SAN DIEGO — Michaela Foster and Ariana Scholten each scored, Ellyn Casto collected four saves, and the San Diego women's soccer team defeated the visiting Denver Pioneers on Saturday night 2-1 in Torero Stadium.

The Pioneers (5-5) were on the board first on a first half strike by Sydney Sharp. Sami Feller broke away from the defense and slid the ball to Sharp who fired in to take a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute. 

This lead remained at half, thanks to some heroic goalkeeping by Toreros (5-4) goalkeeper Casto. When Denver won a free kick in a dangerous area just outside the box, Casto fully extended to tip the shot beyond the post. 

At halftime, the Toreros were being outshot 9-4. 

But adjustments were made in the second half. 

"We changed a little bit tactically to eliminate what was working well for them. The girls bought in and it really put pressure on the areas they were attacking." Coach Lou Lieberman said of second half adjustments. Those adjustments paid off. 

Delaney Jannone drew a penalty in the 66th minute when a Denver defender tackled her in the corner of the box. Foster sauntered over to the spot before taking aim and firing a line drive to the right of the outstretched keeper. 

Scholten got to play the hero. After being on the pitch for only two minutes, Scholten found herself at the back post with a bouncing ball in front of her that she tapped in for the game winner. The ball was played in by Malia Walencewicz and misplayed by a Denver defender prior to the goal.

The Toreros endured a few Denver chances in the waning minutes of the game. In the 80th minute Foster once again came to the rescue, this time on the defensive side of the ball. With Casto coming off of her line, the Denver forward chipped a ball over the top. Foster sprinted and slid, kicking the ball away right before it went over the line, catapulting herself into the net in the process. 

"I am really proud of the soccer piece of this game, as well as the effort piece." said Lieberman. 

The Toreros snapped a three game losing streak with the win and will look to continue the success into conference play, beginning Saturday, October 2 in Santa Clara. 

San Diego will return home to Pepperdine on Wednesday, October 6 in Torero Stadium. Tickets for that match and each remaining home game are available on USDToreros.com or at the Jenny Craig Pavilion box office.