Second-year DU women’s soccer head coach Julianne Sitch is returning a solid team with five of last season’s seven leading scorers along with the return of goalkeeper Molly Wissman who played in all 18 games last season. Sitch’s team has completed two home exhibitions with a 1-0 loss to preseason #18 Texas Tech (1-0) and a win against Air Force (3-0).

The strength and experience of the team resides at midfield, led by last season’s Summit League newcomer of the year Liv Moritz along with senior Riley Baker, senior Ella Frost, redshirt junior Samantha Dreiling, grad student Venessa Murray and redshirt senior Addisyn Hyup.

Veteran defenders Megan Pezich and Hannah Gallegos graduated and the back line will be anchored this season by Jordan Crockett and, likely, San Diego sophomore transfer Emma Thielbahr. Expect some time for the back-lie to jell as Sitch firms up her rotation.

The biggest question mark is a relatively unproven front line with leading scorer Kaitlyn Glover and forward Camryn McMillan lost to graduation. Can Denver find dangerous forward(s) who can create goals in the box when needed? Senior Delaney McGowan (0-0), senior Blythe Sales (1-1) freshman Megan Murray, and redshirt freshman Shay Payne have yet to produce. Murray was rated as the top forward in the state of Illinois and the No. 2 forward in the Midwest region, according to Top Drawer Soccer and Denver could benefit from an emerging forward.

Denver women’s soccer is coming off a 9-2-7 season after going 5-1-2 in Summit League play and winning their fifth consecutive regular season conference crown. However, the Pioneers were bounced by Omaha in the Summit League tournament semifinal shootout and were denied the NCAA tournament.

The Pioneers open non-conference play this Thursday night against #13 North Carolina in Denver at 7:00 pm MT at Pioneer Field.

Top photo of Liv Moritz courtesy of Denver Athletics