Oct. 15, 2006

Box Score

DENVER - The University of Denver women's soccer team extended it's winning streak to eight games after a 7-0 win at home over Sun Belt Conference opponents Arkansas State on Sunday. The eight-game winning streak is the longest for the Pioneers since 2002.

DU (12-2-1, 8-0-0) started strong in the first half and jumped on the Lady Indians early when senior Lleane Grimditch (Boulder, Colo.) put a rebound shot into the net in the fifth minute for her eighth goal of the season. This was Grimditch's team leading fourth game-winning goal of the season.

Freshman Lizzy Carlson (Honolulu, Hawaii) followed up Grimdtich's goal with one of her own, putting a rebound off the post into the net in the 13th minute. Carlson netted her second goal on the day in the 54th minute bringing her total to seven on the season. Carlson's 17 points are fourth on the team and first among freshman.

Junior Taryn Hemmings tallied her team leading 10th assist of the season when she set up senior Holly Huppert's (Littleton, Colo.) third goal of the season in the 31st minute. Going into the weekend Hemmings was ranked 21st nationally in assists per game, that will undoubtedly rise after her two assists on the weekend. Hemmings' 10 assists puts her second on the programs single season list, just four behind Jamie Norwood (2002).

"We're all playing together really well," said Hemmings. "We are seeing each other better and we played a great game today."

The Pioneers controlled the play throughout the first half, not allowing a single shot for the Lady Indians. Meanwhile the Pioneers peppered Arkansas State goalkeeper Kelly Goodman, shooting the ball 15 times forcing Goodman to make four saves.

"We were much sharper and we controlled the ball very well in the first half," head coach Jeff Hooker said. "I think we played a more complete game today."

In the second half the pitch was still tilted toward Arkansas State goalkeeper Brielan Smiechowski. The Pioneers did not allow a shot until the 53rd minute of the game. Goalkeepers senior Dani Wiley (Littleton, Colo.) and freshman Mackenzie Snyder (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) had another uneventful day having to make only one save between them and just two all weekend. With the win, Wiley is now one win away from moving into a second place tie with Jen Simmons (1998) with 44 wins.

Denver was ranked 11 in the country in scoring offense heading into weekend at 2.69 goals per game. The 16 Pioneer goals over the weekend will raise their average to 3.4 goals per game which could move them as high as fourth in the country.

The Pioneers take on Sun Belt Conference co-leaders Middle Tennessee at home on Friday Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m. and Western Kentucky on Sunday Oct. 22 at 1:15.