<p><strong>DENVER</strong>&nbsp;&ndash; The University of Denver women&rsquo;s soccer team will turn a page in program history this Friday, as the Pioneers begin their inaugural season in the Western Athletic Conference.</p> <p>DU went 35-7-1 in its last two seasons in the Sun Belt Conference, but was unable to return to the NCAA Tournament in that span, a problem head coach <strong>Jeff Hooker </strong>believes his club can fix this year.</p> <p>&ldquo;I think our goal is the same thing it was last year, although we were unable to accomplish it,&rdquo; Hooker said. &ldquo;We want to put ourselves into a position where, if things don&rsquo;t work out at the Western Athletic Conference Tournament, we can get an at-large bid. This year&rsquo;s schedule is probably the most difficult that we have ever played, with most of those matches on the road. If we can beat those teams that have consistently been in the NCAA Tournament, it will put us in a great position heading into conference play and the postseason.&rdquo;</p> <p>Senior <strong>Kaitlin Bast </strong>(Centennial, Colo.) and junior <strong>Kristen Hamilton </strong>(Littleton, Colo.) figure to lead the way for the Pioneers up-top in 2012. Bast returns from a season-ending concussion that limited the 2010 SBC Player of the Year to just six matches in 2011. In Bast&rsquo;s absence, Hamilton tallied 41 points on 16 goals and nine assists. The three-time National Team of the Week honoree&rsquo;s point total ranked 13th in the nation, first in the SBC and third in a single season in DU history. Hamilton was named the 2011 SBC Player of the Year for her accomplishments.&nbsp; Junior-transfer <strong>Laura Feehs </strong>(Centennial, Colo.) and sophomore <strong>Anna Willis </strong>(Centennial, Colo.)&nbsp; will add to the Pioneers&rsquo; depth at forward.</p> <p>The Crimson and Gold have plenty of attacking options out of the midfield, as well, including two-time All-South Region First Team honoree <strong>Nicholette DiGiacomo </strong>(Golden, Colo.). After setting the DU single-season record for assists in 2010, the junior midfielder avoided a sophomore slump in 2011, by posting 23 points on eight goals and seven assists. &nbsp;DiGiacomo could be joined in the center by a host of experienced Pioneers, including senior <strong>Katy Van Lieshout </strong>(Boulder, Colo.), who played forward at times for the Pioneers in Bast&rsquo;s absence last season, and senior <strong>Kalie Vaughn </strong>(Fort Collins, Colo.), who saw action in all 21 of the Pioneers&rsquo; matches last season</p> <p>Freshman <strong>Fran Garzelloni </strong>(Parker, Colo.) will add to the Pioneers depth in the midfield, along with sophomore <strong>Nikki Pappalardo </strong>(San Diego, Calif.) and junior <strong>Stephanie Woo </strong>(San Mateo, Calif.). Pappalardo missed her freshman season due to injury.</p> <p>Defense was the biggest question entering last season, a question that was answered by the emergence of sophomore <strong>Sam Harder </strong>(Centennial, Colo.). DU&rsquo;s leader in minutes played in 2011 netted a goal, tallied seven assists and helped lead the Pioneers to 10 shutouts. Harder was selected to the All-SBC First Team and the All-South Region Second Team after her freshman season. Junior defender <strong>Jessy Battelli </strong>(Golden, Colo.) will likely join Harder at center back. Juniors <strong>Sara Riazi </strong>(Thousand Oaks, Calif.), and <strong>Cassidy Larson </strong>(Eldorado Springs, Colo.) started at outside back in last Saturday&rsquo;s exhibition against Wyoming. Larson started 16 matches last season and tallied six assists.</p> <p>Senior goalkeepers <strong>Lara Campbell </strong>(Anchorage, Alaska) and <strong>Maria Khan </strong>(Aurora, Colo.) return for their final seasons with the Crimson and Gold. Campbell is five wins behind Danielle Wiley for the top career mark in DU history.</p> <p>Denver went 16-5-0 overall and 9-2-0 in the Sun Belt Conference last season. The Pioneers finished third in the SBC and took a semifinal exit to Florida International in the SBC Tournament.</p> <p>The Pioneers open the 2012 season in the Second Annual Colorado Cup when they take on Colorado College on Friday at 5 p.m. MT in Greeley, Colo., and Northern Colorado on Sunday at 1 p.m. MT in Colorado Springs.</p> <p>DU will get its first look at Western Athletic Conference play when it hosts San Jose State on September 28. The WAC Tournament will be played November 1-4 in Logan, Utah, on the campus of defending WAC Champions Utah State.</p> <p>&ldquo;When it comes to conference play, all the places we are traveling to are brand new cities to us. I think there is an excitement of visiting new places and seeing new things,&rdquo; Hooker said. &ldquo;We were in the Sun Belt for a long time. We try to have an enjoyable time while we are on the road, do a little sightseeing and things like that to become as well rounded a group as we can. The new cities that we will visit this season adds an excitement to the upcoming year.&rdquo;</p> <p>Season and individual tickets are on sale now for the 2012 season. Season tickets for 11 Denver Men's Soccer games and eight Denver Women's Soccer games are $57.&nbsp;By purchasing season tickets, fans will enjoy the same centerfield seat, including a comfortable seatback for all 19 games at CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.&nbsp;Season tickets are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://ev9.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetGroupList?&amp;SPSID=90216&amp;SPID=10865&amp;DB_OEM_ID=18600&amp;groupCode=GS&amp;linkID=denver&amp;shopperContext=&amp;caller=&amp;appCode">DenverPioneers.com&nbsp;</a>or by calling/e-mailing&nbsp;Season Ticket and Premium Seating Manager&nbsp;<a href="mailto:[email protected]">Eric Vasquez</a>&nbsp;at 303.871.7460.</p> <p>Individual game tickets during the 2012 season are $10 for a reserved seatback and $5 for general admission, and may be purchased by phone at 303-871-2336, online at DenverPioneers.com or in person at the Ritchie Center Box Office. DU students are free with a Pioneer Card. For group ticket discounts of 20 or more, please call/e-mail&nbsp;<a href="mailto:[email protected]">Adam Sizemore</a>&nbsp;at 303-871-2389.</p> <p>Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of DU&rsquo;s NCAA Division I sports.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<strong>-EXPERIENCE DENVER ATHLETICS-</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong></strong>Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Women&rsquo;s Soccer on Facebook</p> <p>Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_WSoccer on Twitter&nbsp;</p>