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LetsGoDU: Denver Women’s Lacrosse Stifles Furious UConn Comeback Bid to Earn BIG EAST Tournament Title

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LetsGoDU: Denver Women’s Lacrosse Stifles Furious UConn Comeback Bid to Earn BIG EAST Tournament Title


10th ranked/#1 seed Denver (15-3, 6-0) capped an undefeated BIG EAST regular season by winning the BIG EAST Tournament against #2 seed UConn,16-14. DU built a 9-1 lead but had to withstand a 4th-quarter tie with the Huskies to escape with the win and the BIG EAST title.

Denver reeled off five straight goals to open the first quarter of play. Caroline Colimore and Sloane Kipp scored for Denver in the first two minutes to race out to a quick lead. Julia Gilbert took a feed from Kipp to keep the run going at 10:33.  Four minutes later, Olivia Ripple found the back of the net for the Pioneers.  Kipp Sloane finished off the first-quarter scoring outburst in the final two minutes to build a 5-0 lead.

Denver followed the same recipe to start the second quarter when Ryan Dineen scored in the first minute. UConn’s Susan Lafountain finally broke the ice at 11:43 to temporarily stop the DU run. Denver responded with three straight goals by three different Pioneers – Jane Early, Gilbert and Kyra Obert to build a 9-1 lead.  Denver was coasting to the title, right? Wrong. In the final 5:11 before halftime, the Huskies woke up with three goals of their own by Kate Shaffer (free position), Shaffer again (man-up) and Madelyn George. The Huskies were chipping away at the massive deficit.

The teams traded goals in the third quarter with both scoring four goals. Denver opened the scoring three minutes into the period when Julia Gilbert found paydirt. UConn scored two minutes later but DU’s Jane Early responded to retain the five-goal edge, 10-5. UConn scored again at 7:13 but Caroline Colimore responded a minute later with a DU tally. Denver countered another Husky goal when Jane Early scored after a Denver draw control and feed a half minute after the UConn goal. Under a minute to go in the third period,  the Huskies Kate Shaffer scored to draw within five goals, 13-8.

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Denver looked to be on cruise control heading into the final 15 minutes but UConn had other ideas. UConn started to chip away at DU’s five-goal lead. Abby Charron scored in the first minute to start the ball rolling for UConn. Less than a minute later, Caroline Colimore scored for Denver to regain the 5-goal margin. The Huskies then reeled off two straight goals at 10:16 and 9:16 to cut DU’s advantage to three goals as UConn started to gain momentum and confidence. In the final five minutes, the Huskies buried three more goals, a five-goal run in all, to knot the score 14-14. With under two minutes to go, Denver forced a turnover and called a timeout. The ball went into Ryan Dineen with a feed to Julia Gilbert who buried the shot, 15-14, with a minute to go. Gilbert, the hero of the game for DU, secured the draw control as DU took fouls and ran clock. Colimore added the icing on the cake with a goal as time expired for a final score 16-14.

DU outshot the Huskies 28-18 along with only 7 turnovers to 17 for the Huskies. However, UConn was efficient in the offensive zone to make it a game. Colimore and Gilbert had four goals each. Sloane Kipp had two goals and six assists. Kate Shaffer had five goals and three assists to pace the Huskies.

The NCAA selection show is on Sunday at 7:00 pm MT when Denver will learn their NCAA seeding and opponent.

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Ranking the Broncos free agent needs on offense

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Ranking the Broncos free agent needs on offense


NFL Free Agency opens up on Wednesday, with the legal tampering period beginning on Monday. The top free agents usually all commit to a team during that period, so be ready to rock and roll to start next week.

I figured now would be a good time to do a little discussion around the Denver Broncos and where we think their top priorities should be on offense when free agency kicks off.

Broncos top FA needs on offense

Tim Lynch: For free agency, I’d say running back and tight end are the highest on my wish list.

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I’d say pay big for a top free agent running back and ensure you have a monster two-headed backfield next season. They need a superior run-blocking tight end and, if they move on from Evan Engram, a pass-catcher too.

Christopher Hart: I agree with Tim. Those are the biggest needs for the offense. Getting a top-notch running back and a tight end capable of playing inline to replace Adam Trautman is a must. The two players I advocated a few weeks ago were running back Travis Etienne and tight end Cade Otton. Both would be fantastic additions and help take Denver’s offense to the next level in 2026.

Scotty Payne: Playmaker is the top and biggest need. That includes a RB, TE, and/or WR in that order.

Need to improve the run game regardless, need some sort of production out of the TEs as well as improved blocking, and if they can get a true WR1, that would be great too.

Ross Allen: I think we’re all in agreement.

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Getting someone who can be the dominant running back and have RJ Harvey serve that glamorous “joker” role would be huge for this offense. And given that they also don’t have a legitimate playmaker at the receiving position hurts them. A TE or WR can fill that role.

Sadaraine: The #1 need for the Broncos on offense is a top-notch running back. I will be blown away if the Broncos don’t sign a top-tier free agent running back to upgrade the offense (and no, J.K. Dobbins wouldn’t be that guy…not with his injury history).

There’s a significant gap in need after that until we start talking about tight ends and receivers. I think we’re more likely to see more money spent on a tight end than a receiver, but this offense could use both to be sure.

Ian St. Clair: Not to beat a dead horse, but running back is the biggest need and priority for this team when free agency starts. Having a consistent and effective running game will make Nix and the offense exponentially better. It will make the team better. After running back, the Broncos need to figure out their tight end.

Adam Malnati: Give Bo a weapon. I don’t care which position. Yes, RB is a need. Yes, TE is a need (thanks a lot Evan Engram). Still, a weapon would be nice.

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Predictably, we’re all heavily keyed in on running back and tight end. That was a big part of our free agent profile coverage too and for good reason. There have been many rumors around Denver looking to target both positions next week and where there is smoke there is usually fire.

The question really becomes: go big or go affordable? With the championship window open, I’m leaning go big on premium play-maker positions this offseason.

Where do you stand on this discussion? Give us your top free agent needs on offense and how you hope the Broncos address them next week.



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Denver area events for March 5

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Denver area events for March 5


If you have an event taking place in the Denver area, email information to carlotta.olson@gazette.com at least two weeks in advance. All events are listed in the calendar on space availability. Thursday Camilla Vaitaitis Quartet — 6:30 p.m., Dazzle at Baur’s, 1080 14th St., Denver, go online for prices. Tickets: dazzledenver.com/#/events. Miguel — 7 p.m., Fillmore Auditorium, […]



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Report: Broncos expected to ‘make a splash’ at running back

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Report: Broncos expected to ‘make a splash’ at running back


The Denver Broncos are in the market for a running back.

Just two days after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Denver wants to have the running back position addressed before the draft, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that the Broncos are “poised to make a splash” at running back during NFL free agency.

“Denver is the reason why the Jets used the franchise tag on Breece Hall rather than the transition tag, according to sources, making sure Denver wouldn’t get the opportunity to put together an offer the Jets would refuse to match,” Jones wrote for CBS Sports.

Jones said the Broncos would be an obvious potential landing spot for Kenneth Walker, and he noted that Travis Etienne could be a cheaper alternative. The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider also reported this week that Denver is expected to “closely examine” the RB market, and he name-dropped Walker, Etienne and Rico Dowdle.

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The Broncos also have an in-house free agent at RB in J.K. Dobbins, who has expressed his desire to remain in Denver. The Broncos can begin negotiating with pending free agents from other clubs on March 9, but no deals can become official until the new league year begins on March 11. In-house free agents can be re-signed at any time.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.



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