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Pioneers beat Buffs on early goal
In a showdown of state powers, DU got the early goal and defended it to steal a 1-0 win over Colorado on the road at Prentup Field on Sunday.
The Pioneers (5-1-0) followed their early season script of scoring the first goal of every match, as forward Kalie Vaughn opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Kristen Hamilton and forward Kaitlin Bast exchanged a few passes down the left side before finding a streaking Vaughn in the middle. Vaughn took a touch before placing it with her left foot into the corner past CU ‘keeper Annie Brunner.
Denver has scored the first goal in each of its first six matches this season.
“It’s always nice to come out and score the first goal,” head coach Jeff Hooker said. “I was really impressed with the goal, four or five players all got one or two touches, great combinations, great movement which makes it very tough to defend when you have that many players moving diagonally off the ball.”
With 10 seconds remaining, the Buffs (2-4-0) earned a corner, took it quickly and got a shot off as senior defender Maggi Steury got a boot on it, but her attempt was wide.
Lara Campbell made just her second start of the season and made seven saves in the contest, one shy of her career high that she set in the Colorado match last season. The afternoon’s shutout was the first of the season for the Pioneers and the 19th of Campbell’s career.
Similar to the match that the Pioneers played against Colorado College at Prentup Field in August, the backline was tested time and time again in the final third of the game. The Buffs held an 11-4 advantage in shots in the second half, giving them a 17-8 advantage in the match.
Denver will now prepare to host the Denver Invitational next weekend as they welcome CU, Cal State Bakersfield and Auburn to CIBER Field for a full weekend of matches. Denver will host Cal State Bakersfield on Friday, after CU opens play against Auburn. On Sunday, DU will open play against Auburn, before CU and CSU Bakersfield wrap up the invitational.
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