Kristen Hamilton leads the Pioneers in assists. Photo: Rich Clarkson & Associates
Last year, DU’s women’ soccer team plowed its way through the Sun Belt Conference regular season, sweeping all 11 conference opponents en route to the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. DU won its first two tournament games to earn a spot against Middle Tennessee for the conference title and an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. After 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtimes, however, the score was knotted at 0-0.
The game was determined on penalty kicks, with the Blue Raiders winning 3-2. Although DU had a record of 19-2-1 — the best in team history — the Pioneers were left out of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four seasons while Middle Tennessee danced its way into the first round.
The Pioneers will look to avenge that heartbreaking loss when Middle Tennessee visits CIBER Field at 7 p.m. on Sept. 23.
DU is 9-3-1 all-time against the Blue Raiders, which are 3-5-0 overall but have posted shutout victories against their last two opponents. The Pioneers are 6-2-0 after the nonconference portion of their schedule.
Going into the game, DU’s Kristen Hamilton, a sophomore forward from Littleton, Colo., is 22nd in the nation with five assists and leads the team in assists, goals (4) and points (13). Hamilton’s streak of seven straight games with a goal or assist was snapped last Sunday against Auburn.
Tickets for Pioneers soccer are $5 for general admission and $8 for reserved chairbacks. DU student tickets are free with a Pioneer Card. Visit the DU Pioneers website for tickets.
This week’s Pioneer schedule (All times Mountain)
| Sept. 23 | Women’s Soccer | Middle Tennessee | CIBER Field | 7 p.m. |
| Sept. 23 | Volleyball | Florida Atlantic | Hamilton Gym | 7 p.m. |
| Sept. 23-25 | Men’s Tennis | DU Invitational | Gates Tennis Center | TBA |
| Sept. 24 | Women’s Lacrosse | Colorado State (exh.) | Barton Stadium | 10:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 25 | Volleyball | Florida International | Hamilton Gym | 12 p.m. |
| Sept. 25 | Women’s Soccer | Western Kentucky | CIBER Field | 1 p.m. |