Percolating since this decade arrived eight years ago, the women’s soccer rivalry between Colorado and Denver has become one of the stiffest west of the Mississippi.
Call it the Turnpike Series. DU travels Highway 36 to Boulder’s Prentup Field on Sunday for a 3 p.m. game against CU.
The CU-DU series is an annual one-game playoff for area bragging rights that topped out in an NCAA Tournament matchup in 2006 — a scorcher won by the Buffs 2-1 to advance to the Sweet 16.
“It’s a huge rivalry here,” CU forward Nikki Marshall said. “It’s always a huge game for us. We want to be the best team in Colorado. We know them well, (DU coach) Jeff Hooker and a lot of the girls on the team.
“It’s one of our favorite games. We have a lot to prove.”
Colorado does have plenty to prove. The Buffs have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of the past five seasons. Nonetheless, CU was tabbed to finish fifth in the Big 12 after a preseason vote of conference coaches.
“That was kind of disappointing,” said Marshall, a first-team all-conference selection and member of the U.S. U-20 national team. She joins defender Michelle Wenino as preseason all-Big 12 selections. “I think we have a good shot of winning the Big 12. I think we’ll surprise teams.”
Denver, too, has lofty expectations. The Pioneers have made the NCAA Tournament each of the past three seasons, but have just one win, in 2006.
They were picked to win the Sun Belt Conference in a preseason poll. But CU holds a 6-3-1 record against DU — the Pioneers haven’t defeated the Buffs since 2001.
DU counters with four all-SBC preseason selections: midfielders Lizzy Carlson and Taryn Hemmings, defender Jessi Keller and goalkeeper Mackenzie Snyder.
The Pioneers start their season today against visiting New Mexico at 4 p.m. The Buffs also are in action today, hosting nationally ranked Florida at 4 p.m.
Starting off with a kick
The women’s college soccer season kicks off in full swing this weekend, with rivals Colorado and Denver capping the action Sunday:
Friday
No. 20 Florida at CU, Prentup Field in Boulder, 4 p.m.
New Mexico at DU, Pioneer Field in Denver, 4 p.m.
Sunday
Denver at Colorado, Prentup Field in Boulder, 3 p.m.
AROUND TOWN
Star of excellence.
Longtime Denver Athletic Club squash player Hashim Khan — dubbed the most famous player in that sport in the world — will be awarded one of Pakistan’s highest honors Sunday.
The 92-year-old Khan will be given the Sitara-i-Imtiaz star of distinction award from Pakistan’s U.S. ambassador at a DAC ceremony, honoring Khan’s standing in the sport. Khan for years dominated worldwide squash, winning seven British Open championships and three U.S. Open titles.
Khan, who moved to the United States from Pakistan in 1960, came to Denver in 1973 to become the DAC’s head squash pro.
“Hashim is … the greatest squash player ever to walk on a court,” said John Lesko, DAC’s squash pro. “His sportsmanship and passion for the game are truly amazing.”
STAY ON THE COUCH
Outlaws down to title time.
Unique among the American professional sports in determining a champion, Major League Lacrosse’s two-day, final four tournament is a slam-bam way to conclude a season.
And at the center of the semifinals are the Denver Outlaws (8-4), favorites entering Saturday’s Western Conference title game against the Los Angeles Riptide (7-5).
The game, airing on FSN, starts at 1 p.m. MDT at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Mass., after the Eastern Conference game between the Rochester Rattlers (9-3) and Philadelphia Barrage (7-5).
The semifinal winners face off Sunday at 11 a.m. on ESPN2.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Not exactly a halfway challenge.
Sure, there are plenty of road races through Denver and surrounding cities each summer. Sunday’s Mount Sneffels Half Marathon will offer runners an entirely different setting.
The 13.1-mile halfsie runs through the rugged San Juan Mountains, starting at the Ouray Hot Springs Park in Ouray and racing through the Uncompahgre River Valley to Batchelder Park near Ridgway.
Last year’s race drew a healthy- sized field from dozens of points in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Texas and California. Saturday’s run, the third edition, starts at 7:30 a.m. Check for more information.
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Crew will hit the grounds running.
Wish the Broncos’ stadium maintenance crew good luck.
After the team hosts the Packers for a preseason game tonight at 7 p.m., the crew will have six days to turn the stadium around for more than 90,000 people at Barack Obama’s Democratic National Convention speech.
The crew then will have three days to ready the grass for the Colorado- Colorado State football game Aug. 31, then two weeks to repair the grass for the Broncos’ home opener Sept. 14 against San Diego.
