DENVER  – The University of Denver women's soccer team defeated Omaha 2-1 on Friday evening at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. Denver's win was its 11^th of Summit League play, pushing Denver's lead in the table to nine points ahead of South Dakota State and 10 ahead of Omaha.  
 
First Half:
A match without a shot on target in the opening 29 minutes, Natalie Beckman found the back of the net just shy of the half hour mark, netting her ninth goal of the season on the rebound off an Alex Nillen shot. The ball fell to Nillen at the top of the box. Nillen struck it well, dipping her attempt right in-front of the keeper. The shot bounced off the keeper's chest and fell to the feet of Beckman who slid it into the back of the net.
 
Beckman's goal was the 15^th of her career and points 55 and 56. Nillen's assist was her third of the season and the fifth of her career.
 
Malak Rafik made it 2-0 Pios in the 36^th minute off beautiful build-up play from the Pioneers. Brittney Lewis turned into her attacking half just inside the midfield line and picked out the run of Kaitlyn Glover. Glover slid in Rafik down the left side of the area, who smashed it past the Omaha keeper to double Denver's lead.
 
Friday's goal was the first of Rafik's career, while Glover's assist was her third of the season and the fourth of her career.
 
Denver outshot Omaha 4-3 in the first half.
 
Second Half:
The Pioneers created a flurry of chances to start the second half, but couldn't find the back of the net for the third goal.
 
Omaha pulled to within one 55 minutes in when Andrea Daves scored her fourth goal of the season.
 
Denver outshot Omaha 9-2 in the second half bringing that total to 13-5 for the match, and took all eight corner kicks of the second 45 (8-1 overall).
 
Significant Stats:

• Friday's match marked the first home game on the grass for the Pioneers since beating North Dakota State 1-0 on November 3, 2019.

Up Next:
Denver and Omaha will close out their two-match set on Sunday at 2 p.m. MT at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. The match will be streamed live on Pioneer Vision.
 
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