DENVER – The No. 17 University of Denver women’s soccer team shut out Western Illinois 2-0 on Friday night. Denver improved to 11-1-1 on the season and 2-0 in The Summit League. Western Illinois dropped to 6-7-1 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

“We got a shutout, which was impressive. In the final third we could have been a little bit sharper,” head coach Jeff Hooker stated. “Keeping the width a little bit more, getting to the end line a little bit more, things like that, but we’ll take the win and the shutout. Collectively, a very good team win.”

Junior Anna Willis (Centennial, Colo.) netted her third goal of the season in the 17th minute of the match to put the Pioneers up 1-0. Senior Kristen Hamilton (Littleton, Colo.) took a shot from the top of the six yard box that deflected off of the Western Illinois keeper right to the foot of Willis, who buried the ball in the back of the net. Willis finished the game with two shots, both of which were on frame.

Less than five minutes into the second half, redshirt-freshman Francesca Garzelloni (Parker, Colo.) increased Denver’s lead to 2-0 after scoring off of a pass from Hamilton. Hamilton beat the left-back to the end line and slotted the ball back to the six-yard box, where Garzelloni one-timed it passed the goalie.

The Pioneers outshot the Leathernecks 18-5, recording 11 of those shots on goal. Hamilton tallied four-of-four shots on goal and redshirt-sophomore Nikki Pappalardo (San Diego, Calif.) added four, while Willis and senior Cassidy Larson (Eldorado Springs, Colo.) each had two.

Freshman Cassidy Rey (Arcadia, Calif.) finished the game with one save in 70 minutes of play and senior Amelia Davis (Palisade, Colo.) tallied two in the remaining 20 minutes.

The Pioneers take on IUPUI at CIBER Field on Sunday at 12 p.m.

 

Don’t miss out on Pioneer soccer action this fall. Individual game tickets are on sale now. Fans interested in purchasing tickets can do so by phone at 303-871-2336, in person at the Richie Center box office or through DenverPioneers.com.

 

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