Box Score TROY, Ala. - Sophomore midfielder
Katy Van Lieshout (Boulder, Colo.), freshman forward
Kristen Hamilton (Littleton, Colo.), freshman midfielder
Nicholette DiGiacomo (Golden, Colo.) and junior midfielder
Kari Storslett (Bakersfield, Calif.) scored to give No. 22 Denver a 4-0 victory over Troy on Sunday afternoon.
The Pioneers (12-2, 6-0 SBC) are the only undefeated team in the Sun Belt Conference.
"We came away from this weekend with two road wins, which is difficult to do in this conference," head coach Jeff Hooker said. "We took care of business and controlled our own destiny in securing our current standing as the number one team in the Sun Belt Conference."
Van Lieshout scored in just the second minute of play against the Trojans (8-5-1, 3-3 SBC) after receiving the rebound from a shot by DiGiacomo and striking the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
"The Trojans did a good job of trying to counterattack us, but we broke the team down and Katy Van Lieshout scored an early goal, which took the pressure off of us," Hooker commented.
Sophomore forward Kaitlin Bast (Centennial, Colo.) assisted in Denver's second goal, when she dribbled up the right side of the pitch and served the ball into the box to Hamilton's feet. Hamilton then turned her defender and scored past the goalkeeper on the ground in the 47th minute.
"We really made the other team come out and play, which benefited us because it allowed all 20 players to play and let our depth show," Hooker said. "Kristen Hamilton's goal was crucial and the other two were icing on the cake."
DiGiacomo scored off a corner kick from Hamilton and a pass from junior midfielder Bria Beardsley (Mission Viejo, Calif.) in the 71st minute. Storslett also scored off a corner kick from junior midfielder Alison Kenney (Fort Collins, Colo.) and a pass from Hamilton in the 76th minute.
"We are currently in first place, but we have five more games to go, and if we are fortunate enough to win the next five games, we will have the first place seed in the tournament," concluded Hooker.
Denver outshot Troy 19-3 and had a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks. Sophomore goalkeeper Lara Campbell (Anchorage Alaska) recorded two saves and combined with sophomore goalkeeper Maria Khan (Aurora, Colo.) for Denver's fifth shutout in six SBC games.
The Pioneers return home to CIBER Field to face Florida Atlantic on Friday, Oct. 15, and Florida International on Sunday, Oct. 17.
