Box Score Denison's fast start to the 2011 season continued on Saturday following a 3-1 victory over Centre College from Deeds Field-Piper Stadium. The win pushed its record to 5-0, equaling the program's best start since the 1996 season.
DU came out of the gates as the aggressor in the first half, outshooting the Colonels 10-2 over the first 35 minutes of play. After some very near misses throughout the early going, DU got on the scoreboard in the 32nd minute when first-year Molly Chapman scored off a penalty corner set piece thanks to assists from Katie McMahon and Hilary Zdanowski.
Just over one minute later, sophomore Tonie Michaels accepted a pass from Karla Dixon just inside the shooting circle. Without any hesitation, Michaels fired a shot past Centre goalie Cece Lindsey for the 2-0 lead.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Centre gained possession and forced its first penalty corner of the match in the 33rd minute. Off that penalty corner, Courtney Kuiper would find Sydney White for the Colonels' first goal of the match.
Over the next 15 minutes the match got tight as Centre controlled the ball and continued to pressure the Denison defense and goalie Brittany Benson. Center would attempt four penalty corners over a 10 minute span; nearly scoring in the 49th minute when Leah Storch's shot hit the left post and bounced back into play.
DU would gain a much-needed insurance goal in the 58th minute when Alex B. Berman gathered a loose ball just five yards in front of the cage and sent it home, putting the Big Red up 3-1.
The Denison defense would hold Centre without a shot attempt over the final 12 minutes en route to the victory.
McMahon led Denison with four shots and she finished with one assist to her credit. Caroline Kasper took three shots with two resulting in saves by Lindsey. Benson ended with seven saves in 70 minutes while White and Jennifer Bohnert posted defensive saves for the Colonels.
DU outshot Centre, 12-10 but Centre out-cornered the Big Red, 6-3. Denison will put their 5-0 record on the line this Tuesday (Sept. 20) when they host Wooster at 4:30 p.m. One more win would have the Big Red off to their best start since the 1980 squad began the year with an 8-0 record.
