Sept. 6, 2014 DENVER - The University of Denver women's soccer team will play its second of eight-straight matches in the state of Colorado on Sunday, when the Pioneers welcome [RV/24] Kansas to CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium Sunday for a 12:05 p.m. MT kickoff. Altitude will air the match live, with Mike Evans and 2014 Pioneer grad Kristen Hamilton (Littleton, Colo.) on the call.
HEAD COACH Jeff Hooker
University of Denver head coach Jeff Hooker is into his 23rd campaign at the helm. The nine-time conference coach of the year will look to reach double digits in NCAA Tournament appearances this season, trying to make it three in a row for the program. With over 300 wins already to his name, Hooker has a 307-108-39 DU women's record, and a 327-120-43 all-time record. The veteran head man also spent two seasons with the DU men's program, recording a 20-12-4 mark while being in-charge of both programs.
QUICK STARTS
The Pioneers took the lead in the first minute against Colorado College on Aug. 24, the fastest in a match for DU since Kalie Vaughn netted the opener in the first 23 seconds against Drake on Sept. 6, 2010. Denver has scored first in all six matches this season (including the two exhibitions), with five of the six breakthroughs coming in the first half.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
On Aug. 29 at Cal State Fullerton Jocelyn Loomis converted her first collegiate penalty kick in the 110th minute to send DU to its first victory of the season by a count of 2-1 in southern California. The goal was Denver's latest (by time remaining in overtime) in its Division I history. In 2011, Denver's Kristen Hamilton scored a pair of 109th minute goals in 2011, the two latest goals prior to the Loomis' winner. Denver's latest goal by time in DI history came in the 116th minute when Kerrie Weaver scored in a 4-3 win over Air Force when the overtimes used to be played in two 15 minute intervals. Loomis also scored in the 90th minute on Sept. 5 to avoid extra time and defeat Detroit 1-0. That goal was the latest DU goal in regulation since Anna Willis scored with 19 seconds to go to pad last season's regular season win over Colorado to 3-0. Loomis's winner was the latest regulation game-winner since Kristen Hamilton scored in the 90th-minute on Aug. 25, 2011, to defeat Nebraska 3-2.
DENVER DEBUTS
Three Pioneer freshmen made their debuts in California last weekend, including Jackie Dutton,who made her debut in a starting centerback role at Cal State Fullerton. Randee Holman-Kelley and Angelica Pacheco played in their first collegiate match on Sunday at Long Beach State. In all, eight Pioneers have made their debuts this season.
COLORADO CUP
Denver is currently in a two-way tie for second in the Colorado Cup table, sitting on three-points with an even goal differential after suffering a 3-2 defeat at Colorado College on Aug. 24. Colorado is atop the table with six points and a +3 goal differential. Colorado State picked up its first three Colorado Cup points on Aug. 28, defeating Northern Colorado 1-0. The Pioneers would have to defeat Colorado by at least two goals on Sept. 12 to have a chance to keep the cup in Denver.
2014 SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
For the second-consecutive year, the Pioneers were picked to win the Summit League in the 2014 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll. DU went a perfect 7-0-0 and 18-2-1 overall last season. A total of four all-league selections and two all-tournament team honorees return for DU. The Pioneers received 64 points and eight first place votes in the poll.
SCOUTING KANSAS
Liana Salazar leads the Jayhawks with 13 points on six goals and an assist through the first five games. Ali Kimura and Lois Heuchan enter Sunday afternoon's match with three goals apiece. Head coach Mark Francis is in his 16th season, and holds a 168-127-22 record at the helm of Kansas soccer. Salazar scored in the 102nd minute on Friday evening to defeat Colorado 2-1 in extra time.
55 CAPPED BACKS
The Pioneers return three backs with at least 55 career appearances. Centerback staple Sam Harder has started 69 of the Pioneers 71 matches since the Centennial native stepped on campus in 2011. Classmates Paige Diamond (58 CAPS) and Shelby Wesley (70 CAPS) also bring experience to the Denver backline.
TWO NEW FACES IN THE BACK
Last weekend, Hooker introduced two new faces in the starting 11 along the backline. Jackie Dutton and Makenzie Bothner started at centerback and left back, respectively, on Aug. 31 at Long Beach State.
REY OF LIGHT IN GOAL
Following an impressive freshman season, goalkeeper Cassidy Rey is back in between the sticks for the Pioneers. Rey started 18 of the 19 matches she played last season, recording seven shutouts and allowing just nine goals (0.52 GAA). For her performance, Rey was named the 2013 Summit League Goalkeeper of the Year, and was a first-team selection in the conference. Rey took over in net last season following the graduation of four-year starter and all-time wins leader Lara Campbell, who accumulated 62 career victories.
10 NEW FACES
With the departure of the nation's fifth winningest senior class, and two NSCAA All-Americans, Hooker and his staff have added 10 players to the 2014 roster, including nine freshmen. Colorado native and junior transfer Stella Norman was also added to the roster in July, coming off a sophomore campaign at Stony Brook where she scored five goals and tallied six assists from an outside back position. Norman played her club soccer at Real Colorado, where she spent most of her time in the midfield. Hooker added three freshmen Black Diamond Soccer Club (Utah) teammates, three California players, two Colorado natives and a New Mexico Rush forward to his roster during the signing period.
COLORADO CLUB CONNECTION
Denver's nine Colorado natives on its roster were split at the youth level between three of the state's major club teams. Three of Denver's six seniors, Caitlin Higgins, Shelby Wesley and Anna Willis all played their club soccer for the Colorado Storm. Norman, redshirt sophomore Francesca Garzelloni and freshman Riley Welch played for Real Colorado, and Harder, sophomore Lilly McSwain and freshman Lauren Conley played for Colorado Rush.
MAKE IT THREE
Coming off back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament, the Pioneers will look for a third-straight trip to the postseason, a feat the program has already accomplished twice in its Division I history. The 2009 senior class is the only class to go to the NCAA Tournament all four seasons. The 2012 Pioneers made the program's biggest run in the tournament, defeating Colorado College and No. 4 Maryland to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
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