Despite inclement weather ranging from hail to snow, the Pioneer women’s soccer team (16-2-4) topped Colorado College 3-1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at CIBER Field, advancing to the second round and posting the program’s second NCAA victory.
Junior forward Kristen Hamilton, who leads the team with 14 goals this season, recorded the lone goal of the first half off an assist from senior forward Kaitlin Bast. During the second half, Bast netted two goals for Denver, becoming the third Pioneer in school history to join the 100-point club.
“When we start games strong and start halves strong, it makes an impression on our tea, and makes an impression on our opponent,” said head coach Jeff Hooker. “We switched things up a bit formation wise when we came out in the second half, a little bit because of the weather. We didn’t want to be too crazy and too aggressive. I thought our energy was really, really good.”
At the end of the game, Denver walked away with a 17-12 advantage in shots and a 5-3 edge in corners, topping the Tigers in both areas. The contest marked the first time the Pioneers have hosted an NCAA Tournament game at CIBER Field, and, according to Bast, it was an unbeatable experience.
“It was so much fun,” said Bast. “All our family, friends and other athletes were there and have been supporting us all season, so it was kind of a nice honor to them that we could have one more game in front of them and really play well. I’m just proud of the seniors and proud of the team.”
Colorado College (14-4-5), who entered the game riding an eight-game unbeaten streak, was unable to keep pace with the Pioneers, finding the back of the net only once in 90 minutes when Kaeli Vandersluis was able to send one past senior goalkeeper Lara Campbell.
During the contest, Campbell posted four key saves and recorded her school record 61st career win.
Looking forward, the Pioneers will travel to Palo Alto, Calif., for the second round of the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in program history. Denver will take on No. 4 Maryland at Stanford at 5:30 p.m. on Friday in search of the team’s first-ever Sweet 16 appearance.
The Pioneers are 2-7 all-time in NCAA Tournament games. Denver’s last trip to the NCAA postseason was in 2009, when the team fell 4-0 to No. 2 Portland.
UPDATED, NOV. 10, 9:30 P.M., ANNA GAULDIN: Story was updated with quotation from Kaitlin Bast in fifth paragraph to add additional perspective.
UPDATED, NOV. 12, 8:15 P.M., ANNA GAULDIN: Story was updated to include information about upcoming game in second-to-last paragraph.
