Oct. 1, 2006

Box Score

DENVER - The University of Denver men's soccer team shut out MPSF rival UNLV 5-0 Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Field. The Pioneers scored three goals in the first ten minutes of play, helping them improve to 6-3-1 as the Rebels fall to 0-8-2.

"Our game plan was to jump on them early and keep up that tenacity throughout the game," Head Coach Chad Ashton said, "I think we executed that really well today."

The Pioneers first goal came in the third minute when sophomore Joey Mathot (Port Moody, B.C.) scored on a penalty kick after the Rebels were charged with a handball in the box. Less than four minutes later, Collin Audley (Fort Collins, Colo.) headed in a cross from Colin Jones (Philadelphia, Pa.) for the second goal of the game. Then at 8:21, senior James Merriman (Nanaimo, B.C.) shot the ball from 20 yards out into the bottom right corner for the Pioneers third goal within the first ten minutes of play.

The goals went unanswered as Denver outshot UNLV 16-5 throughout the entire game thanks to a flawless Pioneer defensive effort.

The Pioneers added two more goal in the second half, courtesy of senior Ben Mendozza (Aurora, Colo.) and junior Jacob Chase (Golden, Colo.). Mendozza headed in a cross from Audley in the 58th minute and Chase headed in senior Mike Seager's (Victoria, B.C.) cross at 62:07.

"We played well the entire weekend," Ashton said. "We came out with a lot of passion and emotion which is something I hope we can continue throughout the rest of the season."

The Pioneers continue MPSF play next Saturday Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. when they take on Air Force in Colorado Springs, Colo.