J.B. Belzer led the Rangers with a 17-6-1 record in 2005. Senior forward Kate Murphy was noted this year with a new school record. She had thirty one goals scored in 2005. Midfielder Tara Kirkpatrick earned First Team All-RMAC and 3rd Team NSCAA All-Amer
The women's basketball team cemented this season with a 26-2 record and 18-1 in RMAC. On March 2, the women's basketball team had three RMAC notable mentions: junior Diana Lopez was selected as player of the year, junior Denise was selected as defensive
The women's softball season will conclude in early May. Currently they are ranked 36-12 overall and 27-1 in the RMAC. Notable mentions are juniors Kaitlyn Gentert and Heather Utech, and freshman Ali Davenport.
It has become our catch phrase over the years, "That we did it all without a football team." In my opinion, it's great for the university. At places like CSU or CU, football is God and all other sports take a backseat, particularly women's sports. On the other hand, all our sports get attention. The women's teams even draw crowds and have been very successful. Not to take anything away from the men's teams at Regis but in the national spotlight, women's sports get minimum press. So this is my press for women's sports at Regis. And when you think about the best women's teams at Regis, three come to mind for me: soccer, basketball and softball.
So let's break it down and take a look at these teams individually. I'm hoping some of you skeptics out there, when it comes to women's sports, take a chance on these great teams.
Women's Soccer
It seems that in the last couple of years the women's team has always been a lock for the NCAA tournament. This year was no exception. Except for the usual monkey they can't get off their back that is Metro State University, the past two years they have made to the Regional Final only to lose to Metro. Besides that one small blemish on their record, the women's soccer team has been very competitive. Even with many newcomers and injuries, they ended the season with a 17-6-1 record with four of those losses to Metro.
And you can't talk about women's soccer at Regis without mentioning All-American forward Kate Murphy, who broke the Regis University record for goals in a season with 31. She finished her career as Regis' all-time leading scorer. This girl was unstoppable and made it look easy as she dribbled around players like they were cones. Regis got thirty-one from Murphy but someone had to stop the other team from scoring in order to win all those games.
Regis' defense was critical for them in NCAA Tournament as both All-American defender Tara Kirkpatrick and goalkeeper Joanna Humphreys came up big. Humphreys multiple saves during penalty kicks in their NCAA Tournament game against Central Oklahoma helped them advance to the Regional Final. Nearly
impossible to score on Humphreys goals against average was 0.75 and allowed on seventeen goals the entire
season. Murphy's ability to score multiple goals every game and Humphreys prowess in the net made for an exciting season. And of course their rivalry with Metro only made their season more fun to watch. With most of their team returning next year hopefully the soccer team will have another terrific season. As long as they can find someone to fill the shoes of Kate Murphy and put the ball in the back of the net, things look good for them next year.
Women's Basketball
Two players come to mind when you are talking about the women's basketball team the Lopez twins. A force to be reckoned with in the RMAC, they are truly a double trouble. Diana Lopez is a versatile player that can do it all. She led the RMAC in scoring, three-point percentage, three pointers made and steals, and I'm sure I'm leaving something out. Also two-time player of the year as well as All-American Honorable Mention, this girl's game matches the caliber of a division one player. You can only hope to contain her and trust me I know I use to guard the girl in practice.
Her sister Denise is not to be overlooked, defensive player of the year in the RMAC, in the top five in the conference in steals and always near the top in rebounding she is truly the centerpiece of the patented Regis defense.
This girl does all the hard stuff and it may not show up on paper but it makes an impact. Playing the most minutes of any Regis starter this girl leaves nothing on the floor. Both are extremely athletic and the things they do boggle my mind.
Once again another successful season for the basketball team, making their second consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament with balanced scoring, four out of their five starters averaging in double figures. Another twenty win season, RMAC regular season champions and well the list goes on and on. The Rangers lose only teo players but with newcomers like Stevi Seitz, a healthy Breanne Burley and the Lopez twins the basketball team looks to be set for next year.
Softball
Finally our women's softball team, who is probably the most overlooked, is already have to a fast start this season 36-12 overall and 27-1 in the RMAC. They liked the soccer and basketball team is looking to make a second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. They have experience, great defense and the ability to put lots of runs on the board. It's all about the juniors. Third basemen Michelle Johnston, shortstop Melissa Backlund, second basemen Anna Schaefer, catcher Mariah Piper and outfielder have been made contributions from the day they put on their Ranger uniforms. The four infielders for the Rangers all garnered First Team All-RMAC honors.
Now I have never watched a lot of softball and considering baseball is one of my least favorite sports I was a bit skeptical. But the game is really very fast paced and exciting. Just the other weekend in one of their games the Rangers shut out Fort Hays State and the game ended because the mercy rule came into play. The Ranger's pummeled the Tigers with hit after hit and they weren't and five scoreless innings on only two hits from pitcher Kaitlyn Gentert. The Rangers truly made it look effortless.
After a slow start the Rangers have the Rangers have really put the pressure on the rest of the RMAC. They are batting close to .350 as a team and have two players Michelle Johnston and newcomer Heather Utecht both have double-digit home run totals. So it is clear that the Rangers can score. But defense wins championships and the Ranger's superb infield seems to vacuum up ground balls effortlessly. While Kaityln Gentert just became the second pitcher in Regis history to win twenty or more games in a season.
Their regular season is winding down but no doubt they will be looking to make a run for the RMAC title and in the NCAA tournament. So as our year comes to a close and we reflect back on Ranger sports let us pay our respects to the great female athletes we have here. And let us look forward to their continued success. So next time you are thinking about attending an athletic event at Regis make it a women's soccer, basketball or softball game. Trust me you won't be disappointed.