Box Score Oct. 27, 2017
Fort Wayne 2-3 Denver (Fleming 1', Barlow 71', Bricker 77', Hayner 87', Dancy 90')
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FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Senior striker Jessie Dancy (Park City, Utah) scored her league-leading 12th goal of the season with 17 seconds remaining in regulation to send the University of Denver women's soccer team past Fort Wayne 3-2 on Friday night at the Hefner Soccer Complex. Dancy's goal was the latest DU game-winner in regulation in Denver's Division I history.
"Have to give Fort Wayne credit for how well they started the match tonight," head coach Jeff Hooker said. "They put a really nice game plan in place and were very efficient with the chances they were able to create. They were definitely the reason we didn't play well in the first half. Our team showed really good focus to keep putting pressure on them in the second half. The team was gutted when they scored their second, but we fought, we didn't sulk, and Riley played a wonderful ball behind the defense to a well-timed run by Jessie.
"We're thankful to get out of here with a win on a cold and wet night, and we look forward to the Summit League Tournament next week."
Fort Wayne wasted no time opening the scoring as Paityn Fleming hit a shot on the ground from outside the 18-yard box that took a deflection in-front and found the side netting past sophomore goalkeeper Brittany Wilson (Littleton, Colo.) just 28 seconds in.
Freshman Macee Barlow (Las Vegas, Nev.) got the Pioneers back to level terms in the 71st minute when the Denver freshman scored her second goal in as many matches, knocking home a rebound off her own blocked shot. Sophomore midfielder Hannah Adler (Oak Park, Calif.) got the ball out wide to junior outside back Mary DeWalt (West Bend, Wisc.) to set up the Barlow equalizer.
Junior outside back Hannah Bricker (Fort Collins, Colo.) gave Denver the lead in the 77th minute, scoring her second free kick of the campaign low and to the left corner to put Denver 2-1 ahead.
Friday night's drama kicked into high gear in the 87th minute when Fort Wayne's Allyson Hayner got the home side back level with her first goal of the season from the center of the box. Deanna Hecht was credited with the assist on the equalizer.
Just when the match looked headed to extra time, Dancy netted her fourth game-winner of the campaign to give Denver the late victory. Senior winger Riley Welch (Littleton, Colo.) setup Dancy to be able to touch the ball around the keeper outside the 18 and finish into an open net.
Denver outshot Fort Wayne 17-5, putting 12 of its 17 shots on goal on a cold and rainy night in Indiana.
UP NEXT: Denver is off for the rest of the weekend before heading to the 2017 Summit League Women's Soccer Championships next week in Fargo. The Summit Semifinals will be played on November 2 at 10:30 a.m. MT and 1:30 p.m. MT. Thursday's semifinal winners will advance to Saturday's final with kickoff set for 11 a.m. MT.
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