OMAHA, Neb. The University of Denver men’s soccer team fell to No. 5 Creighton 2-0 at Morrison Stadium on Saturday night.

                                                                                                                                              

“I thought we played some of our best soccer of the year in the second half,” head coach Bobby Muuss said. “Unfortunately for us, Creighton came out on top. They are a talented team, but that doesn’t make it any less disappointing.”

                                                                                                                                              

After trailing 1-0 at halftime, The Pioneers (2-5-0) outshot the Bluejays 6-2 in the second half but could not score on Creighton’s stifling defense, which has not allowed a goal in three straight games and only one goal in the past six games.

 

Denver’s eight shots were one more than the Bluejays had allowed in their previous two home games combined.

 

Creighton (6-1-0) got on the board just under 14 minutes into the game when Akin Akinrinade dribbled up the right side and passed it to Byron Dacy inside the box. Tim Walters one-timed a pass to the left side of the box from six yards out.

 

With 16.4 seconds left in the half, the Bluejays drew a free kick, but the shot sailed over the goal and Creighton headed to half with a 1-0 lead while holding a 6-2 shots advantage.

 

The Pioneers had a scoring chance with 34 minutes remaining. Junior midfielder Collin Audley (Fort Collins, Colo.) took a penalty kick from just outside the box. The ball rebounded off the defense to sophomore defender Ryan Aweida (Broomfield, Colo.), who flicked a pass to senior midfielder Joey Mathot (Port Moody, B.C.) to the right of the box. Mathot fired a pass to freshman forward Sam Garza (Highland Village, Texas), who one-timed a shot just left of the goal.

 

Bluejays midfielder Andrei Gotsmanov responded to getting a yellow card by stealing the ball from the Denver defense at midfield, dribbled into the box and beat goalkeeper Joe Willis (St. Louis, Mo.) one-on-one to put Creighton up by a pair of goals.

 

The Bluejays entered the game allowing only two goals on the season, both at home, including a 1-0 home loss to UMKC after outshooting the Kangaroos 22-3.

 

The Pioneers return home next weekend to begin Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action. DU takes on New Mexico on Friday at 4 p.m. and UNLV on Sunday at 2 p.m.