Despite the unforgiving cold, the semi-final clash of the Summit League Championships on Oct. 29 saw the Crimson and Gold and Omaha Mavericks take to the field with unwavering determination. This fiercely contested battle extended into triple overtime, culminating in a 2-2 tie that eventually went to Omaha in a final shootout.

The match began with a swift offensive thrust from DU, as senior midfielder Vanessa Murray unleashed a shot on goal within the first minute of action. Omaha, however, responded in an intense assault on the defense. Senior defender Jordan Crockett stood out for her steadfast efforts, continually pushing back Omaha’s formidable offensive line.

Thirteen minutes into the game, Omaha broke the deadlock when redshirt sophomore Alyssa Kellar found the net in the lower left corner. Denver, led by freshman goalkeeper Molly Wissman, launched a relentless counterattack, narrowly missing another close shot due to Omaha’s resolute defense.

The tension reached its peak when, just seven minutes after Omaha’s goal, graduate student Kaitlyn Glover surged forward and slotted the ball into the lower left corner, leveling the score. The second half commenced with Omaha’s renewed offensive vigor, and three minutes in, redshirt senior Regen Zimmers scored in the high left corner.

The clock was ticking for DU, and freshman midfielder Liv Mortiz and sophomore midfielder Hannah Tate spearheaded the offensive charge. Denver peppered the goal with five more shots, but the breakthrough remained elusive.

In a heart-pounding finale, junior midfielder Jadyn Goodrich’s dramatic last-minute goal secured a tie in the semi-final game, leading both teams to an intense overtime. 

As minutes turned into hours, the match ventured into triple overtime, with palpable tension in the air. Despite their unwavering efforts, neither side managed to find the decisive goal, resulting in a hard-fought and well-deserved tie, a testament to the grit and resilience of both teams. The resulting shootout was nothing short of a nail-biter but ended in Omaha’s victory in a 3-2 close match.

The Crimson and Gold will not move on to the Summit League Championships, but both teams put on a fervent effort throughout the season. DU will be looking to continue their dominating status in the offseason, in which they will continue to harness their training for next year. The NCAA Selection Show will be held on Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. ET, with the final four matchups taking place on Friday, Dec. 1.