(above) DU Senior Taryn Hemmings leads DU against Kansas today in the NCAA TournamentTaryn Hemmings basically has accomplished everything this season she did two years ago. After an injury robbed her of the season in between, though, this year has felt so much sweeter.
Hemmings, a senior midfielder for the University of Denver women's soccer team, hopes to make sure her storybook comeback lasts beyond today as the Pioneers play Kansas in an NCAA tournament first-round game at 5:30 p.m. MST in Palo, Alto, Calif.
"It definitely means a lot that I proved to myself that I could come back," Hemmings said. "I love playing soccer again and just being able go out and run without pain."
Hemmings, a Greeley native, earned the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year award in 2006 after recording 15 goals and 12 assists. But last year, in what should have been her senior season, Hemmings was sidelined by a torn labrum muscle in her hip that required season-ending surgery.
Hemmings was forced to watch as DU advanced to an NCAA tournament berth in Boulder, but after taking a medical redshirt, she picked up this season where she left off in 2006. Hemmings again won the conference Player of the Year award, leading the Pioneers with 16 goals and six assists.
"I don't think there are enough superlatives to talk about what she's been able to do," said DU coach Jeff Hooker, whose team takes a 19-2-2 record into its sixth NCAA tournament appearance. "Statistics are what they are, and she has been very impressive when it comes to that. But she's carried the load of the team.
"I kind of describe her sometimes, watching her run, it's like going to the thoroughbred races and seeing the thoroughbreds run. . . . She has had the broad shoulders to carry the load for everybody."
Hemmings, a senior midfielder for the University of Denver women's soccer team, hopes to make sure her storybook comeback lasts beyond today as the Pioneers play Kansas in an NCAA tournament first-round game at 5:30 p.m. MST in Palo, Alto, Calif.
"It definitely means a lot that I proved to myself that I could come back," Hemmings said. "I love playing soccer again and just being able go out and run without pain."
Hemmings, a Greeley native, earned the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year award in 2006 after recording 15 goals and 12 assists. But last year, in what should have been her senior season, Hemmings was sidelined by a torn labrum muscle in her hip that required season-ending surgery.
Hemmings was forced to watch as DU advanced to an NCAA tournament berth in Boulder, but after taking a medical redshirt, she picked up this season where she left off in 2006. Hemmings again won the conference Player of the Year award, leading the Pioneers with 16 goals and six assists.
"I don't think there are enough superlatives to talk about what she's been able to do," said DU coach Jeff Hooker, whose team takes a 19-2-2 record into its sixth NCAA tournament appearance. "Statistics are what they are, and she has been very impressive when it comes to that. But she's carried the load of the team.
"I kind of describe her sometimes, watching her run, it's like going to the thoroughbred races and seeing the thoroughbreds run. . . . She has had the broad shoulders to carry the load for everybody."
4 comments:
Yes, I'm in love.
Get in line.
More Hemmings! More Hemmings!
let's see...hot, talented, smart (attends du), and runs like a thoroughbred....i think i've found my dreamgirl......
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