The University of Arizona soccer team won 2-1 against the University of Denver on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. at Mulcahy Soccer Stadium. This victory was the Wildcats’ first win in three games after falling in back-to-back matchups last week.
In addition to the team’s return home, fans were encouraged to bring their four-legged friends for Pups on the Pitch night, an event to bring out fans and their companions.
“We were so excited to have all the pups on the pitch,” Marissa Arnst said. “My parents were thinking of making the road trip down but they didn’t make it out so my dog didn’t come, unfortunately.”
First half
The Wildcats started out slow offensively, swinging the ball through the back to try and find movement up top. Denver had a few threatening chances offensively but ultimately couldn’t get past Arizona’s back line and their connection with Olivia Ramey in goal. Communication kept the Wildcats moving as a unit through most of the early minutes of the match.
Arizona tried to send long balls over the top of Denver’s defense but most balls fell short into the possession of Denver or were hit just hard enough to run out of play and off the field.
Despite Arizona’s limited offensive opportunities, the Wildcats managed to maintain possession for most of the half. However, the few times Denver had the ball, the Pioneers were able to capitalize on it and make dangerous plays in the offensive third.
Aranda Hurge, a junior center back, hit a shot for the Wildcats from far out, sending it just over the crossbar and out of bounds. In the following play, Denver had a breakaway down the side of the field where Maia Brown, a senior defenseman, made a huge tackle to strip Denver’s offense from holding possession.
Minutes after, off a Wildcat cross, Narissa Fults, sophomore forward, found the net to put up Arizona’s first goal of the match. This kickstarted efforts on both sides of the field but helped Arizona connect up top more as Denver scrambled out of the game.
Arizona controlled the ball as the game continued, limiting Denver to very few periods with the ball.
As the first half came to a close, the Wildcats continued to fire off pressure against Denver’s back line, using every opportunity as a chance to further their lead before entering half-time. Denver had one last chance as well in the last 30 seconds, a shot bouncing off the cross-bar, but wasn’t able to catch up to Arizona.
Second half
Both teams came out hungry at the start of the half with high pressure in all areas of the field. Denver came out early with two corner kicks and a breakaway, creating a high intensity atmosphere in their final third.
The Wildcats tried to slow down the play by continuing to swing the ball through the back line but Denver kept up their intensity and continued to get off opportunities that could lead to a goal.
The programs traded off shots and chances at goal with possession switching between. Arnst was a key player in the Wildcat defense with crucial stops and turning them into offensive opportunities for Arizona.
The final 15 minutes of the game were nail-biting for both sides. Fans cheered at every opportunity Arizona had until they finally secured their second goal of the game. A Wildcat was fouled inside the box resulting in a penalty kick. Arizona’s Sami Baytosh put the Wildcats in a 2-0 lead.
In the 84th minute of play, off a Denver corner, Annie Philbin, a freshman defender, scored a header goal, putting them back in the game. With 5 minutes remaining in the match, Denver scraped to get another goal in to tie the match while Arizona sent the ball down the field to kill the clock.
At the final whistle, Arizona walked away with a 2-1 victory.
“After the week in California, we knew we had to come back, work on the things that we’ve been working on and get even better. And we came out and we showed that today,” Arnst said.
Looking ahead
Wildcat soccer will face Pepperdine University in their next matchup on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Mulcahy Soccer Stadium.
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