Denver and Wright St. Split the Points, 1-1

by Niko Blankenship

August 24, 2012

BOULDER, Colo. - The University of Denver women's soccer team held a 23-5 advantage in shots, but at the end of the day found itself level with Wright State, 1-1, on Friday afternoon in the opening match of the Omni Hotels Colorado Women's Soccer Classic at Prentup Field. The draw is Denver's first in the regular season since August 30, 2009 (vs. No. 13 Illinois).

"We lacked a bit of urgency early in the match," head coach Jeff Hooker said. "They came out and battled a little bit harder than we did, and we ended up giving up kind of a soft goal. We rebounded well from it, and controlled the run of the play for a majority of the match after that. We created some great scoring chances, but we couldn't get them on goal."

Senior forward Emilie Fillion opened the scoring for the Raiders (2-0-1) in the seventh minute on a 12-yard strike from the right side. The goal was her third of the season. Freshman forward Ini Umotong was credited with the assist on the play.

Sophomore midfielder Nikki Pappalardo (San Diego, Calif.) leveled the match at one in the 18th minute off a Wright State turnover in the Pioneers attacking third. The Pioneer sophomore's 10-yard shot found its way just inside the left post.

After the goal, the Pioneers (1-1-1) controlled much of the possession in the rest of the first half, highlighted by a shot from junior forward Kristen Hamilton (Littleton, Colo.) that was kick-saved by WSU keeper Brooke McCurdy. Senior forward Kalie Vaughn (Fort Collins, Colo.) also had a chance in the 40th minute, a shot that shook the crossbar. Denver held a 9-1 advantage in shots at the half, but the two teams went into the intermission knotted at one.

Denver picked up where it left off in the second half. Vaughn had a chance in the 60th minute off a pass from senior forward Kaitlin Bast (Centennial, Colo.) that rolled just inches wide. In the 90th minute, sophomore defender Sam Harder (Centennial, Colo.) took a free kick from 25 yards out that deflected off the wall and then rattled the right post.

Hamilton had another chance in the 101st minute after receiving a pass from Francesca Garzelloni (Parker, Colo.), but her shot rolled just wide.

Denver will wrap-up the Omni Hotels Colorado Women's Soccer Classic against LIU Brooklyn on Sunday at 11 a.m. MT.

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