BROOKINGS, S.D. – Senior
Hannah Adler (Oak Park, Calif.) scored the opener in the first half, but the University of Denver women's soccer team drew with South Dakota State 1-1, and lost the penalty kick shootout 4-2 on Saturday afternoon at Fishback Soccer Park.
"I thought we just let that one get away a little bit in the second half," head coach
Jeff Hooker said. "We dropped off a bit too much for my liking, but we were still fine. SDSU is good enough though, and if you make one mistake, they'll make you pay. The goal was against the run of play, but have to credit their ability to finish their chance.
"I thought we displayed some great senior leadership and responded well, controlling most of the match the rest of the way. Penalties never sits well, but I'm proud of the effort throughout this tournament and throughout the conference season as a whole."
Sophomore
Sami Feller (Grand Junction, Colo.) started the scoring opportunity for the Pioneers for the 36
th-minute breakthrough. Feller played the ball into junior forward
Macee Barlow (Las Vegas, Nev.) at the top of the 18. Barlow turned and slipped in Adler, who took a touch further to her right and cut her strike back across the goal and inside the near post. Barlow's assist was her second of the season and the third of her career. The goal for Adler was her fifth of the season and the 25
th of her Pioneer career.
On the other side of halftime, South Dakota State found the equalizer in the 58
th minute through Leah Manuleleua's 11
th goal of the season.
Denver controlled most of the play following the Jackrabbits equalizer. Senior outside back
Mary DeWalt (West Bend, Wis.) had a similar chance in the 90
th minute to her game-winner on Senior Sunday six days ago at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium, but a rough bounce off a poor surface came up the outside back's foot and sailed over the bar.
The Pioneers controlled play in the overtime session as well, but weren't able to find the winner, sending the match to penalty kicks.
Denver's two penalty kick takers from the regular season both converted in
Natalie Beckman (Denver, Colo.) and freshman midfielder
Kaitlyn Glover (Englewood, Colo.), but SDSU converted on four of its five attempts to send the home side to the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
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.
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