Denver Pioneers move on to WAC soccer championship
With a spot in the title game up for grabs, the second-seeded Denver Pioneers marched past No. 3 Texas State with a decisive 2-0 victory to earn a spot in the Western Athletic Conference women’s soccer tournament championship match.
The Pioneers controlled possession early and drew first blood after forward Kaitlin Bast beat Bobcat goalkeeper Natalie Gardini in a one-on-one to bury a shot in the fourth minute.
Denver played the role of aggressor throughout the first half, outshooting Texas State 7-2, but managed two quality chances to hold a 2-1 edge in shots on goal. The Bobcats also racked up four fouls in the first 45 minutes.
Texas State managed several quality opportunities, winning back-to-back corner kicks in the first 10 minutes, but the Bobcats were unable to net the equalizer.
The Pioneers came out fast and furious in the second half, doubling their advantage on a corner kick in the first minute of action. Nicholette DiGiacomo played the ball into the box and Kalie Vaughn finished from three yards out for her second goal of the season.
It was all Denver from there as the Pioneers outshot the Bobcats 14-4 for the match, 7-2 in both halves.
It was the sixth-straight win for Denver, which improved to 15-1-4 overall this season and holds a 19-game unbeaten streak. The Pioneers’ only loss of the season came to Colorado College in the first match of the regular season.
Denver will put its streak on the line with a shot at an NCAA tournament berth on Sunday against the winner of the other WAC semi-final match, either No. 1 Utah State or No. 5 Seattle. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
– curtis.lundstrom@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @CurtisLundstrom