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University of Denver Athletics

Taylor Parker
Carol MacKay

Women's Soccer Niko Blankenship

Pioneers Welcome Drake Sunday to Cap Opening Weekend

The Pioneers and Bulldogs will kickoff at 12 p.m. MT Sunday on Altitude 2

THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE                                           
•    Following a 1-1 preseason, the Pioneers officially opened the 2019 campaign on Thursday night with a 0-0 draw against Boston University at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. 
•    Denver will continue a four-match homestand on Sunday when the Pioneers welcome Drake to the Mile High City. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. MT with Brad Thompson and Chris Bianchi on the Altitude 2 call. The Pios and Bulldogs will meet for the third time in Denver's Division I era, and the first time since a 4-1 win in 2010. 
• The Pioneers will host Texas (Aug. 29) and Kent State (Aug. 31) next weekend to cap off the four-match homestand to begin the 2019 campaign. The Pioneers and Longhorns will meet for the first time since a 2012 3-3 thriller in Austin, Texas. Denver and Kent State will meet for the first time. 

HEAD COACH JEFF HOOKER                         
•     Denver's Jeff Hooker is in his 28th season in charge of the women's program. 
• Hooker recorded his 350th career women's win in the Pioneers Summit League Semifinal victory over North Dakota State on November 1, 2018. 
•    Hooker coached both the men's and the women's programs during the 1996 and 1997 seasons, making this officially his 30th season as a head coach at DU.
•    DU's head man enters this match with a 351-150-47 women's record, and a career record of 371-162-51.
•    The 10-time conference coach of the year has been a part of each of Denver's 11 Division I NCAA Tournament appearances.
•    In league play in his career, Hooker is 171-38-13, including 166-34-13 with the women's program.
•    In the overall NCAA record books heading into this season, Hooker is the 17th winningest head coach by victories (351), and 13th on the active list. 

GET ON THE BOARD FIRST                                  
• Since the start of the 2006 season, Denver is 166-14-7 when scoring the first goal.
• Five of the 14 losses came in the 2017 campaign, including at Colorado in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. 
• Since the start of the 2002 season, Denver has outscored opponents 212-83 in the opening half hour of matches, including 11-3 last season.

DEWALT TO RETURN IN 2019                                        
• Senior outside back and now three-time captain Mary DeWalt rejoined the Pioneers on August 22nd after a season-ending injury in the preseason a year ago. 
Brittany Wilson, Cheyenne Shorts and Hannah Adler will also captain Jeff Hooker's squad.   
• Wilson and Shorts will both lead the program for the second-straight season. 

UNIVERSITY OF DENVER SOCCER STADIUM                            
• The University of Denver Soccer Stadium opened in 2009.
• The 2,000 seat stadium hosts both the men's and women's soccer programs, and sits above the 10,000 square-foot Pat Bowlen Strength and Conditioning Complex.
• The stadium has hosted the 2009 MPSF Men's Soccer Tournament, 2014 Summit League Men's and Women's Championships and 2015, 2016 and 2018 men's tourn.
• DU Soccer Stadium has also hosted the 2012 and 2013 NCAA Women's Soccer First Round and the 2015, 2016 and 2018 NCAA Men's Soccer Second Round.
• Denver's women's program is 66-17-7 since the stadium opened. 

REACH THE SUMMIT                               
• Denver is 33-12-1 in Summit League regular season play since joining the league in 2013.
• The Pioneers are 7-0-2 (2 losses in pks) all-time in Summit League Tournament play. 
• DU is 18-5-0 in Summit League regular season home games. 

THE TWO Cs                                           
• 18 student-athletes from Denver's 2018 roster come from either Colorado or California, including 14 that opted to stay in their home state for their college careers. 
• Colorado and California are the only two states that more than two student-athletes call home (Minnesota only state with two). 

LEAGUE TITLES                                               
•    With the victory against Oral Roberts on Oct. 27, 2018, Denver claimed a share of its ninth NCAA Division I regular season league title, and its third in the Summit League (2013 and 2016)...The Pioneers won the regular season in their only year in the WAC (2012) and won five regular season titles in the Sun Belt (2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010).
• The Pioneers won their 10th league tournament title in their Division I history last weekend (Summit: 2013, 2017, 2018)...Denver won seven Sun Belt Conference Tournament Titles (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009).

DENVER ATHLETICS SUCCESS                            
•    Denver Athletics has claimed the I-AAA Directors' Cup in 11 of the last 12 seasons, for the top finish in the Directors' Cup standings amongst schools without football.
•    The Pioneers have claimed 33 National Championships in their history (Skiing 24, Hockey 8, Men's Lacrosse 1).
•    Men's soccer's College Cup berth in 2016 is one of the athletic department's 23 National Semifinal appearances, including 10 since 2011. 
•    As an athletics department, Denver has recorded 70+ wins over Power-5 programs in each of the last three years, including five from men's soccer. 

DEFENSIVE FORM ENTERING THE 2018 NCAA TOURNAMENT                              
• Denver had not allowed a goal in the final 483 minutes before Selection Monday, outscoring opponents 14-0 in that span. 
• Denver's defense allowed just 27 shots on goal in eight league contests a year ago, the best defensive record in the league. 
• Overall, Denver's defense allowed 4.35 shots on goal per game, which led the Summit League. 
• An All-Colorado Storm centerback pairing of Cheyenne Shorts and Taylor Parker played 20 of the 21 matches together last season. 
 
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Players Mentioned

Hannah Adler

#19 Hannah Adler

Midfielder
5' 5"
Senior
Real So Cal
Mary DeWalt

#13 Mary DeWalt

Defender
5' 7"
Redshirt Senior
FC Wisconsin Eclipse
Taylor Parker

#10 Taylor Parker

Defender
5' 4"
Junior
Colorado Storm
Cheyenne Shorts

#6 Cheyenne Shorts

Defender
5' 9"
Senior
Colorado Storm
Brittany Wilson

#1 Brittany Wilson

Goalkeeper
5' 8"
Senior
Real Colorado/U.S. YNT

Players Mentioned

Hannah Adler

#19 Hannah Adler

5' 5"
Senior
Real So Cal
Midfielder
Mary DeWalt

#13 Mary DeWalt

5' 7"
Redshirt Senior
FC Wisconsin Eclipse
Defender
Taylor Parker

#10 Taylor Parker

5' 4"
Junior
Colorado Storm
Defender
Cheyenne Shorts

#6 Cheyenne Shorts

5' 9"
Senior
Colorado Storm
Defender
Brittany Wilson

#1 Brittany Wilson

5' 8"
Senior
Real Colorado/U.S. YNT
Goalkeeper