Sept. 29, 2006

Box Score

DENVER - Sophomore Joey Mathot's (Port Moody, B.C.) goal in the 23rd minute helped The University of Denver men's soccer team top MPSF rival New Mexico 1-0 Friday afternoon at Pioneer Field. Junior Matt Bredehoft's (Fort Collins, Colo.) six saves helped the Pioneers improve to 5-3-1 as the Lobos fall to 5-3-1.

"We're happy to start conference play 1-0," Head Coach Chad Ashton said. The Pioneers dominated the first half of play, outshooting New Mexico 8-2, including a great header by Colin Jones (Philadelphia, Pa.) that was saved in the third minute and a shot by Greg Fiddick (Sidney, B.C.) that was deflected off of the left post.

Mathot's goal came when he caught New Mexico goalkeeper Mike Graczyk by surprise from 40 yards out sending the ball through Graczyk's legs. The goal is Mathot's first career goal.

Denver almost scored again on a breakaway by James Merriman (Nanaimo, B.C.) at 42:43 until he was pulled down by Lobo defender Simon Ejdemyr, who was issued a red card for the play and ejected from the game.

The Lobos came out fighting the second half and outshot Denver 9-7. New Mexico's best chance at a goal was halfway through the second period when Andrew Boyens headed the ball into a jumping Bredehoft's extended hands.

"The defense played especially hard today and with a lot of emotion," Ashton said. "We need to work on being more composed when we're a man up."

The Pioneers face another MPSF rival when they take on UNLV Sunday, Oct 1 at 1 p.m.