BOCA RATON, Fla. – The University of Denver women's soccer team got back level after allowing a fifth minute goal, but Florida Atlantic got a second in the second half to defeat the Pioneers 2-1 on Thursday night at FAU Soccer Stadium.
"I thought that was the best 90 minutes that we've put together," head coach
Jeff Hooker said. "In all of our previous games, we've had 10-15 minute lapses as a collective, and I thought we played really great soccer for 90 minutes. We had a couple momentary mistakes on the two goals, but I thought that we went deep into the bench today, and those players played very well in their roles. They stepped into the game, and they belonged out there. We played good, creative soccer and created a lot of chances, we were just missing the final product. I thought that Natalie (Beckman) was superb down the left today, but other than Leah's finish, we couldn't get on the end of her crosses. It was an unfair result after the performance we put in today, but that's soccer, and we've got to put it behind us and get ready for Sunday."
Florida Atlantic's (1-2-0) opener came off the foot of Maddison Krstec. FAU's Kaila Armstrong played the middle touch in the give-and-go to earn the assist on the play. Krstec beat junior captain
Brittany Wilson (Littleton, Colo.) to the left to put the home side on top early.
Freshman
Natalie Beckman (Denver, Colo.) tried to equalize right off the kickoff, but FAU's Jennifer Ocampo kept the Denver (0-2-1) rookie's try out.
Beckman setup the Denver first half equalizer in the 20
th minute, serving a cross in from the right to the head of senior forward
Leah Swander (Grand Junction, Colo.). Junior
Hannah Adler (Oak Park, Calif.) took a 19
th minute corner to start the sequence on the Denver leveler that Swander deposited to the left of Ocampo. Swander's goal was the sixth of her career, and the point on the helper for Beckman was the first in just her third career appearance.
The two teams went into the locker room tied 1-1 with Florida Atlantic holding an 8-4 edge in shots and both teams putting three shots on target in the opening 45 minutes.
Sophomore
Meg Halvorson (Englewood, Colo.) got Denver on the front foot in the middle of the second half, creating three chances, but two of the three were kept out by Ocampo, and the third rose just over the bar to keep the teams tied at 1-1.
Elisha Holmes gave Florida Atlantic the advantage back against the run of play in the 74
th minute, converting on the second of successive corners, heading home a Mimi Godoy corner after Wilson stopped the Owls chance on the initial set piece.
UP NEXT: Denver will stay in Florida for a Sunday trip to Florida International. Kickoff is set for 10 a.m. MT, and will be streamed live on
CUSA.TV.
Tickets: Season and single-game tickets are on sale and can be purchased
online here, or by calling 303-871-4625.
PIONEER MOVEMENT: Fans interested in making a donation to the women's soccer program can do so by clicking here. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.
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