Sept. 29, 2002

Box Score

JONESBORO, ARK. - The University of Denver women's soccer team averted disaster on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 29) with two late-game goals to sneak by Arkansas State, 2-1 at ASU Soccer Complex. The Pioneers, winners of five consecutive, improve to 6-1-2 overall, 2-0 in Sun Belt Conference play. Arkansas State suffers its eighth straight loss and falls to 2-8-0 overall, 0-2 in the SBC.

After a scoreless first half, ASU got on the scoreboard first when Jamey Spear finessed a shot into the goal off a pass from Sheri Kiser in the 56th minute. The goal marked Spear's fourth of the year. Denver tied the score on a 20-yard goal from Jenni Harris (Littleton, Colo.) on a pass from senior forward Kerri Weaver (Littleton, Colo.) in the 61st minute. On the game-winning goal, senior captain Kristin Warren (Littleton, Colo.) took the ball into the penalty box and booted the ball into the left side of the net, scoring her fourth goal and second game-winner of the season. Warren moves into a tie for third place on Denver's all-time list with seven career game-winners (Michelle Richie).

Defense played the key role for both teams throughout the match. Denver, picked to win the Sun Belt by the coaches' preseason poll, kept the ball out of its penalty area for most of the game while ASU rallied behind goalkeeper Adrienne Mann, who finished the game with nine saves. Mann, who started the first four games, made her second start since returning from an injury.

The Pioneers out shot the Lady Indians 19-5 and had seven corner kicks in the victory. Senior keeper Erica Izard (Fort Collins, Colo.) turned away two shots in the game to record her 41st career win.

Denver will step out of conference play for one game against rocky mountain rival Wyoming on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 2) at 4 p.m., and then finish the week's action with a Friday afternoon (Oct. 4) tilt against North Texas in a Sun Belt Conference showdown at 4 p.m.