Bast's Senior Day Goal Sparks DU to 1-0 Win

by Niko Blankenship

October 21, 2012

DENVER - Senior forward Kaitlin Bast (Centennial, Colo.) scored the lone goal of the match to lift the University of Denver women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Texas State on Senior Day Sunday at CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.

"We got a really nice goal in the first half," head coach Jeff Hooker. "After that, we stopped putting pressure on them and knocked the ball around the back. We started to do it again in the second half, and after they started sitting back a little, we didn't need another goal so we continued to knock the ball around. We were able to keep the ball most of the match and protect against the counter."

Bast scored for the second-consecutive match to put the Pioneers (12-1-4, 4-0-2 WAC, 14 pts.) on the board in the 32nd minute on assists from senior striking partner Kalie Vaughn (Fort Collins, Colo.) and junior midfielder Nicholette DiGiacomo (Golden, Colo.). Denver strung together a few passes down the right flank to start the scoring chance. DiGiacomo dribbled through two defenders, got to the endline and played a cross to Vaughn, who was making a back-post run. Vaughn volleyed it out of the air to Bast on the six-yard box, who headed it into the back of the net.

With her assist this afternoon, DiGiacomo moved into a tie for third on DU's all-time list (28).

The Pioneers outshot the Bobcats (6-11-1, 3-4-0 WAC, 12 pts.) 10-4 on the afternoon, and held a 5-0 advantage on corners.

Prior to the match, Denver honored its five seniors before the group's last home regular season contest. Vaughn and Bast were joined by classmates Maria Khan (Aurora, Colo.), Katy Van Lieshout (Boulder, Colo.) and Lara Campbell (Anchorage, Alaska).

The Pioneers wrap-up the 2012 regular season on the road next weekend, traveling to Idaho on Friday for a 4 p.m. MT kickoff, before playing at Seattle next Sunday at 1 p.m. MT. With today's results in the WAC, Denver moved into sole possession of second place in the standings. The Pioneers are three points behind Utah State, but have a game in hand heading into the final weekend of conference play.

-EXPERIENCE DENVER ATHLETICS-

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