Metro No. 1 in D II; CU No. 14 in D I soccer
The National Soccer Coaches Association released its preseason polls Thursday, and the Metro State women’s team will open its defense of last season’s Division II national championship as the No. 1 team.
In the Division I rankings, Colorado, which made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season, is ranked No. 14. Defending national champion North Carolina is No. 1
Defending Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament champion Denver was chosen by conference coaches to repeat, and Pioneers midfielder Jenna Billingsley was the coaches’ choice as preseason player of the year.
Conference USA coaches are picking Colorado College to finish third in the 12-team league. The Tigers’ Emily Beans was selected C-USA preseason offensive player of the year, and Molly Uyenishi received the defensive player nod.
In the men’s rankings, Fort Lewis is ranked No. 2, behind the team it lost to in last season’s national championship game, Dowling (N.Y.) College.
Former Falcon to heave javelin in Japan
Dana Pounds, a two-time national champion javelin thrower during her tenure at Air Force, will be the lone U.S. javelin thrower at the World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan, starting Aug. 29. This summer, Pounds won the event at the U.S. national championships and finished fourth at the Pan American Games.
DU lacrosse assistant to play for U.S.
University of Denver women’s lacrosse assistant coach Tara Singleton is one of 24 players named to the U.S. elite team.
“I’m honored to be named to a team like this with so many great players and coaches,” Singleton said. “It’s exciting to be moved up to an elite team when the World Cup is coming up in two years.”
Singleton joined the DU staff Aug. 6 after two years as an assistant at Maryland-Baltimore County.
