Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Kaila Cameli gave Portland an early lead, but Denver’s Kristen Hamilton responded with three unanswered goals as the Pioneers defeated the No. 13 Pilots 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at Merlo Field. Hamilton’s hat trick is the first on Merlo Field since Cameli accomplished the feat last season against Saint Mary’s.
Cameli has scored three straight goals for Portland, which drops to 6-2-1 on the season. She scored twice in the second half during a win against Seattle on Friday night, and she found the back of the net in the 19th minute against the Pioneers.
In a one-v-one opportunity with DU’s goalkeeper Lara Campbell, Cameli calmly snuck a shot past Campbell and inside the right post to give the Pilots the 1-nil advantage. Her sixth goal of the season matches Amanda Frisbie for the team lead, while Sarah Bridges picked up her first assist of the year on the play.
But the Pilots didn’t have an answer for Hamilton, who notched the equalizer two minutes later. On a long ball sent over the top from Nicolette Digiacomo, Hamilton was able to punch one past Portland keeper Erin Dees and into the right corner of the net.
Then in the 38th minute, Hamilton finished on a header off a perfect ball sent in by Cassidy Larson. This time Hamilton went inside the left post from the middle of the 18-yard box, giving the Pioneers a 2-1 advantage.
Her third came three minutes into the second half when she went top shelf after finding her way around the UP backline.
Denver improves to 8-1-2 on the year, running its unbeaten streak to 10 games.
The Pilots matched the Pioneers with 14 shots, and Frisbie nearly made it a one-goal game when she rattled the crossbar on a free kick in the 82nd minute. Frisbie led the Portland attack with six shots on the day.
Campbell finished with five saves, while Dees countered with three,
Portland was short-handed against the Pioneers as juniors Kendall Johnson and Ellen Parker and sophomore Rebekah Kurle missed the game due to injuries.
The Pilots will look to bounce back when the Cal State Northridge Matadors visit from a non-conference match on Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Merlo Field.
