TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Denver women's soccer team (2-1-3, 0-0-0 Summit) responded to a halftime deficit with a strong final 45 minutes but ended up finishing with a 1-2 loss at Arizona on Thursday night.
 
The Wildcats went up, 1-0, in the 20^th minute to claim the lead at halftime. Denver came out the better team to start the second half, dominating play for the first 15 minutes, in particular, only to see Arizona double its lead with a converted penalty kick in the 78^th.
 
The Pioneers continued to push for the final 12 minutes and pulled within one with a goal from freshman Annie Philbin in the 85^th minute off a set-piece service from senior Lily O'Grady. Denver continued its fight for the remainder of play but were unable to find the equalizer.
 
SIGNIFICANT STATS:                                 

• For the first 15 minutes of the second half, Denver led 4-0 in shot attempts and 4-1 in entrances into the final third.
  • After only registering one quality shot in the first half, Denver came out with six total in the second frame, one more than Arizona.
• Philbin's goal was the first of her collegiate career and made her the seventh Pioneer to find the back of the net so far this season.
  • She now owns three points on the year, tied for second most on the roster.
  • Her goal was DU's second latest of the season at 84:57, just 21 seconds earlier than fellow freshman Lilly Lund 's goal against Southern Utah just four days ago.
• O'Grady's assist on Philbin's goal was the fifth of her career and her first since 2023.
  • She also becomes the seventh Pioneer to earn an assist through the first six matches.
• Redshirt junior Alina Santos registered five saves, marking her fourth consecutive match with at least as many.
• Arizona's goal in the 20^th minute became the only first-half goal allowed by the Pioneers thus far in 2025.

FIRST HALF:
3' | Denver earned an early corner and saw senior Isabella Chidiac send it near the penalty spot, though the Wildcats headed it clear before a Pioneer could connect with it.
 
20' | Santos got a last-second hand on a shot from Arizona's Narissa Fults but was unable to get enough contact to prevent what would be the match's opening goal.
 
36' | Lund and redshirt senior Samantha Dreiling started an attack down the right side of the pitch, leading to a nice cross from the redshirt senior into the six-yard box where the Arizona keeper caught it.
 
45' | With just seconds left in the half, Chidiac nearly chipped the ball into the back of the net from 25 yards out. As her shot started to dip in, the Arizona keeper got a fingertip on it, pushing the ball off the crossbar and out.
 
SECOND HALF:
52' | Junior Alanna Raimondo made a run into the 18-yard box but got her feet tangled up under the pressure of an Arizona defender and was unable to get a shot off toward net.
 
53' | Off DU's second corner early in the half, redshirt junior Emma Thielbahr beat everyone in the air to get her header attempt traveling in the correct direction but sent it too high.
 
59' | Redshirt senior Audrey Miller chipped the ball up toward the six-yard box and met an approaching senior Brooke Ahern, but the Arizona keeper beat Ahern to the ball just a split second earlier.
 
78' | Arizona drew a foul inside the upper corner of the 18-yard box. Sami Baytosh took the penalty kick and converted.
 
85' | Denver drew a foul right in front of the Pioneers' bench. O'Grady took the service and perfectly lobbed it toward the edge of the six-yard box and seeing it glance off Philbin's head and past the keeper.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
The University of Denver women's soccer team plays its final non-conference road match when it visits Arizona State on Sunday, September 7, at 10 a.m. MST/11 a.m. MDT.
 
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.