7 Epic Moments for DU Athletics in 2024

The Denver Pioneers had another standout year in 2024, with teams and individuals across several sports breaking records and making significant strides. 

Here’s a look back at seven key storylines that told the story of DU Athletics in 2024. 

Men’s Soccer Sets New Standard in Historic Postseason Run

After earning its highest seed in its NCAA Tournament history, the men’s soccer team went undefeated at home in the postseason, defeating UMass, Indiana and Gardner-Webb to make it to the semifinals. 

The semifinal match against Vermont on Dec. 13 marked the second time DU has appeared in the College Cup—the first since 2016. It also marked the third national semifinal for DU Athletics in the calendar year, joining hockey and men’s lacrosse’s trips to their final weekends in the spring.

After a low-scoring, defensive battle, Vermont put away the game 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw in regulation and two scoreless overtimes.

Denver finished the season with a 15-3-5 record.

Senior attacking midfielder Sam Bassett was voted to the United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team, the second two-time All-America selection in the program’s history.

A Return Trip to Nationals for Women’s Triathlon

Led by first-team All-American Maira Carreau, the women’s triathlon team placed fifth at this year's Collegiate National Championships in November with 847 points.

Carreau, a sophomore, finished in seventh place at the 2024 Collegiate National Championships, her second top 10 of the season. The team overall had five athletes place in the top 34 and all seven came in the top 40.

DU secured an automatic team berth into the national championships following their third-place finish at Western Regionals on Oct. 12.

This was also the final collegiate regular-season race for Head Coach Barbara Perkins’ inaugural recruiting class four years ago.

Men’s Lacrosse Returns to Championship Weekend

In his first year at the helm, Head Coach Matt Brown led the men’s lacrosse team to its first trip to Championship Weekend since 2017.

DU defeated Syracuse 10-8 in the quarterfinals on May 19 but were bested by Notre Dame 13-6 in the national semifinal. This was DU’s 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its first since 2021. 

The team started off the season strong with a 6-1 record and saw its first No. 1 ranking since 2017. Denver finished its 2024 season with an 11-2 regular season and a 13-4 record overall.

Looking ahead to the upcoming 2025 season, the Pioneers will host seven regular season games at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium as well as the 2025 Big East Men's Lacrosse Championship the first weekend in May.

Men’s Tennis Marks Perfect Season with Summit League Title

The men’s tennis team was the only Division I team in the country to go undefeated through the regular season and the first to head into the NCAA Tournament undefeated since Virginia in 2013.

DU captured its sixth Summit League title in April to return to the NCAA tournament for the 10th time in program history.

DU will host the 2025 Summit League Men's & Women's Tennis Championships on April 18-19—doing so for the first time since 2021.

The Kings of College Hockey

The hockey team made history  last spring when it became the first team to win 10 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey National Championships. DU defeated Boston College 2-0 on April 13, breaking their nine-title tie with the University of Michigan. 

The championship banner was raised before a record-breaking, sold-out crowd at Magness Arena on Oct. 19. Sitting at a 14-4 record this season, the Pioneers are tied with their best winning percentage at the halfway point of a season in the last 20 years.

Denver hockey is also commemorating 75 years of Pioneer hockey throughout the current 2024-25 season, as the program’s first-ever games were against Saskatchewan on Dec. 19-20, 1949.

Men’s Basketball Makes Summit League Title Run

For the first time since 2005, the men’s basketball team played its way to a Summit League championship game back in March. 

The Pioneers faced a tough opponent in South Dakota State and were able to cut a 23-point deficit down to five but ultimately lost 76-68.

Fifth-year guard Tommy Bruner made his mark at DU on and off the court.

During the 2023-24 season, Bruner played and started in all 34 games, averaging 24 points and 2.8 rebounds in 33.8 minutes per game. He finished the season ranked No. 3 in the country in field goal attempts (602) and No. 2 in points per game (24).

In just two seasons in Denver, Bruner established himself in the DU record books, finishing ninth in scoring with 1,324 points, first in scoring average at 20.1 points per game, second in free throws made at 356, third in free throws attempted at 433, and sixth in free throw percentage at 82.2.

Off the court, he also started a nonprofit organization called Be Different that helps kids in need across Colorado. The name comes from a phrase he used in high school to inspire others to be themselves.

Skiing Earns Third at NCAA Championships

Nine skiers picked up 13 All-American awards, and the team placed third overall at the 2024 NCAA Championships.

Marking one of the most successful postseason outings since 2018, this was the fourth straight season of the program finishing in the top three at nationals.

Freshman Christian Soevik and graduate student Florian Knopf both received First Team honors in their national championship debuts.

Four other Pioneers earned their first ever All-American accolades: Liv Moritz, Thomas Hoffman, Krystof Zatloukal and Selma Andersen.

Nora Brand, Andreas Kirkeng and Sara Rask were also recognized with national honors.