DENVER – The University of Denver dedicated the new CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium on Saturday evening between DU women’s and men’s spring games in front of a sellout crowd of 2,083.
University of Denver Chancellor Robert D. Coombe joined DU Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation and Ritchie Center Operations Peg Bradley-Doppes, men’s soccer head coach Bobby Muuss, women’s head coach Jeff Hooker and DU Board of Trustee member KC Gallagher, as well as donors and members of both Denver soccer teams.
“This soccer stadium is the last jewel in our crown of beautiful facilities at the Ritchie Center,” Bradley Doppes said, adding that DU plans to use the stadium to host conference tournaments and NCAA tournaments.
“This was a special night for Denver soccer,” Muuss said. “Not only did we get to celebrate the dedication ceremony with so many of the people who put in so much hard work to get this stadium built, but we brought a sellout crowd out to watch soccer in this beautiful facility.”
After the women’s soccer team battled regional rival Wyoming to a 0-0 tie, the men took on 2009 NCAA Division II national champion Fort Lewis College but fell 4-1 to the Skyhawks.
In the 14th minute, Fort Lewis’ Euan Purcell was taken down in the box and buried the ensuing penalty kick. Less than a minute later, Byron Cephers received a pass on the right side of the box and scored to the opposite side of the goal.
The Skyhawks added a third goal in the 54th minute, when Purcell centered a pass to Thomas Hoang, who headed it in.
Denver newcomer Theodor Remman put Denver on the board in the 59th minute, heading in a pass from Alex DeCosta. However, Hoang scored again in the 68th minute off a cross from Purcell.
The men’s game, which served as the team’s annual spring fundraiser, also featured a silent auction.
The field is named after CIBER, Inc., a pure-play international IT outsourcing and software implementation and integration consultancy based in Greenwood Village. CIBER’s contributions were instrumental in building the field, and it provides ongoing support to Pioneer Athletics.
