DENVER – The University of Denver women's soccer team capped off an unbeaten Summit League regular season with a 1-0 win over North Dakota State on Senior Sunday at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
 
"What we tried to focus on at halftime was raising our standard," head coach Jeff Hooker said. "Especially at home, we're used to being able to play a little bit quicker and a little bit sharper than we did in the first half. I felt that we were a little lethargic. We challenged them in the locker room to get that level back and play the way we've shown we can here at home. Our ball speed was much better in the second half, and we rose to the occasion."
 
Redshirt-senior outside back Mary DeWalt (West Bend, Wis.) scored the lone goal of the match in the 70^th minute to send Denver into the Summit League Tournament on a seven-game winning streak and a 10-match unbeaten run.
 
Denver will be the No. 1 seed in next week's Summit League Tournament, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, in Brookings, S.D., awaiting fourth-seed North Dakota in the first semifinal Thursday at 3 p.m. CT/2 p.m. MT. No. 3 seed Oral Roberts and No. 2 seed South Dakota State will meet in the second semifinal at 6 p.m. CT/5 p.m. MT.
 
The Pioneers controlled the run of play in the 90 minutes, outshooting North Dakota State 15-2, including 7-0 in the second 45 minutes. Denver also took all seven corner kicks in the match and forced Bison goalkeeper Monica Polgar into eight saves.
 
Denver played 23 players in the 1-0 victory, and all five seniors featured in over 30 minutes of the match.
 
Junior forward Macee Barlow (Las Vegas, Nev.) setup the DeWalt second-half strike, playing it back to the outside back who struck it hard and low past a screened Polgar for the breakthrough. DeWalt's goal was her first since September of 2016 against Arizona State, while Barlow earned her third career assist.
 
Denver's defense, which entered the weekend fifth in the country in shots on goal allowed held the Bison to just two shots and none on target. Since turning Division I in 1998, Denver has now held 23 opponents without a shot on goal, including three this season.
 
Following the match on Sunday, Denver honored seniors Mary DeWalt, Brittany Wilson, Cheyenne Shorts, Heather Turcios and Hannah Adler after their final home game with the Crimson and Gold.
 
SEASON TICKET RENEWALS:
Renewals for 2020 men's and women's soccer season tickets are on sale. Current season ticket holders can call the box office at 303-871-4625 starting on Friday to renew their season tickets.

SHOP PIONEERS:
Get dressed for Game Day! Get your Pioneers gear at ShopPioneers.com, the official online store of University of Denver Athletics.
 
DONATE: 
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.   
 
- Our Journey, Our Time –

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Women's Soccer on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_WSoccer on Twitter
Follow @denverpioneers and @DU_WSoccer on Instagram