Nov. 6, 2002
Box Score
MOBILE, Ala. - The 18th-ranked University of Denver women's soccer team used a 13-3 shot advantage and Arkansas State gave Denver its first goal on an own goal in the 41st minute as the Pioneers won their 13th game in a row with a 2-0 win over Arkansas State in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Wednesday night at The Cage at the University of South Alabama. The Pioneers improved their record to 15-1-2 on the season and will take on fifth-seeded Western Kentucky tomorrow in the semifinals at 3 p.m.
The Pioneers dominated play throughout, registering a 13-3 shot advantage and not allowing an Arkansas State shot until 13 minutes to go in the game. The Pioneers kept the ball on the ASU side of the field for nearly the entire game, as Denver had 14 corner kicks to just one for the Indians.
Denver got on the scoreboard first in the 41st minute after missing three earlier chances, as junior Jenni Harris (Littleton, Colo.) attempted a cross from the right side of the field that was accidentally put into ASU's own goal by an Indian player, giving the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers had some excellent chances to take the lead earlier, as Harris missed on an opportunity and ASU's goalkeeper Adrienne Mann made a great save on a shot by sophomore Maggie Kirchhoff (Redondo Beach, Calif.) from about 30 yards out that kept the Indians in the game and down just 1-0 at halftime.
The second half began much like the first, as the Pioneers missed on a couple very good opportunities to get the insurance goal they wanted before they finally broke through late in the game. Harris had another great opportunity in the 55th minute on a shot just inside the 18-yard line that was saved by Mann and senior Camile Flenniken (Northglenn, Colo.) had a shot bounce off the cross bar just five minutes later that would have given Denver a nearly insurmountable 2-0 lead.
But the insurance goal would come for Denver in the 76th minute, as senior Kerri Weaver (Littleton, Colo.) found the back of the net off a pass from junior Mychael Movius (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) off a corner kick that gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. Denver would add one more just over six minutes later as senior Kristin Warren (Littleton, Colo.) blasted home another pass from Movius from about 40 yards out that gave Denver a 3-0 lead that would stand as the final.
Denver goalkeeper Erica Izard (Fort Collins, Colo.) stopped the only two Arkansas State shots she faced and recorded her seventh consecutive shutout. She also extended her own school record with her 42nd career shutout.
The Pioneers won despite miserable field conditions due to a downpour Tuesday and unprecedented rain in lower Alabama in the past month, and three games played on the field before Denver's. All games Wednesday were pushed back 90 minutes to give the field more time to dry out.
The Pioneers play the fifth-seeded Western Kentucky on Thursday at 3 p.m. in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The Lady Toppers earned the berth with a 2-1 win over fourth-seeded Louisiana-Lafayette earlier in the day.
