Rams battle to draw at Denver, 1-1, in 2018 season opener

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DENVER – The Colorado State women's soccer team battled the Denver Pioneers to a 1-1 draw in the two teams' respective 2018 season openers on Thursday night from Pioneer Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.

Colorado State and Denver each registered a pair of shots on goal in a scoreless first half, with each of the Rams' in the first 10 minutes and the Pioneers' over the later 22 of the opening period. The Rams' two shots on net came courtesy of Hannah Gerdin and Caeley Lordemann, whose shot came from within the penalty area in the second minute. The Pioneers manufactured their shots on goal off five first-half corner kick opportunities, but goalkeeper Hunter Peifer stopped both.

After a scoreless first half, CSU and DU exchanged goals within 10 minutes of each other in the early stages of the second. The Rams opened the scoring in the 58th minute, as a Gerdin cross from the left side that was intended for Lordemann in the goal area was deflected in by a Pioneer defender and ruled an own goal. DU answered nine minutes later on a Hannah Adler header from the left side of the goal area to the back post.

CSU positioned itself defensively for a favorable outcome in extra time, holding Denver without a shot over the final 20 minutes. The only shot in overtime was taken by Gerdin, and was by far the best chance for either team in either period of extra time. With about five minutes to play, a DU defender's turnover in their end of the field found the foot of Gerdin in a one-on-one situation with the keeper. However, her shot went just high and left of the top-left corner of the goal and the score remained 1-1.

STAT OF THE MATCH
Colorado State has lost just once in its six season openers. The Rams are 2-1-3 all-time in their first game in a season, and are unbeaten in their last four season openers (1-0-3).

IN THEIR WORDS
Colorado State head coach Bill Hempen
"Our team played pretty well tonight against a team expected to win its conference, and we had some players that probably had personal-best performances out there. Hannah (Gerdin) was certainly one of them, and KK (Caeley Lordemann) was outstanding. For a freshman in her first game, Sam (Studt) playing 101 minutes really made a difference out there, as did the some kids off the bench that stepped in and made a significant contribution. We all want to win, but I really liked our players' effort out there tonight."

NOTES

Five players – Halley Havlicek, Caeley Lordemann, Hunter Peifer, Beth Plentl and Lexi Swenson - saw the pitch for all 110 minutes of Thursday's match.
Other notable minutes totals included 101 for Samantha Studt and 95 for Lauren Jones.
Studt made her first collegiate start against Denver on Thursday.
Thursday night also marked the first collegiate appearance for Studt and fellow freshman midfielder Ariell Hopkins.

UP NEXT
The Colorado State women's soccer team returns to Colorado Cup action on Sunday at Colorado. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. MT from Prentup Field.

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