Oct. 20, 2006

Box Score

DENVER - Freshman Miles Marmo (Excelsior, Minn.) scored the game-winning goal in the 36th minute as the University of Denver men's soccer team shut out MPSF rival San Jose State 3-0 Friday afternoon at Pioneer Field. Junior goalkeeper Matt Bredehoft (Fort Collins, Colo.) earned his sixth shutout of the season, helping the Pioneers improve to 10-3-1 as the Spartans fall to 6-7-1. DU defeated San Jose State for the second time in eight days.

"The difference between this weekend and last weekend really was the home field advantage," Head Coach Chad Ashton said. "Factors like altitude and the great crowd make it difficult for other teams to play here." The Pioneers started off slow, but still outshot San Jose State 7-2. The game was scoreless for the first 35 minutes.

"I wasn't happy with the first half," Ashton said. "We didn't work hard enough and weren't playing with much emotion."

Things changed when Marmo entered the game and scored off of a cross from senior James Merriman (Nanaimo, B.C.) in the 36th minute.

"It was nice to be able to score and help out the team," said Marmo. "The intensity just wasn't there, but I felt like I was in the right place at the right time."

The goal went unanswered and the Pioneers went into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.

"At half time, we decided to change things and get our intensity level up which is something we need to start doing at the beginning of the game," Ashton said.

The Pioneers came out the second half and scored a goal in the 57th minute of the game as freshman Kellan Christensen (Layton, Utah) pounded a cross from senior Ben Mendozza (Aurora, Colo.) into the back of the net.

"Christensen had a great second half, contributing a well-executed goal," Ashton said.

Christensen's goal was followed by another Pioneer goal, scored by Mendozza from 20 yards out in the 77th minute.

"This is a big weekend for us," said Marmo. "San Jose State was contending for the conference title and the win will put a lot of pressure on New Mexico."

The Pioneers continue MPSF play Sunday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m., when they host Sacramento State at Pioneer Field.