Having lost only two Summit League games since 2018, the University of Denver women’s soccer team has been consistently excellent, and this year is no different. The team has a 7-0 record to start their conference schedule. Notably, they have done this despite injuries to multiple key contributors, most notably graduate senior captain and defender Taylor Parker (Aurora, Colo.). 

Losing a two-time first-team all Summit league player would spell serious trouble for most teams, but not DU. They have responded with four straight dominant wins, outscoring their opponents 18-1 in that span. 

Coach Jeff Hooker attributes this to the team’s depth.

“This group is very deep with talent that can come off the bench, and a good example of that is we have lost three of the four possible starting defenders, yet our backline is still super strong,” he said. 

One example of that depth is junior defender Hannah Gallegos (Los Ranchos, N.M.), who has been excellent while filling in for the injured Parker. Gallegos’s play has impressed her teammates.

“With Taylor Parker being out, Hannah Gallegos was able to step in, and she’s been doing an amazing job. It’s fun to watch her play so well. We still miss Taylor Parker, but it’s awesome to see Hannah Gallegos stepping up,” said senior captain and forward Natalie Beckman (Denver, Colo.).

The banged-up backline has held up well so far, but their biggest tests are yet to come. With South Dakota State and South Dakota—respectively ranked second and third in the Summit League standings—coming to Denver next weekend, the team will have to be on its A-game. 

Despite the challenge, Coach Hooker is treating these games the same way he would any other.

“No different than any other weekend, we are thinking about the game tomorrow vs North Dakota State first, it is difficult to win on the road, especially during conference play,” he said.

Junior forward Sydney Sharp (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) stressed the importance of practicing with intensity.

“Every morning when we go out to practice, we are treating it like it is the biggest practice of our lives. This mindset has certainly been effective for Sharp, who has scored a goal in eight straight games. She hasn’t let the success get to her head, however, saying that the goal streak is mostly due to “being in the right place at the right time and having great players distributing the ball to me,” she said.

DU will certainly be ready for the competition, as they are no strangers to facing high-quality opposition. The team has already faced multiple big-conference opponents in their non-conference slate. While they had mixed success in those games, being on the field with elite teams was a valuable experience. 

“Our non-conference schedule was really tough this year, which was honestly one of the best things our coaches could have done for us. It helped us get ready for a deep conference run,” Beckman said.

Coach Hooker explained that those tough games challenge them in a helpful way.

“[They] help us solve more problems because teams will come out and play us in a different way. We have seen different formations, we have seen different styles, and by playing those better teams, it has really prepared us,” he said. 

The program’s success is more than just X’s and O’s, it is due to a culture that has been built over the years. This is what attracted Gallegos to the program. 

“The team chemistry was one of the reasons I committed here, everyone treated each other like family,” Gallegos said. “Our strong chemistry is what has made us so successful in league play.” 

Coach Hooker attributes this chemistry and camaraderie to the type of people that are brought into the program.

“We recruit good kids. We recruit kids that like to compete and like to win, but more than that, you have to get kids that compete every day at a high level. They are willing to be critiqued and willing to get better. We have a lot of coachable players, and they do a great job not only listening but applying what we tell them,” he said. 

This culture has been passed down through the years, with each senior class providing their own special leadership that can be passed down to the next group of players.

“The past four years we have always had great leadership. Each time a class graduates, a new one is ready to step in and be leaders,” Beckman said.   

To see the DU women’s soccer team in action, come out and cheer them on for their last two regular-season home games on Oct. 29 against South Dakota and Oct. 31 against South Dakota State.