DENVER - The No. [16] Denver Pioneers women's lacrosse team travels east for a pair of games this weekend against Louisville and Ohio State to open its 2025 campaign.

The Pioneers will play Louisville on Friday morning in Kentucky with opening draw set for 10a.m. MT. Denver topped the Cardinal, 16-8, at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium on Feb. 9, 2024.

Following the game in Kentucky, DU will head to Columbus, Ohio for a game against the Buckeyes on Sunday. Opening draw against Ohio State is set for 10a.m. MT. In the last meeting between the two programs, the Pioneers defeated the Buckeyes, 15-5, on Feb. 23, 2024 at Peter Barton. 

2025 CAPTAINS

• The Pioneers selected redshirt senior Raegan Wilson and seniors Lauren Black and Caroline Colimore as captains for the 2025 season.
• Wilson missed the part of the 2024 season due to injury but appeared in 14 games for the Pioneers. 
• Black was third on the Pioneers, recording 59 points on 38 goals and 21 assists. The New Westminster, British Columbia native was an All-Big East First team selection a year ago as well as the 2022 Big East Freshman of the Year. She also bring international experience to the Pioneers, having played for Team Canada last summer.
• Colimore started in all 20 games for the Pioneers last season and was third on the squad with 30 goals and six assists. The midfielder recorded 10 multi-goal games and a career-high four goals in the Big East title game against Connecticut. The Maryland native was a 2024 All-Big East First team selection.

"HOT PINK" DEFENSE 

• Denver ranked 15th in the country in scoring defense after the 2024 season wth 9.20 goals per game. 
• In 2024, the Pioneers finished the season ranked fourth in the country with 11.45 caused turnovers per game. 
• Denver has forced 8+ caused turnovers in all but three games over the last four seasons.
• The Pios return starting goalkeeper Emelia Bohi who's 9.13 goals against average was good for 12th in the nation. 

PRESEASON ALL AMERICANS

• Three Pioneers were named to the USA Lacrosse Preseason All-Americans list: senior attacker Lauren Black, junior attacker Ryan Dineen and junior defender Megan Klingenberg.
• Black was an All- Big East first team selection a year ago, led the conference with four game-winning goals and recorded goals against seven nationally ranked opponents this season. Black won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2024 World Lacrosse U20 Championship this summer.
• Dineen was fourth on the Pioneers' squad with 56 points with 24 goals and 32 assists. Dineen earned a season-high seven points against Stanford in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and recorded hat tricks on three separate occasions.
• Klingenberg started in all 22 games for Denver, recording 22 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers during the 2024 campaign.

A VANTHOF OFFENSE

• VanThof joined the Pioneers as Associate Head Coach and         Offensive and Recruiting     Coordinator this offseason.
• She won a gold medal with the inagural U.S. Women's Box Team in 2024.
• The New York native spent the 2023-24 season as the offensive coordinator and draw coach at Penn State, leading the Nittany Lions to wins over four nationaly ranked teams.
• During her collegiate career, 
• VanThof was the 2019 Patriot League Midfielder of he Year, a Tewaaraton Award Semifinalist and IWLCA Second Team All-American at Loyola.

DENVER IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS

• The Pioneers checked in at No. 16 in the preseason USA Lacrosse Poll.
• The Pioneers are 42-8 as a top-10 team in the country. 
• Denver is 9-33 against teams ranked in the top-10 in the country.

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