Before USA Lacrosse Magazine looks ahead to what’s to come in 2024, our team of staff and contributors decided it was worth taking one last look at 2023.
After all, you have to look at the most recent results before making projections for what’s to come. To do that, we’re taking a journey through the top 30 teams in men’s and women’s lacrosse — what went right, what went wrong and what we should all think of that team’s season.
Was it a success? A failure? A mixture of both? You’ll find out our thoughts over the next month or so.
DENVER WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason/Final Top 20 Ranking: 10/4
2023 record: 22-1 (6-0 Big East)
WHAT WENT RIGHT
Almost everything. Denver was the nation’s only unbeaten team until the national semifinals, holding teams to single-digit goals 22 times in 23 games. Marquee wins included those over Maryland and Boston College. The Pioneers also had to fend off formidable conference opponents in Marquette and UConn, beating the latter for a third-straight Big East tournament crown. The Pioneers were selected as the fifth seed in the NCAA tournament, drawing Pac-12 champion USC in the first round and a potential date with Virginia in the second round (Albany rallied to beat UVA, nixing that). Denver kept winning, eventually knocking off defending champion North Carolina in the quarterfinals to advance to its first-ever Final Four.
Denver’s stout defense, nicknamed Hot Pink, has been around for a while. But TV commentators started picking up on it more as the Pios kept winning with constant shots of fans rocking hot pink accessories in the stands. Little girls came out to watch the zone defense in person, learning they could be proud to play D. Sam Thacker went on to win IWLCA Defender of the Year, and the unit produced the nation’s lowest team goals-against average (6.22). Sophomore goalie Emelia Bohi shined in net, producing a 50.4 save percentage and a nation-leading 6.43 goals-against average.