The women’s soccer team had its fair share of success this year, from attaining the second highest winning percentage in Division I to hosting the NCAA first round tournament for the second time in school history.

The upcoming season promises a continuation of this season’s accomplishments, with an outstanding 2014 class coming in next year, according to head coach Jeff Hooker. The incoming class includes forwards Lauren Conley, Jessica Dancy, Jocelyn Loomis, and Riley Welch; midfielders Makenzie Bothner and Angelica Pacheco; defenders Jacquelyn Dutton and Randee Holman-Kelley; and goalkeeper Kendall Mulvaney. They will play postseason ranked No. 23, and have 20 games scheduled currently for the fall, 9 of them away games, of which will include five teams who played in the NCAA tournament, Texas Tech, Colorado College, Cal St. Fullerton, Colorado, and BYU. They will also be hosting the Summit Tournament from November 7-9 for the first time in school history.

Along with hosting the first round of the NCAA tournament and earning an automatic bid to the tournament, they also competed in and won the Colorado Cup, Summit League regular season and tournament. They ended the season ranked No. 24 nationally.
According to Hooker, the win against 20th-ranked BYU was especially memorable due to the numerous hardships surrounding the game, one of which was the replacement of the starting goalkeeper, Cassidy Rey, who was out with a concussion. Amelia Davis, the senior goalkeeper, stepped in and ensured not one, but two wins, as she also had to compete in the UCSB game.
Despite the loss of several key players last season, according to senior Nicholette DiGiacomo, the team improved substantially on an individual level. The Pios went 18-2-1 overall and 7-0 in conference play. Hooker received his 300th win this season. They remained in the top 25 rankings nationally throughout the entirety of the season, fluctuating between No. 17 and No. 19, eventually ending the season ranked No. 14 overall.

Senior forward Kristen Hamilton became a two-time All-American and became DU’s all-time leader in points (138) and goals (51). Hamilton also became the first Pioneer to be selected in the National Women’s Soccer League draft by the Western New York Flash. DiGiacomo was voted an All-American and became DU’s all-time career assist co-leader (39). This season’s senior class was the fourth most winning class, with an overall record of 70-12-6.

“This is not just a team, but we are a family,” said DiGiacomo. “What the DU soccer program has created is something special and it has been a honor to be apart of. These past four years have flown by, and it’s sad to see it come to an end, but I can’t imagine going anywhere else or changing a thing.”