Pioneers Conclude Home Slate with 6-0 Win

October 21, 2011

DENVER - The University of Denver women's soccer team provided its seniors with a final home game to remember on Thursday night, routing Arkansas State 6-0 at CIBER Field.

Junior forward Kristen Hamilton (Littleton, Colo.) earned the fifth multi-goal game of her career with a pair of second half goals. Junior forward Katy Van Lieshout (Boulder, Colo.), sophomore midfielder Nicholette DiGiacomo (Golden, Colo.), freshman forwardAnna Willis (Centennial, Colo.) and freshman defender Jacey Birtcher (Temecula, Calif.) had a goal apiece for the Pioneers (14-3-0, 8-1-0 SBC).

"I thought that we came out very well and very focused," head coach Jeff Hooker said of his team on senior day. "(The seniors have) not only been good teammates, but they've been great in the classroom as well. Just seeing the big smiles on their faces today makes me proud."

Freshman defender Sam Harder (Centennial, Colo.) started the opening scoring opportunity in the ninth minute, playing a quick free kick to DiGiacomo who crossed it into the penalty area. Van Lieshout got on the end of the cross, composed herself in the box, and hooked it past the outstretched arms of Red Wolves' senior goalkeeper Megan Stolzfus.

DiGiacomo made it 2-0 in the 48th minute off assists from Van Lieshout and senior midfielder Bria Beardsley (Mission Viejo, Calif.). Beardsley started the chance, playing Van Lieshout down the left side and passing it to DiGiacomo, who quickly fired from just outside the 18 and found the back of the net.

Hamilton knocked home a scrappy goal after a corner kick service from Beardsley bounced like a pinball off bodies in the box, and Hamilton tapped it by the keeper in the 49^th minute.

The Littleton, Colo., native netted her second goal of the match in the 64th minute on assists from Beardsley and freshman defender Paige Diamond (Pleasanton, Colo.). Hamilton made a run down the left side and drilled a strike just inside the far post. That goal moved Hamilton into seventh on DU's all-time single season points list.

DU made it 5-0 in the 76^th minute, as a through ball from freshman midfielder Caitlin Higgins (Boudler, Colo.) freed Willis behind the Red Wolves defense, and the freshman forward sent a screamer off the right post and into the back of the net.

Birtcher knocked home the sixth and final goal for the Pioneers in the 90^th minute after a great cross from Willis set her up in the middle of the box for the goal.

Junior Maria Khan (Aurora, Colo.) and sophomore Amelia Davis (Palisade, Colo.) split time in goal, filling in for junior Lara Campbell (Anchorage, Alaska) who missed the match due to illness.

The Pioneers held a 17-4 (13-1 on goal) advantage in shots over Arkansas State (6-9-2, 4-5-0 SBC), as well as a 7-0 advantage in corners.

Denver will travel to Arkansas-Little Rock on Sunday for an 11 a.m. MT kickoff.