Pioneers Down Coyotes 4-0

Box Score

VERMILLION, S.D. – The University of Denver women’s soccer team picked up another win on the road shutting out the University of South Dakota 4-0 on Sunday at the USD Soccer Complex in Vermillion, S.D. Four different Pioneers cored to help Denver remain a perfect 5-0 in league play and improve to 14-1-1 overall.

“The first half had some challenging elements with 20 mile-per-hour winds in our face, so we felt fortunate to have Pappalardo put us up by a goal at half,” said head coach Jeff Hooker. “With the wind at our backs in the second half it was a little more pleasant. It was great to keep the shutout and I felt like we played solidly all the way to the end and kept the integrity of the game to the standard we had hoped. Overall a nice weekend with several players contributing in many different areas.”

Less than eight minutes into the action, junior Nikki Pappalardo (San Diego. Calif.) put Denver up 1-0 off a pass from senior Kristen Hamilton (Littleton, Colo.).

In the second half, senior Nicholette DiGiacomo (Golden, Colo.) got a goal in the 70th minute of play as she converted a cross from junior Anna Willis (Centennial, Colo.).

Redshirt freshman Francesca Garzelloni (Parker, Colo.) made it 3-0 Pioneers after converting a cross from outside the right side of the box from senior Sara Riazi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.). Less than six minutes later, Pappalardo provided the pass to senior Stephanie Woo (San Mateo, Calif.) who scored the final goal of the game, putting Denver up 4-0.  

Freshman goalie Cassidy Rey (Arcadia, Calif.) finished with three saves, posting her 10th game without allowing a goal while between the pipes.

“Although we did give up a quality chance to South Dakota on a breakaway, Cassidy made a great save to keep us ahead,” Hooker said. “After that we settled down and did a better job of keeping the ball and our composure around the box was much better. Nicholette s second goal gave us some breathing room and Fran and Woo had two very nice goals as well.”

Denver finished with 14 shots to South Dakota’s 6.

The Pioneers next host South Dakota State on Friday, Oct. 25 at 12 p.m. at CIBER Field.

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