The top-seeded University of Denver women’s soccer team opened its run through the Sun Belt Conference tournament Thursday with a 4-2 victory over fifth-seeded Florida Atlantic in Denton, Texas.
Denver (18-2-2) took a 1-0 lead in the third minute after senior and SBC player of the year Taryn Hemmings scored on an assist from Lizzy Carlson.
Brooke Lamphere’s goal in the 66th minute gave the Pioneers a 4-0 lead.
DU, the two-time defending SBC champion, advanced to Saturday’s title game and will face either North Texas or Western Kentucky, who played each other in a late Thursday semifinal matchup.
“We’re excited about being in the championship game,” DU coach Jeff Hooker said. “We have a chance at an NCAA bid, which has been the goal all season.”
• Sixteenth-ranked and fourth-seeded Colorado will face No. 8 and top-seeded Oklahoma State today in a semifinal game of the Big 12 Conference tournament at 4:30 p.m. in San Antonio.
Colorado (14-3-3) is making its fifth semifinals appearance.
Two Rams make ESPN academic team.
Colorado State linebacker Jeff Horinek and placekicker Jason Smith were named to ESPN The Magazine’s all-District VII academic first team. Smith, who originally walked on in football and track from Arapahoe High School, has a 3.65 GPA in construction management. He has connected on his last 73 PAT attempts. Horinek, named a finalist last week for the Draddy Award, has a 3.91 GPA in health and exercise science.
• The Rams have received their first three-star football verbal commitment from 6-4, 287-pound defensive end Craig Payne. Ranked No. 41 on ‘s California preseason top 100, he’s not playing football this fall after transfer issues when he changed high schools. He is attending Colony High School in Ontario, Calif.
14ers tickets on sale.
The Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League will put single-game tickets on sale today at 10 a.m. The team is an affiliate of the Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets. For tickets, call 303-465-HOOP (4667).
Privateers upend Pioneers.
The University of New Orleans volleyball team got off to a fast start — taking four of the first five points — and didn’t let up in sweeping visiting Denver 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-21). Emily Davidsmeyer led the Pioneers (22-5, 10-4 Sun Belt) with nine kills.
Rams deny Lobos.
Mekana Barnes had 19 kills and a .412 hitting percentage to lead the Colorado State volleyball team, ranked No. 13, to a 3-1 win (21-25, 26-16, 25-21, 25-19) over host New Mexico.
Tessa Nelson added 12 kills for the Rams (20-2, 10-1 Mountain West).
Frogs lasso Cowgirls.
The Wyoming volleyball team (4-16, 3-8 MWC) struggled passing the ball, and the offense suffered, as the Cowgirls were swept 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-18) by host TCU (18-8, 7-6).
Sophomore Lauren Whitney led the Cowgirls with 12 kills, while hitting .385 (12-2-26) for the match.
Bears knocked out of first.
The Northern Colorado volleyball team went from a half-game lead in the Big Sky Conference to a half-game back after being swept 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-15) by host Portland State (17-6, 10-3).
Kenzie Shreeve led UNC (15-6, 9-3) with 14 kills, and Breanna VanDerMost and Lauren Carter each had 11 digs.
