DENVER – The University of Denver women's soccer team got an 82^nd minute goal from freshman Taylor Wells to defeat South Dakota 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Diane Wendt Sports Complex.
 
Turning Point:
After Denver appeared to take the lead minutes earlier, Wells broke the deadlock eight minutes from time with a shot from outside the box that tipped off the goalie's hands, off the crossbar and in.
 
First Half:
Denver's best chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to the feet of Sami Feller, but a bad bounce off the turf sent the ball yards over the crossbar.
 
South Dakota's best chance of the first stanza came in the 41^st minute, but Addisyn Hyrup cleared the ball off the line with her right boot to keep the teams level at 0-0.
 
The Pioneers outshot South Dakota 7-4 in the first half, and took all six corner kicks in the opening period.
 
Second Half:
With 65% of possession in the match, Denver continued to control the pace of play in the second 45, and appeared to take the lead is the 66^th minute courtesy of a header from Sydney Sharp. Meg Halvorson played a cross into the box from the Denver right, recycling off a corner kick taken seconds earlier. Sharp dove from just inside the penalty spot and rattled the crossbar. The ball crossed the line, but the goal was not given, and play continued at 0-0.
 
Denver's goal did come in the 82 minute off the left foot of Wells. Feller and Natalie Beckman combined in the center of the park before Beckman played it to Wells at the top of the D. Wells took a couple touches to her left before striking the ball while falling down, just off the out-stretched finger tips of the South Dakota goalie, off the crossbar and in. The assist for Feller was her fifth of the year, while Beckman pushed her team-high total to six. Beckman has at least a point in each of the Pioneers last six games.
 
Up Next:
Denver will wrap-up its season-long six-match homestand next weekend when the Pioneers welcome North Dakota State to the Mile High City. NDSU enters next weekend three points behind Denver for the top spot in the league table. Friday's match will kickoff at 4 p.m., while Sunday's is slated for 1 p.m. MT.   
 
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