MONROE, La. The University of Denver women’s soccer team used a pair of second-half goals by senior midfielder Taryn Hemmings (Greeley, Colo.) to defeat the University of Louisiana at Monroe 2-1 at the ULM Soccer Complex on Friday afternoon.

 

Denver (8-1-1, 1-0-0 SBC) improved its current winning streak to four games, while ULM (3-5-0, 0-1-0 SBC) dropped its fifth straight match.

 

“It was a good team effort to come back and get the win in the second half,” head coach Jeff Hooker said. “We took too many offsides calls, but it’s exciting to get our first conference win of the season.”

 

Hemmings tallied the game-winner, her third deciding goal of the season, in the 75th minute. ULM goalkeeper Mallory George got a hand on the ball but was unable to gain control, and it crept across the line to give the Pioneers the lead.

 

“We did a good job of connecting passes in the second half,” Hooker said. “We were able to spring Taryn on the right side and send the ball through to her. Overall, we did a good job of keeping possession in the second half.”

 

The Pioneers immediately put pressure on the ULM defense and George. Hemmings nailed a shot off the post 2:33 into the match, and junior midfielder Kelli Breidenbach (Fort Collins, Colo.) sent the rebound just over the net.

 

Hemmings placed a pair of shots on goal before junior forward Mariah Johnston (Littleton, Colo.) and sophomore forward Lauren Cavarra (Littleton, Colo.) also tested George with shots on target.

 

However, ULM took a 1-0 lead 35:27 into the match on a goal by Tiffany Bombard. The Pioneers failed to clear a corner kick by Britnie Markham, and Bombard sent the ball far post through the DU defense and junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Snyder (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.). Emily LyBarger and Megan Payne assisted on the goal.

 

The Warhawks had another solid scoring opportunity in the 43rd minute. ULM’s Kelly Browne rifled a shot toward the net, but Snyder made the save.

 

The Pioneers headed into halftime trailing the Warhawks 1-0 despite outshooting the home team six to two in the opening stanza.

 

Hemmings evened the score at one apiece just 7:33 into the half when she beat George on a breakaway. The midfielder collected a ball played past the Warhawks’ high defensive line and dribbled down the left side. She beat George one-on-one to put Denver on the board.

 

The Pioneers had a chance to take the lead in the 63rd minute. The referee awarded DU a penalty kick, but Cavarra’s shot went just wide of the net.

 

However, Denver took the lead and never looked back when Hemmings tallied her second goal of the game with 15:32 remaining. The Pioneers kept the pressure on until time ran out as Hemmings, junior forward Brooke Lamphere (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and senior midfielder Emily Hines (Albuquerque, N.M.) all recorded shots in the last 10 minutes.

 

Snyder finished with one save, while George made three for the Warhawks.

 

Denver continues its opening weekend of SBC action at Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday at noon MT. Next weekend, DU returns to Pioneer Field to face Florida International on Friday, Oct. 3 at 1:45 p.m. and Florida Atlantic on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 11:30 a.m.

 

 

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