"We didn't come out with enough energy in the first half and that was a really big difference in the game," head coach Jason Neidell stated. "In the second half we came out with a lot more energy and we started to make things happen. We didn't come out with enough intensity in the first half and that was a difference, we dug ourselves into a hole we were unable to get out of."
The Lady Toppers opened the first half allowing Denver to control the ball and open with the first shot. WKU played tough defense in the first half as Denver fought hard with 10 shots in the first half and three of them on goal. The Lady Toppers were only able to post five shots with three on goal in the first half. WKU goalkeeper Libby Stout made two big saves in the half.
With the first half winding down, it looked as though the Lady Toppers would hold the match knotted at 0-0 going into the half, but Denver was able to punch one in the net past Stout with 10 seconds remaining in the first half. The goal scored by Kaitlin Bast from left side of goal knocked it in just past Stout into the right side of the goal. Giving Denver a 1-0 advantage going into the second half.
WKU came out in the second half with more intensity and control of the ball. Lady Topper Kelsey Meyer posted the first shot of the second half. In the 66th minute of action Mallory Outerbridge came running up the middle with the ball and found an opening shot it on goal, with it looking to go in, a Denver defender came running through the net and made the save.
Denver found the net once again in the 76th minute of play by Nicholette DiGiacomo up the middle. The Lady Toppers were unable to bounce back and find the net.
The Lady Toppers were outshot by Denver 13-11, but WKU posted six shots on goal to Denver's four. WKU had four corner kick opportunities as Denver posted six. Leading the Lady Toppers in the match was Outerbridge with four shots and three on goal, while Meyer posted four shots as well with one on goal.
WKU goalkeeper Libby Stout played the entire 90-minute match with two saves coming in the first period. Stout's record now sits as 2-3-2 on the season.
Up Next: The 2010 WKU Lady Topper soccer team (3-4-2, 1-1 SBC) will hit the road for a four-game road trip starting Friday against UALR in Little Rock, Ark. at 7:00 p.m., before taking on Arkansas State Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
