Box Score

DENVER - The University of Denver men's soccer team won the first game at the new University of Denver Soccer Stadium with a 2-1 overtime thriller over the University of Dayton in front of a packed house on Friday night.

The Flyers (0-2-1) struck first and led 1-0 for the majority of the game, but the Pioneers (1-2) fought hard and at the 61:16 mark sophomore Matt Kirby (Beaumont, Texas) lofted a Jarod Stigall (Plano, Texas) pass over the charging Dayton goalie to score the equalizer.  The goal marked Kirby's and the Pioneers first of the season.

DU retained the momentum as the game moved into overtime.  Freshman Alex Tarnoczi (Castle Rock, Colo.) took advantage of a rebound off a Stigall shot and buried the goal to send the Pioneers home as victors. 

"The atmosphere that the DU student body and the Denver soccer community provided was excellent," said head coach Bobby Muuss. "To start the season 0-2, be down a goal in this game and come back and win shows the dedication of this team.  I am extremely proud of all the players."

The game was hard fought as DU was called for 12 fouls and two yellow cards, while Dayton had 11 fouls, three yellow cards and a red card, which left Dayton shorthanded for nearly 25 minutes.

The Pioneers will remain in the friendly confines of the University of Denver Soccer Stadium, as they face Belmont University on Sunday at 2 p.m.  The game will be webcast on Pioneer Vision at DenverPioneers.com.