Hegg, Dennis Ensure Vanderbilt Victory

Hegg, Dennis Ensure Vanderbilt Victory

8/28/2005

Denver — The Vanderbilt women’s soccer team rebounded from its disappointing loss at Colorado Friday night to defeat the University of Denver 2-0 Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Field.

After Friday’s heartbreaking loss on a late goal by CU, head coach Ronnie Coveleskie Hill emphasized how important it was for her team to split the weekend road trip in Colorado and get a win on Sunday. Forwards Kelci Hegg and Sarah Dennis took that message to heart as they each scored a goal on the day, and the Commodore defense shut down Denver for its first victory of the 2005 campaign.

While Denver had the edge with home-field advantage, the altitude and having had the chance to scout VU on Friday night, the Pioneers had some own first-game kinks to work out of which the Commodores could take advantage.

“This was a typical first game for us, being that we weren’t remarkably sharp,” said DU head coach Jeff Hooker. “We got out muscled a little bit and we let that bother us in the first half. We made some adjustments it the second half and had some positive results.”

After the Commodore attack tested DU goalkeeper Dani Wiley early, Hegg put the pressure on Denver when she converted a second- chance goal in the 25th minute to take a 1-0 lead into the half.

“Kelci just had an outstanding goal,” Hill said. “In training we have really put an emphasis on what we call half-chance or second-chance goals. Kelci really did a terrific job of fighting to be in position where she could convert one of those balls and gave us a very important goal and the lead.”

Junior goalkeeper Tyler Griffin had a strong performance for the second straight game as she record two saves and her first shutout of the year.

Dennis gave the Commodores a little breathing room in the 77th minute when she took a pass from fellow senior Meghan Habig and deposited the ball in the back of the net for her second goal.

While the offense put the pressure on the DU backfield, firing 16 shots and earning eight corner kicks, the defense was just as foreboding as it allowed only six shots and two corners from the Denver attack.

“Lauren Mitchell deserves a lot of credit for our victory today,” Hill said. “She really worked out there, playing endlin to endline and really inspiring everyone to pick it up a little. She was probably the player of the match for us.”

The Commodores will be back in action Friday night at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex for its home opener against Francis Marion University. The game will begin at 7 pm.