GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of Denver women's soccer team (4-3-3, 1-0-0 Summit) began Summit League play with a 1-0 shutout win at North Dakota on Thursday afternoon.
After UND had the lead in possession and offensive chances through the first 25 minutes, Denver turned the tide for the back half of the first 45. The Pioneers carried that momentum into the second frame and saw their efforts rewarded with redshirt junior
Hannah Tate finding the match's only goal in the 57
th minute.
SIGNIFICANT STATS:
- Tate became Denver's eighth goal scorer on the season, netting her first of the year after scoring three times a season ago.
- It was also the second game winner of her career, both coming in Summit League road matches (also at South Dakota on October 27, 2024).
- Redshirt freshman Rowan LaPiano 's assist on Tate's goal was her first collegiate point.
- Redshirt junior Alina Santos nearly tied her career high with seven saves on the day – just one off her personal best.
- DU's keeper also registered her third clean sheet of the year and the fifth of her career so far.
- For the first time this season, senior Isabella Chidiac led the Pioneers and tied for the match high in shot attempts with three, which also equaled her career best for a single match.
- Eleven different Pioneers registered at least one shot attempt, a new season high for a single match.
- Denver's 16 shot attempts were its second most on the year and a season's best for an away match.
- It was marked the fourth time this year that Denver outshot its opponent.
- After UND started with the first four shot attempts of the match, Denver outshot North Dakota, 7-2, to finish the first half.
- Junior Alanna Raimondo made the second start of her DU career while LaPiano did so for the third consecutive match.
- Redshirt freshman Grace Dreiling made her second collegiate appearance as a second-half sub and this time was able to take the pitch as the same time as her sister, redshirt senior Samantha Dreiling, for the first time at DU.
- With the win, Denver moved to 10-2-1 in Summit League openers and 5-1-1 in openers held on the road.
- DU is unbeaten in its last six Summit League matches dating back to the 2024 season.
FIRST HALF:
18' | UND put a direct free kick on target for the second shot of the day but had it easily snagged by Santos.
26' | A tap from Raimondo toward the center of the box met senior
Brooke Ahern, whose off-balance shot had some pace but was easily saved.
27' | Redshirt sophomore
Luci Vincent tapped a pass to LaPiano near the right end line, setting up a LaPiano chip that could not quite find the angle around the post.
37' | A nice service from Chidiac on DU's second corner kick of the day found redshirt junior
Emma Thielbahr, who headed the ball toward net but saw the ball deflect off the crossbar.
SECOND HALF:
50' | Thielbahr placed a diving header toward the far post off a free kick from senior
Lily O'Grady, only to see the ball slide just wide right.
57' | A nifty little touch from LaPiano found Tate in stride down the left side of the pitch. The redshirt junior split two UND defenders and pushed the ball past the keeper and into the far right corner of the net.
68' | From 20 yards out, Chidiac took a look at goal but sent the ball well high over the crossbar.
86' | Also from a few yards outside the 18-yard box, S. Dreiling tried to curl a shot into the upper left corner but watched it stay above the net.
90'| A well-placed free kick from Thielbahr found S.Dreiling at the edge of the six-yard box, but her shot attempt just barely missed the goal.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The University of Denver women's soccer team continues opening weekend of Summit League play with a trip to reigning regular-season champion North Dakota State on Sunday, September 28, 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.
