In a showdown of state powers, DU got the early goal and defended it to steal a 1-0 win over Colorado on the road at Prentup Field on Sunday.

The Pioneers (5-1-0) followed their early season script of scoring the first goal of every match, as forward Kalie Vaughn opened the scoring in the seventh minute.

After the Pioneers raced out to an early one goal lead, Cal got a hat trick from senior forward Katie Benz to send the Bears past DU 4-2.

Forward Kristen Hamilton scored on a pass from forward Kaitlin Bast and fired past diving Cal goalkeeper Emily Kruger.

Cal's Benz would start the second half just as quickly as Hamilton started the first, scoring in the 47th minute to tie the score at 1-1.

In a season that began with the University of Denver women's soccer team winning its first three games by an overtime finish against Northern Colorado, withstanding a late surge against Colorado College and a come from behind game-winner with 20 seconds remaining against Nebraska, the Pioneers could use a stress-free victory.

A brace from Kaitlin Bast and the second last-minute winner in three games this season from Kristen Hamilton produced a 3-2 Pioneers win over the visiting University of Nebraska at DU's CIBER Field.

"It was a very emotional game," said coach Jeff Hooker. "That's a Kristen type of goal. Everyone's got a jersey, pulling her hair, pulling her shoulder, pulling her shorts.

Kristen Hamilton's weekend play scoring twice on Friday and assisting on both goal on Sunday earned the DU sophomore forward player of the week honors from the Sun Belt Conference.

"Kristen has had a tremendous start to the year, and this weekend was an indicator of how well she prepared during the offseason," head coach Jeff Hooker said.

Battling the rain and a determined opponent, the University of Denver finally found a winner against the University of Northern Colorado in the second period of extra time in the second game of the inaugural Colorado Cup late Friday.

DU prevailed in the opener for both teams at the Pioneers' CIBER Field when Nicholette DiGiacomo's flick was punched into the back of the net by Kristen Hamilton in the 109th minute.