The DU women’s soccer team lost a defensive battle to instate rival No. 14 University of Colorado on Friday in Boulder. The 1-0 loss drops the Pioneers record to 4-2-1 on the season, as the Buffaloes improved to 5-1-1 on the year.

DU’s defense was strong throughout, as senior goalie Danielle Wiley made five saves while allowing just one goal in 90 minutes of play. However, the Pioneers were stifled on offense by a tough Colorado team.

Denver’s best offensive chances came in the first half, in which the Pioneers registered their only shots on goal for the game. Freshman Lizzy Carlson had two of the shots on goal, while Sophomore Katie Oates delivered Denver’s third.

In the second half the Denver offense was unable to generate any significant offensive threat. Handicapped by 12 second half penalties, the Pioneers only took one of their team’s seven shots in the second half, which missed the net.

For the game, DU was out shot 12-7 by the Buffaloes, who scored the game’s lone goal in the first half. The goal was scored by Colorado’s Jess Quador with an assist from Nikki Marshall.

Despite Friday’s loss, offense has not been a struggle for DU this season. The Pioneers have scored eight goals this season on 79 shot attempts while holding their opponents to only three goals in 68 attempts. They average 11.3 shots per game and have five assists on the season.

Denver’s leading scorers are Senior Lleane Grimditch and Junior Jenna Billingsley each with two goals on the season. Grimditch also has two assists on the season and is tied with Junior Taryn Hemmings for the team lead. Hemmings has also recorded one goal along with Brooke Lamphere, Jessica Keller, and Caitlin Rollins. Elise Mascitelli also has an assist for the Pioneers.DU goalie Dani Wiley has started all seven of the Pioneers games and has recorded 22 saves, allowing only three goals. She has held the opposing team scoreless on four occasions and has a stingy goals against average of only 0.41 goals per game.

The Pioneers are now 3-2 this season in 1-0 games. The only two games not decided by a 1-0 margin were the Pioneers’ first two games of the season, a 4-0 win over Alabama in Nashville and then a 1-1 tie against Vanderbilt.

This coming weekend the Pioneers travel to Louisiana where they will have their first Sun Belt Conference action of the season, opening with Louisiana-Lafayette Friday and then Louisiana-Monroe Sunday afternoon.

The team will then return to Denver and hold their home opener Friday September 29 when they face Florida Atlantic.