DENVER – The University of Denver women's soccer team (9-5-1, 3-1-1 Summit) posted a 2-1 win over North Dakota State with a brace from senior Ella Frost on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Bison scored the match's first goal, but Frost netted the equalizer just 1:13 later to level the scoreline at 1-1 heading into halftime. The senior then scored the game winner for the second match in a row with a converted penalty kick in the 81^st minute, giving DU its third Summit League win of the year and its second in as many matches.
 
COACH'S NOTES:
From head coach Julianne Sitch: "The team's success today was a big-time win for us. It was great to come away with six points this weekend…Our biggest thing was how we react within five minutes after (an opponent's) goal and to be able to come back and get a goal within the next minute and a half after they scored, what a great mentality and what a great response from that.

"And then just coming out in the second half, putting our foot on the gas and just continuing to go after them…Sam (Dreiling) did an unbelievable job, beating that player and driving into the box and (earning) that PK. That was just a phenomenal effort by her, and Frosty capitalized."
 
SIGNIFICANT STATS:                                 

• Frost's brace on Sunday was the second of her career. She also had two goals against Colgate on September 7, 2023.
  • She also became the second Pioneer to score a brace this year, joining fellow senior Samantha Dreiling (August 29 against CSUN).
• Frost also became the second DU player to score the game winner in consecutive matches this season, joining freshman Megan Murray (August 21 and 25 at Texas A&M and Lamar).
• For the second time in as many matches, Frost and fellow senior Riley Baker connected on a critical DU goal. Baker had the primary assist on Frost's game winner against St. Thomas on Thursday before having the assist on Frost's equalizer on Sunday.
• Sunday marked the second time this season that Denver earned a win after conceding the match's first goal.
  • Denver also went down 0-1 to then-No. 24 Texas A&M on August 21 before going on to win the match, 3-2.
• The win was DU's 99^th at University of Denver Soccer Stadium, giving the Pioneers a chance to eclipse the century mark in its next match against Omaha on Thursday, October 17.

FIRST HALF:
3' | Sophomore Liv Moritz had the Pioneers' first chance of the day, looking at the net from the edge of the 18-yard box but having it saved almost simultaneously.
 
22' | From the right side of the pitch, redshirt senior Addisyn Hyrup sent a cross into the box, connecting with sophomore Michaela McGowan, who tried to tip the ball in from behind her back but sent the ball wide.
 
33' | NDSU's Olivia Watson tapped a bouncing ball through a narrow space at the far post on a Bison corner kick to give North Dakota State a 1-0 lead.
 
34' | Just over a minute after NDSU took the lead, Denver earned a corner kick. The NDSU keeper punched the initial service from Hyrup clear, but Baker collected it to set up a second chance. She dodged around an NDSU defender before sending the ball back to Frost, who one-touched it past the keeper.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Denver Women's Soccer (@du_wsoccer)

 
SECOND HALF:
58' | DU set up inside the NDSU box but couldn't get a shot off until redshirt sophomore Hannah Tate got her foot too far under the ball and pushed it over the net.
 
60' | Moritz and M. McGowan began a Denver counter attack that resulted in the ball at Tate's feet again at the corner of the box, but she sent her shot high and wide of the net.
 
64' | M. McGowan redirected a Hyrup cross in toward the net where the NDSU keeper made a comfortable save.
 
68' | Hyrup sent a free kick in from near the corner flag, finding redshirt sophomore Emma Thielbahr at the far post. Thielbahr sent a header toward net but had it saved.
 
81' | Denver earned a penalty kick after Dreiling drew a foul inside the box. Frost stepped to the line and converted for her second goal of the day.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
DU (9-5-1, 3-1-1 Summit) hosts its final home match of the regular season when it welcomes Omaha on Thursday, October 17, at 7 p.m. MT.
 
TICKETS
Tickets for the 2024 University of Denver women's soccer season are now on sale and can be purchased at denverpioneers.com/tickets or by calling the Ritchie Center Box Office at 303-871-4625.
 
Denver's Home for College Sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Women's Soccer on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_WSoccer on Twitter
Follow @denverpioneers and @DU_WSoccer on Instagram