Box Score DENVER - The University of Denver women's soccer team fought to a 1-1 double overtime tie against No. 13 University of Illinois at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium in the final game of the 2009 DU Invitational.
Capitalizing on the first shot, just 3:42 into the game, freshman Kaitlin Bast (Centennial, Colo.) scored her first career goal with seniors Mariah Johnston (Littleton, Colo.) and Lizzy Carlson (Honolulu, Hawaii) assisting on the play.
The Pioneers held the one goal advantage until junior Cory Steigerwald scored the equalizer for the Illini in the 80th minute of the game, forcing overtime.
After a relatively quiet first extra period, with Illinois getting the only one shot on net coming, the second saw strong offensive pushes from both sides. With 4:50 left in the second overtime, senior Emily Stewart (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) blocked Illinois' Jordan Hilbrands' open-net shot.
With the Pioneers outshot 23-5 in the contest, Stewart's effort was indicative of the strong Denver defense present the entire game, adding to freshman goalkeeper Lara Campbell (Anchorage, Alaska), who had six saves in the game.
"We were pleased with the overall effort. Illinois is one of the best teams in the country right now," head coach Jeff Hooker said. "We're young and still getting better. This was a good test for us early in the season."
In earlier action from the second day of the DU Invitational, the University of Colorado defeated St. Mary's College, 8-1.
The DU Invitational marked the official opening of the new DU Soccer Stadium, which Hooker called, "one of the best fields in the country."
The 2009 DU Invitational All-Tournament Team:
Krystin Miller, defender, Illinois
Jordan Hilbrands, forward, Illinois
Marissa Mykines, midfielder, Illinois
Lara Campbell, goalkeeper, Denver
Katy Van Lieshout, midfielder, Denver
Emily Stewart, defender, Denver
Kelly Butler, midfielder, Colorado
Kate Russell, midfielder, Colorado
Nikki Marshall, forward/defender, Colorado
Daelyn Paul, midfielder, St. Mary's
Jessica Menzhuber, forward, St. Mary's
Next, the Pioneers will travel up to Boulder, Colo. to face the University of Colorado in the CU Invitational on Sept. 4 at 4 p.m., followed by Colgate on Sept. 6 at 11 a.m.
