Women's soccer falls 4-1 in exhibition match

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Lleane Grimditch scored two goals to propel defending Sun Belt Conference Champion Denver over the U.S. Air Force Academy team, 4-1, Aug. 20 in their soccer exhibition openers here.

The Denver Pioneers scored the first goal 42 seconds into the match and never looked back. Holly Huppert took a pass from Laura Mann on the right side and fired from 5 yards out past Air Force goal keeper Jennifer Drew for the opening score.

The Pioneers made it 2-0 at the 8:50 mark as Air Force Falcon defender Jennifer Ford’s pass back to Drew missed its mark and ended up in the Falcon’s net. Grimditch was credited with the goal, and Taryn Hemmings got the assist.

Denver made it 3-0 six seconds before the half as Diana Brunkhardt bent a shot from 25 yards out straight-on over the Falcon defense. It became a 4-0 game as Grimditch, the reigning Sun Belt player of the year, also curled a shot from 24 yards out over the Air Force defenders at the 50:47 mark.

Air Force got on the scoreboard with 22 seconds left to play when Christin Brodie took a pass from Elaine Tatarek and sent a shot over the keeper from 25 yards out to make it a 4-1 match.

Denver dominated the Air Force squad that saw nine freshmen play in their first collegiate exhibition match, as the Pioneers out-shot the Falcons 10-8 and had the decisive edge in corner kicks 10-1.

The Falcons open the 2004 regular season here Aug. 29 against Northern Colorado.