BROOKINGS, S.D.  – The University of Denver women's soccer team earned a point in its first Summit League road match of the season after finishing in a 0-0 draw at South Dakota State on Friday.
 
In the showdown of the top two teams in the League preseason poll and a rematch of 2021's tournament final, Denver led 8-6 in shots with a 3-2 lead in shots on goal.
 
COACH'S NOTES:
From head coach Jeff Hooker: "I thought the first half was a little bit of a tale of two halves. I thought we were better in the beginning, and they were better in the second half of the first half. Both teams have good players, and it was a really good challenge on both sides of it. And in the final minutes of the game, either team could have won it. We had some chances. We hit the crossbar. Any little deflections or calls could have determined the game, but they didn't. In the last five minutes of the game when you're on the road like that, you'll take the tie."
 
SIGNIFICANT STATS:

• Graduate student Nerea Arrazola collected her fifth shutout of the season, bringing her career total to 25 and moving her into a tie for fourth most in DU history.
• Two Pioneers shared the match lead in shots with two each for graduate student Sami Feller and junior McKenna Dannenhauer.
• Six of Denver's starters played the full 90 minutes including all four defenders in sophomore Riley Baker, junior Jordan Crockett, graduate student Devan McSwain and senior Hannah Gallegos.
• DU has now come away with three draws in its last four matches in Brookings.
• This was only the second scoreless draw for DU in a Summit League match and the first since October 14, 2016, at North Dakota State. It was also Denver's first 0-0 tie since August 22, 2019, against Boston.

FIRST HALF:
11' | Sophomore Ella Frost had the first shot on target for either team after coming through the middle of the penalty area before SDSU's Hailee Fischer made the save.
 
24' | After entering the match less than two minutes before, Dannenhauer shot the ball just wide from the left side of the box, and Denver was unable to capitalize on the subsequent corner following a SDSU deflection.
 
33' | Gallegos came in behind Arrazola after an SDSU breakaway where the senior made a clearing save after the ball trickled around Arrazola's hands.
 
40' | Arrazola made her first save on a free kick from SDSU. South Dakota State connected on the rebound but sent it over the net.
 
45' | Frost took a free kick from just outside the right side of the box, and Dannenhauer headed it toward the net where SDSU's Fischer made the save.
 
SECOND HALF:
60' | Sophomore Delaney McGowan marched toward the net and got a shot off. Baker narrowly missed the rebound given up by SDSU's Jocelyn Tanner.
 
75' | Junior Vanessa Murray got a shot off after a failed clear from SDSU but sent it over the net.
 
83' | Baker won a battle on the right side of the field and crossed the ball into the penalty area, but Feller's shot ricocheted off the crossbar.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
DU (5-4-3, 2-0-1) travels to South Dakota on Sunday, October 2, at 11 a.m. MT/12 p.m. CT.
 
TICKETS:
Single-game tickets for the 2022 University of Denver women's soccer season are now on sale and can be purchased online, by calling 303-871-4625 or by visiting the Ritchie Center Box Office.

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