Box Score DENTON, Texas For the second-consecutive game, sophomore forward Mariah Johnston (Littleton, Colo.) scored a golden goal in overtime, lifting the University of Denver women’s soccer team to a 3-2 victory at North Texas in the Pioneers’ final regular season game.
The win secures the No. 3 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament for the Pioneers (10-4-4, 7-2-2 SBC), who ended the season in a tie with Middle Tennessee, but the Blue Raiders earned the No. 2 seed based on their win on Oct. 26 in the only meeting between the schools.
After a scoreless first half, North Texas (13-6, 7-4 SBC) pulled ahead in the 55th minute, when Janaye Woods scored on a breakaway from 15 yards out.
Denver knotted it again in the 75th minute, when freshman forward Lauren Cavarra (Littleton, Colo.) scored off a rebound in the box.
Freshman defender Jessie Rogers (Fort Collins, Colo.) put DU ahead seven minutes later, heading in a free kick from senior defender Elise Mascitelli (Denver, Colo.).
North Texas’ Veronica Ayala responded just 37 seconds later, burying a deflection in the box and forcing overtime.
Johnston ended the game at the 93:48 mark on an unassisted goal on the left side from 20 yards out.
The Pioneers head to Mobile, Ala., for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Nov. 7-10.
