DU Women’s Soccer lost to South Dakota State on their home turf this past Friday, Sept. 29, when in overtime Marisa Schulz scored for South Dakota resulting in a 2-1 final score. The Pioneers took a fifth-minute lead when Jessie Dancy (Park City, Utah) scored her seventh goal of her campaign. But, it wasn’t enough, as Schulz answered back with a goal from the top of the box, ending the Summit League opening game as a loss for the Denver Pioneers.
Denver led at the half, 1-0, but South Dakota State equalized quickly out of the locker room off of Nicole Hatcher’s fourth goal of the season. South Dakota State’s, Annie Williams, played her free kick into the penalty area to an unmarked Hatcher who scored from eight yards out.
Heading into overtime, the Pioneers almost saw victory when in the 95th minute senior Riley Welch (Littleton, Colo.) attempted a goal, but was blocked by South Dakota goalkeeper, Maggie Smither, who recorded six saves on the night to keep the teams level.
Off a Denver corner, South Dakota State saw their game-winning attack with the final two passes coming from Darien Poelstra and Hatcher to set up Schulz for the win.
Denver’s Dancy became the fifth Denver player since the 2006 season to score at least seven goals in their first 12 games of the campaign when she headed home a Hannah Adler (Oak Park, Calif.) cross 4:44 into the match. The senior joined former Pioneers, Francesca Garzelloni (2013), Kristen Hamilton (2011 and 2012), Kaitlin Bast (2009 and 2010) and Taryn Hemmings (2008) on that list.
Freshman midfielder, Brittany Lewis (Centennial, Colo.) assisted Dancy’s play, sending a cross field pass to the right to the run of Adler. The DU sophomore swung in her cross just outside the six yard box, and Dancy put her glancing header into the side netting.
The soccer team faced the North Dakota State Bison on Sunday on their home turf, and won 3-0. Dancy scored in the 30th and 37th minutes and junior outside back Hannah Bricker (Fort Collins, Colo.) curled a free kick in the 60th minute.
Head coach Jeff Hooker commented on the difference of play between Friday’s and Sunday’s games: “Everyone was strong on the ball today, and everyone looked to play team soccer, after I thought we were a little too individualistic on Friday night.”
DU Women’s soccer heads to Vermillion, South Dakota this Friday to face the University of South Dakota, followed by another away game in Tulsa, Oklahoma against Oral Roberts University on Oct. 12.
