14ers’ playoff opener Wednesday
The Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League will open their playoff run Wednesday at Broomfield Event Center with a game against the Albuquerque Thunderbirds at 7 p.m. The NBADL playoffs are a “one-and-done” format.
Eagles erase CHL series deficit
The Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League evened their second-round playoff series with the host Oklahoma City Blazers, earning a 4-0 victory.
Greg Pankewicz led the Eagles with three assists and Tim Boron stopped all 31 shots he faced. The best-of-seven series, tied 1-1, continues Monday.
