Aussie Soccer Club Signs Taryn Hemmings

(above) LetsGoDU's most popular athlete Taryn Hemmings signed a contract with Canberra United

From: Canberra Times

Australian soccer club Canberra United rounded out its roster with the signing of highly-rated American utility Taryn Hemmings.

The 25-year-old was a defensive midfielder with the Boston Breakers but has also had previous experience as a striker.

Hemmings enjoyed a stellar college career at University of Denver, where she finished her Pioneers career second on their all-time list with 112 points, consisting of 42 goals and 28 assists.

She was selected by the Breakers with the final selection in last year’s WPS draft before winning a place on the Boston’s roster.

“It’s fantastic to have a player of the calibre of Taryn Hemmings join what is already a strong squad,” Reid said.

“The addition of Taryn, who can play anywhere in the spine of the team, will give some extra versatility to the squad for 2011/12 and continues the fine work that the club has done recruiting for the forthcoming season."

DU's AD Thanks Fans, Sponsors & Supporters

(above) DU's Atletic Director Peg Bradley-Doppes and men's tennis player Benny Althaus

On behalf of the University of Division of Athletics and Recreation, I would like to thank the DU season ticket holders, donors, corporate sponsors, fans and supporters for another successful athletic season in 2008-09!

The Pioneers enjoyed their second-best season since turning NCAA Division I just 11 years ago. DU finished No. 54 in the Learfield Directors' Cup after sending 11 teams to postseason competition. The Pioneers were also No. 1 in NCAA I-AAA, the Front Range and Sun Belt Conference for the second straight year. We captured our NCAA-record 20th NCAA skiing championship and women's golf finished a program-best fifth at the NCAA golf championships to highlight our team competition.

Here is a brief list of our athletic accomplishment from 2008-09:

11 NCAA Tournament Appearances
5 Conference Championships
9 Coach of the Year Honors
8 All-Americans

Individually, Antje Maempel was a two-time NCAA Nordic skiing champion and swimming's Blake Worsley had an outstanding senior season. All-American Jessica Lopez was a finalist for the prestigious Honda Award for Gymnastics.

The Pioneers also had an outstanding year in the classroom. DU won its ninth consecutive SBC Graduation Rate Award and tennis player Benny Althaus was the male recipient of the SBC Postgraduate Scholarship for superior academic achievement. Three Pioneers (Taryn Hemmings, Annette Aksdal and Tyler Ruegsegger) earned Academic All-America accolades.

Our continued success would not be possible without the love and support of our season ticket holders, donors, corporate sponsors and fans. We appreciate what you do for DU athletics and thank you for it.

The 2009-10 season is right around the corner. We hired two new coaches this summer (Bill Tierney and Jeremy Wurtzman) and anticipate reaching new heights in 2009-10.

I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer. See you soon!

Peg

Ho Ho Ho Merry Xmas From LetsGoDU To You

Click picture to enlarge

We can't figure out why, but our readers just love DU women's soccer. Rather than fight the feeling, we'll just wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Grab the picture above or right click on it and "set as desktop background" and have the most beautiful computer in the office.

Hemmings Named To Central Region 2nd Team

(above) Taryn Hemmings was named to the Central Region 2nd Team

University of Denver senior forward Taryn Hemmings was named to the Adidas All-Central Region Second Team, the NSCAA announced this week.

Hemmings concluded her career at DU by leading the Pioneers to one of the best seasons in program history. She helped Denver to a 19-3-2 overall record along with the team’s third consecutive Sun Belt Tournament title and a berth to the NCAA National Tournament. [read rest of article]

Kansas Defeats DU Women's Soccer 2-1

(above) Taryn Hemmings scored DU's lone goal against Kansas Friday afternoon

“We are extremely proud of the entire team, not only for their effort in this game, but for the work they put in all season,” Sun Belt Co-Coach of the Year Jeff Hooker said. “We fought hard for 90 minutes tonight. It was unfortunate we were unable to score a goal in the first half, but the team played their hearts out.”

Kansas jumped out to a 2-0 lead at halftime, including a backbreaking goal at the 44th minute of the 1st Half.

But the Pioneers never gave up and Taryn Hemmings scored a goal four minutes into the 2nd half. From that point on the Pioneers fought to level the score, but the Jayhawks proved too resilient.

Hemmings ends her career as the Denver’s second all-time career scoring leader. She led Denver with 17 goals and six assists for 40 points this season, moving her career total to 112 points (42 g, 28 a). The forward also tied Kathy Conklin’s (1989-92) record for career goals (42) with her tally against the Jayhawks and ranks third in career assists (28).

DU finishes the season 19-3-2 to complete one of DU's most successful soccer seasons ever.

Rocky Mountain News Profiles Taryn Hemmings

(above) DU Senior Taryn Hemmings leads DU against Kansas today in the NCAA Tournament

Taryn 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."

Womens Soccer To Face Kansas Today

(left) Taryn Hemmings will lead DU against Kansas in the NCAA Tournament today

The No. 29 ranked University of Denver women’s soccer team is set to take on Kansas in the First Round of the 2008 NCAA Women’s College Cup Tournament at Stanford Stadium on Friday evening. Kick-off is set for 5:30 p.m. MT.

Denver (19-2-2, 9-1-1 SBC) earned the Sun Belt Conference’s automatic national tournament berth last weekend after claiming its third consecutive and sixth overall Sun Belt Tournament crown.

Senior forward Taryn Hemmings and redshirt junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Snyder lead the Pioneers on the offensive and defensive ends of the field, respectively.

Hemmings leads DU in points (38), goals (16), assists (6), game-winning goals (8), shots (93) and shots on goal (52), while Snyder has a 0.48 goals against average and a .875 saves percentage with 10 shutouts this season.

Hemmings Named To Soccer Team Of The Week

Our readers demanded more Taryn Hemmings coverage this week

From: DenverPioneers.com

University of Denver senior Taryn Hemmings was named to Soccer America’s National Team of the Week after leading Denver to its third consecutive Sun Belt Tournament title last weekend.

The two-time Sun Belt Player of the Year, Hemmings tallied two goals in the conference tournament. She netted the first goal of the game in DU’s 4-2 semifinal win over Florida Atlantic and scored the game-winner in Denver’s 2-0 victory over Western Kentucky.

Denver takes on Kansas in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 5:30 p.m. MT in Pala Alto, Calif. The Pioneers make their sixth NCAA National Tournament appearance.

DU Women's Soccer Makes NCAA Tournament

(left) Sun Belt Player of the Year Taryn Hemmings

From: DenverPioneers.com

The University of Denver women’s soccer team will play Kansas in the First Round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer College Cup. The Pioneers and Jayhawks kick off Friday, Nov. 14 in Palo Alto, Calif.

Denver (19-2-2) will take on Kansas (12-7-2) for the first time in program history at 5:30 p.m. MT at Stanford. The Stanford Cardinal hosts Denver, Kansas and UC Santa Barbara in the First Round. Stanford (18-1-1) meets UC Santa Barbara (12-6-3) in the site’s other First Round game, and the winners will meet in the Second Round on Sunday, Nov. 16 at Stanford.

The Pioneers earned their third consecutive and sixth overall NCAA Tournament berth after they won their sixth Sun Belt Tournament title last weekend. Sun Belt Player of the Year Taryn Hemmings scored the game-winning goal in DU’s 2-0 victory over Western Kentucky in the SBC championship game.