Denver Erases Two-Goal Deficit, Ties Texas 3-3

Box Score

AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Denver women's soccer team scored twice in the final eight minutes to come from behind to split the points with the University of Texas, 3-3 on Sunday evening at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

"You have to say when you're 3-1 down, you're more than happy to get two back," head coach Jeff Hooker said. "We showed a lot of character on the road today against a very good Texas team. They have some very, very talented players. I'm just so proud of how we continued to battle tonight. We had goals coming from everywhere, and showed a never-ending willingness to attack."

As the Pioneers have done all season, the three DU goals came from three different players. On Sunday, Denver got goals from senior forward Kaitlin Bast (Centennial, Colo.), junior midfielder Nicholette DiGiacomo (Golden, Colo.) and junior forward Kristen Hamilton (Littleton, Colo.).

The Longhorns (3-6-1) opened the scoring in the 29th minute, a goal that began off a Julie Arnold restart. Arnold played the free kick into senior goalkeeper Lara Campbell's (Anchorage, Alaska) six-yard box. The free kick deflected off Campbell's gloves, and after a scrum in the box, Sharis Lachappelle got on the end of it, and found the back of the net.

Denver (6-1-2) leveled the match on Bast's third goal of the season. Sophomore midfielder Anna Willis (Centennial, Colo.) played a cross on the ground to Bast to start the 32nd-minute equalizer. The Pioneer senior turned her defender on the penalty spot and finished her 12-yard strike into the bottom-right corner.

Hannah Higgins made it 2-1 in the 50th minute, beating the Pioneers' offside trap on a ball over the top from Allison Smith.

Gabby Zarnegar made it 3-1 on another set-piece goal for the Longhorns. Lachappelle served a corner kick into the area that turned into a scrum inside the Denver six-yard box. Lindsey Meyer took the first two cracks at goal as a result of the scrum, with her second deflecting off a Pioneer defender to the feet of Zarnegar who knocked it into an open net.

Hamilton created the Pioneers second goal in the 83rd minute, drawing a free kick inches outside the penalty area to set up a 28-yard DiGiacomo restart that beat U-20 U.S. National and Texas goalkeeper Abby Smith inside the near post.

Denver equalized in the 85th minute as Bast slid a ball behind the Longhorn's backline to Hamilton who sent a rocket past Smith to make the score 3-3. Denver's third goal came on its third shot on goal of the match.

Despite only putting three shots on target in regulation, DU held a 16-12 edge in shots. The Pioneers outshot the Longhorns 3-1 in extra time.

Denver will return to CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium next Friday as the Pioneers conclude their three-game Big 12 stretch against TCU at 7 p.m. MT.

Individual game tickets during the 2012 season are $10 for a reserved seatback and $5 for general admission, and may be purchased by phone at 303-871-2336, online at DenverPioneers.com or in person at the Ritchie Center Box Office. DU students are free with a Pioneer Card. For group ticket discounts of 20 or more, please call/e-mail Adam Sizemore at 303-871-2389.