Western Illinois 0-1 Denver

MACOMB, Ill. - Senior forward Anna Willis (Centennial, Colo.) found the back of the net right on the hour mark to lead the University of Denver women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Western Illinois on Sunday afternoon at John MacKenzie Alumni Field. The goal was Willis's third of the season, and doubled Denver's (6-7-1, 2-2-0 Summit) point total in league play.

"I thought Anna was the Man of the Match in every aspect today," head coach Jeff Hooker said. "We did a great job of moving on from Friday. After losing one of our best players, and captains, in the first minute, I thought we responded very well as a team. Even though we didn't get a goal in it, I thought the first half is one of the best 45 minute spans we've played all year. I'm very happy with how we played, and am very happy to get the win."

Redshirt-sophomore Francesca Garzelloni (Parker, Colo.) went down in the first minute, and was subbed off. Garzelloni did return to the bench, but did not play the final 89 minutes.

The Pioneers dominated the scoring opportunities in the opening 45 minutes, outshooting the Leathernecks 16-1, and putting seven of their 16 shots on target. Western Illinois' (2-11-1, 1-2-0 Summit) lone shot of the first half came in the fourth minute, but junior Tina Vargas (Issaquah, Wash.) made the save. Vargas made her fourth-consecutive start on Sunday, and the fifth of her career in the absence of 2013 Summit League Goalkeeper of the Year Cassidy Rey (Arcadia, Calif.).

Denver also got nine corner kicks out of the opening half, but weren't able to convert and the two teams went into the intermission scoreless.

The Crimson and Gold continued to bring the pressure out of the locker room, and on their 18th shot of the day, the Pioneers found the breakthrough off the head of Willis. Junior Stella Norman (Lakewood, Colo.) got free on the right side, and played a perfect cross to Willis who scored against Western Illinois for the second time in as many meetings.

"We didn't play as much through the midfield as we normally do today, but I thought the forwards made some great runs all day," Hooker said. "Tina had to make one good save in each half today, and she did just that."

DU outshot Western Illinois 22-4 in the match, and took the only 12 corner kicks in the match. The Pioneers put 11 of their 22 shots on target Sunday.

Denver is off for a full week before returning to CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium to take on South Dakota. Kickoff for the Summit League match is set for 12 p.m. MT.

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 Ritchie Center box office or through DenverPioneers.com by clicking here.

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