Sept. 10, 2006

Box Score

WILMINGTON - Senior James Merriman's (Nanaimo, B.C.) 18-yard blast deflected off a defender and into the goal with 1:20 remaining in their final game at the UNCW/Jameson Inn Soccer Classic as Denver edged Stony Brook 2-1. The Pioneers improve to 3-2-1 while the Seawolves dip to 1-5.

DU opened the scoring in the 26th minute when senior Ben Mendozza (Aurora, Colo.) headed home sophomore Joey Mathot's (Port Moody, B.C.) corner kick from the left side.

"Mendozza was the most dominant player on the field today," Head Coach Chad Ashton said. "As a senior, he shows great leadership on the field."

Stony Brook rallied to tie the game at 1-all on a goal by senior Adam Ciklic at the 56:06 mark. Sophomore Martin Lynch gathered a loose ball and sent a cross into the box where Ciklic headed in the tying goal.

For the game-winning goal, Merriman received a pass on the left side and dribbled across the top of the penalty area before taking his shot that deflected past a diving SBU goal keeper with 1:20 left in the game.

Junior goalkeeper Matt Bredehoft (Ft. Collins, Colo.) made four saves in today's game to help the Pioneers to their 2-1 win.

"Today's game was a credit to how well our team can handle three consecutive weeks on the road," Ashton said.

The Pioneers open their home schedule next Friday, Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. when they face Alabama A&M at Pioneer Field.