DENVER – The University of Denver women's soccer program, along with 10 other Pioneer teams, joined the Summit League in 2013, immediately following its run to its first ever NCAA Round of 16 after defeating No. 9 Maryland 3-2 in extra time at Stanford. Denver's opponents Sunday (12 p.m. MT), North Dakota, joined the Summit League in the offseason and will make its first trip to the University of Denver Soccer Stadium this weekend to take on the Pioneers in a top-four battle in the Summit League.
Top four is an important designation in European football's biggest leagues as clubs battle for UEFA Champions League places for the following season, while the Summit League's battle for a position in the top-four books your ticket to Brookings, S.D., this November for the 2018 Summit League Tournament and a chance to get into the NCAAs in the middle of next month.
A pair of athletic departments that know each other well from their hockey rivalry will meet for the first time in women's soccer on Sunday afternoon. North Dakota enters the match with a game in hand, but a win for the Pioneers would extend the gap between the two teams to eight points with two to play for Denver and three left for the Fighting Hawks. A North Dakota victory would narrow the margin to two, while a point-splitter would keep the gap at five with two weekends to go in the Summit League campaign.
Despite winning the Summit League tournament last November, the Pioneers haven't entered the tournament with the No. 1 seed and the right to host the following year since their first season in the league in 2013, something the Pioneers still have their sights set on in 2018. Denver will need some help from the rest of the league to reach that goal after dropping an extra time match at South Dakota State last weekend, but will focus on taking care of its own business as the Pioneers finish with two of their final three at home.
Following Sunday's match, Denver will have a full week off before making the trip to Macomb to take on Western Illinois next Sunday. The Pioneers will close out the regular season on Saturday, October 27 against Oral Roberts, with kickoff at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium set for 1 p.m. MT.
TICKETS: Single-game tickets are on sale and can be purchased
online here, or by calling 303-871-4625.
PIONEER MOVEMENT: Fans interested in making a donation to the women's soccer program can do so by clicking here. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.
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