ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Denver women's soccer team (7-4-4, 4-1-1 Summit) rebounded after conceding the match's opening goal to find an equalizer late and nearly claim the lead in the final seconds before settling for a 1-1 draw at St. Thomas on Thursday afternoon.
 
The Tommies scored first off a corner kick in the 67^th minute, but a Samantha Dreiling chip shot from outside the box found the back of the net in the 88^th minute to pull Denver level. The Pioneers dominated possession for the final 10 minutes of play and pressed all the way until the dying seconds, missing a would-be game winner from Emma Thielbahr with 23 seconds to go by mere inches when her shot bounced off the crossbar.
 
SIGNIFICANT STATS:                                 

• S. Dreiling's goal at 87:23 was the seventh latest equalizer in Denver's NCAA Division I history and the 34^th latest regulation goal overall.
  • It also became Denver's latest goal of the 2025 season thus far
• It was S. Dreiling's third goal of the season, tied for second most on the roster.
• S. Dreiling joins senior Brooke Ahern and Thielbahr in scoring at least one equalizer for Denver this season.
• Redshirt junior Hannah Tate had the assist on S. Dreiling's goal, her first of the season and her third point overall.
• Tate and S. Dreiling shared the match lead in shots with four apiece – S. Dreiling putting all of hers on target.
  • Tate's four shot attempts were her second most in a collegiate match.
  • S. Dreiling's four shots on goal became a new career best.
• Redshirt junior Alina Santos made six saves on the day, bringing her season total to 73, which puts her two away from a top-10 mark in Denver's Division I history.
• Denver's 19 shot attempts and nine shots on goal were both just one off the team's season highs.
  • DU outshot St. Thomas, 14-3, in the second half.

FIRST HALF:
12' | In her first test of the day, Santos dove to her left to successfully block away a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box.
 
16' | A UST defender mishandled an attempted clear of a low cross from redshirt sophomore Luci Vincent through the six-yard box and nearly sent the ball into her own net, but the UST keeper snagged the ball just before it crossed the endline.
 
26' | Tate took a look at the right post from about 20 yards out but curled it wide.
 
SECOND HALF:
51' | From 35 yards back, senior Isabella Chidiac nicely placed a service near the penalty spot and found Tate, but her first-touch shot went high over the net.

67' | On the second St. Thomas corner of the day, Brooke Nygaard redirected the ball between the near post and Santos.
 
71' | Senior Lily O'Grady connected on a cross deep inside the six-yard box but narrowly pushed it over the crossbar.
 
76' | S. Dreiling took a free kick from 25 yards out and nearly tucked it under the crossbar but had it cleared away late.
 
88' | Again, S. Dreiling took a look at the net from outside the right corner of the box but this time beat the keeper at the far post to draw Denver level at 1-1.
 
90' | Thielbahr took a look from the edge of the 18-yard box and almost had the late winner, only to see the ball deflect off the crossbar.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
The University of Denver women's soccer team plays its final regular-season road match when it visits Omaha on Sunday, October 19, at 12 p.m. CT/11 a.m. MT.
 
TICKETS
Tickets for the 2025 Denver women's soccer season are now on sale and available for purchase online, by calling 303-871-4625 or by visiting the Ritchie Center Box Office.