Box Score DENVER Junior midfielder Collin Audley (Fort Collins, Colo.) scored the game-winning goal, as the University of Denver men’s soccer team downed Sacramento State 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
With the victory, Denver (7-5-0) remains a perfect 5-0-0 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play this season, one win shy of DU’s best start in the conference.
“We are extremely happy to start the conference season at 5-0,” head coach Bobby Muuss said. “This is a huge win against another very good team. We got a big goal from Collin Audley in the second half, and Joe Willis made some big saves in goal.”
Sophomore midfielder Ryan Aweida (Broomfield, Colo.) put the Pioneers on the board just 19 seconds before halftime. Senior midfielder Joe Mathot (Port Moody, B.C.) fired a free kick to senior defender Colin Jones (Philadelphia, Pa.). Jones flicked the ball to Aweida, who volleyed it off the bottom of the crossbar and into the goal.
Less than four minutes into the second half, Audley put Denver up for good. Senior midfielder Leon Abravanel (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.) served the ball back to freshman midfielder Alex DeCosta (Dallas, Texas). DeCosta one-timed a pass to Audley, who buried the shot on a one-timer.
Sacramento State (6-6-2, 1-4-0 MPSF) got one back when Zach Tuss scored on a pass from Scott Crandall in the 67th minute, and the Hornets nearly tied the game in the 77th minute, when a header by Chris Bettencourt hit the crossbar.
Sophomore goalkeeper Joe Willis (St. Louis, Mo.) recorded six saves, while Sacramento State edged Denver 16-15 in shots.
The Pioneers return home for its final nonconference game of the regular season, when Denver hosts Alabama A&M at Pioneer Field on Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.
