DENVER Sophomore Ali Flury (Arnold, Md.) posted five goals, including four in the second half, as the No. 16 Pioneers defeated the Duquesne Dukes 14-11 at Barton Stadium on Tuesday evening.

 

“I thought we came out strong in the second half after a poor shooting performance in the first half,” said head coach Liza Kelly. “But we are happy to come away with the win.”

 

Denver (2-2) started strong, scoring on three free shots in the first ten minutes. Juniors Steph Coyne (Baltimore, Md.) and Karen Morton (Adelaide, Australia) scored the first two goals for Denver, and freshman Carrie Gamper (Towson, Md.) followed with her first career goal.

 

Duquesne (0-4) gained momentum, scoring five unanswered goals before the half. Meghan Frederick, Kathleen McNish, and Shannon Hadaway each accounted for one goal, while Sarah Cates notched two to set the Dukes ahead 5-3 at the break.

 

Lexi Sanders (Greenwood Village, Colo.) and Gamper each scored quick goals to start the second half, tying the score at five.

 

Duquesne’s Janna Faulkner answered with a goal two minutes later, but was soon followed by a pair from Megan Carver (Baltimore, Md.) and Flury to give the Pioneers a one goal lead.

 

After the Dukes tied the score again, Cates scored on a free position shot with an empty net, giving Duquesne the 8-7 lead.

 

The Pioneers went on a five-goal scoring streak Coyne and Carver each scored one, and Flury scored three - to take their largest lead of the night at 12-8.

 

Flury and Morton each scored one more, and Duquesne added three more goals to finalize the 14-11 win for Denver.

 

Goalkeepers Becky Childs (Phoenix, Md.) and Gold split halves in the game. Childs had two saves in the first and Gold had seven in the second. Duquesne goalkeeper Caitlin Carducci had 12 saves.

 

The Pioneers continue their home stretch Sunday against No. 10 Georgetown. Denver will take on the Hoyas at Barton Stadium at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the Ritchie Center Box Office and through Ticketmaster.