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The Denver Pioneers women's soccer team overcame both their opponent and Mother Nature Saturday, defeating Colorado College 3-1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The game was marred by repeated weather issues. Hail began to fall as the game began, and the conditions only worsened from there.
Pioneer forward Kristen Hamilton opened scoring in the 17th minute, when she fielded a through ball from strike partner Kaitlin Bast and slotted it past the Colorado College goalkeeper. Bast would add two more goals early in the second half. In the 54th minute, Bast got her head to a cross from Kalie Vaughn and put it past the keeper. Nine minutes later, Bast again beat her marker to a cross, this one from Cassidy Larson. A late Colorado College goal narrowed the margin to two, but the Tigers never threatened the Denver advantage.
This was is the second NCAA Tournament win in program history for Denver, now 16-2-4 on the season. The Pioneers will face Maryland in Palo Alto, Calif. Friday. The Terrapins (14-6-2) defeated Stony Brook 2-0 in their opening match Saturday.