The Pioneers will join Butler, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida, Georgetown, Marquette, Temple, Vanderbilt and Villanova for the 2017 season
DENVER – The University of Denver women’s lacrosse team will move to the BIG EAST Conference for immediate competition in the 2017 season. The women’s lacrosse team will be the second Denver team in the BIG EAST along with the men’s lacrosse team, which joined in 2014, and will compete against members Butler, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida, Georgetown, Marquette, Temple, Vanderbilt and Villanova.
“We are very excited to have a second team join a conference with such a rich tradition of excellence,” Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation Peg Bradley-Doppes said. “We look forward to hosting these teams in the Lacrosse Capital of the West. As I said when the men joined three years ago, the academic reputations of the institutions in the BIG EAST are consistent with the standards that we hold our own student-athletes to. It’s an honor to have both the men’s and women’s lacrosse programs in this elite conference.”
“We’re excited to add Denver as a BIG EAST women’s lacrosse member,” said BIG EAST Associate Commissioner for Olympic Sports Chris Schneider. “We look forward to building upon our existing relationship with the Pioneers, whose men’s lacrosse program has had a proven history of success in our
league over the last three seasons.”
The Pioneers are leaving the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, which they have been a part of since the 2004 season. During the 13 years in the MPSF, Denver won the regular season title six times, including in three straight seasons from 2006 to 2008. DU’s other MPSF regular season titles came in 2010, 2013 and 2014. The Pioneers have competed in the MPSF Tournament in every season and won the elusive championship in 2014, earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight season.
“I would like to thank the BIG EAST and Commissioner Val Ackerman and Chris Schneider for making this incredible opportunity come true,” head coach Liza Kelly said. “Being welcomed into a highly competitive 10-team conference speaks to the hard work of our past Pioneers. The BIG EAST will give us the chance to boost our schedule and complete against universities that focus on the overall experience of the student-athlete.”
Denver also won multiple individual awards from the MPSF. In 13 seasons, the Pioneers have garnered 66 All-MPSF player selections, including 20 to the first team since its installment in 2010, as well as 96 players to the All-MPSF Academic Scholars list over the years. Denver has been home to the MPSF Newcomer of the Year seven times, including most recently Nicole Martindale (Brooklin, Ontario) in 2015. DU’s Kristie Leggio took home MPSF Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007, and Kelly O’Connell continued the Denver Player of the Year streak in 2008. In 2013 and 2014, Kelly was named MPSF Coach of the Year, and Cathy Reese earned Coach of the Year honors for her final season at Denver in 2006.
“I am so grateful to the MPSF and Al Beard for providing us with the opportunity to be a part of the expansion of women’s lacrosse out West,” Kelly said. “Without Al’s hard work and the commitment by the schools in the MPSF, I don’t think we would have seen this tremendous growth spurt in women’s lacrosse.”
The Denver women’s lacrosse team holds a 7-6 record against current BIG EAST schools under Kelly. This season, the Pioneers posted a win over Marquette in the first meeting between the two programs. Denver fell to Vanderbilt in 2016 after defeating the Commodores the three previous seasons. In 2013 and 2014, DU lost to Florida in the NCAA Tournament as the Pioneers advanced to play the Gators in the second round of the tournament. Denver has also defeated Temple, Connecticut and Cincinnati with Kelly at the helm.