Sept. 22, 2016 THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE • Denver controlled proceedings in the second half and came away with a point on the road at [12/8] Creighton on Wednesday night at Morrison Stadium.
• DU will begin Summit League play with a home match against IPFW on Saturday at 7 p.m. MT at CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
• The Pioneers will play their first single-game week next week when Denver makes the trip to Eastern Illinois (Oct. 1/11 a.m. MT).
BREAKING DOWN DENVER'S 2016 SCHEDULE • Denver will look to defend its back-to-back-to-back Summit League Championships in 2016 against Eastern Illinois, IPFW, IUPUI, Omaha, Oral Roberts and Western Illinois...IUPUI was the only Summit League team to take a point off the Pioneers in 2015 (1-1 draw).
• The Pioneers 12 match non-league slate includes nine teams that finished in the top-100 of the RPI a year ago, including three teams in the top-50...Each of the four opponents in Denver's season opening road trip were in the top-76.
• DU will play eight multiple-game weeks in 2016, compared to just five in 2015 (18 compared to 16 regular season matches).
FOUR-YEAR CYCLE • Including 2016, Denver has a 46-12-10 record over the last four seasons.
• DU's 46 wins are good for sixth in the country in that span (thru 9/18).
• Akron leads the country with 53 wins, and Creighton sits fourth with 48 wins.
OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN • For the second-straight year, the Pioneers are captained by senior defensive midfielder
Sam Hamilton.
A NEW ROAD FORM • Denver has nine away games on the docket in 2016, including the season-opening four-match road swing. Denver has 11 points from its first five away matches.
• The Pioneers earned 20 points from their eight matches away from CIBER Field in the 2015 campaign, including seven points against three opponents that were in the NSCAA poll at the time.
• Denver earned just one point away from home in the 2014 campaign (0-7-1) to go along with its 11-0-0 home record.
• DU inked 18 of its 30 possible points away from home in the 2013 campaign, going 5-2-3 in the side's first season in The Summit League.
GOAL SCORING FORM • Redshirt-junior
Blake Elder scored in four-straight games in Denver's first homestand, his first four goals with the Crimson and Gold after transfering from Air Force after the 2014 season...Elder is the first Denver player to score in four-consecutive matches in its Division I history. Elder was named to the College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer National Teams of the Week (9/19).
• Junior centerback
Kortne Ford scored three goals in four matches off set pieces from 9/4 (UIC) to 9/15 (Saint Louis). Ford has headed corner kicks home from three different kick takers (Hanlin, Underwood and Akamatsu). Ford was named the NSCAA National Player of the Week on Sept. 20.
•
Andre Shinyashiki and
Sam Hamilton have been setting up goals for fun with five assists each already in 2016...Shinyashiki has four assists in Denver's last six games, while Hamilton has three assists in five.
DENVER'S DEFENSIVE SURGE • Denver has kept five cleansheets in the last nine, including four-straight.
• The Pioneers did not allow a shot in their 2-0 win over [-/RV] Saint Louis on Sept. 15, the first time the Pioneers have kept that defensive record in their Division I history.
• Denver allowed three shots on goal in its entire four-game homestand in September, including zero shots on goal in the final two games...The Pioneers have allowed just 22 shots on goal in their first nine matches (2.44 per game).
GET IT EARLY OR LEAVE IT LATE •
Graham Smith's 89th minute equalizer at Monmouth (8/26) was Denver's latest equalizer/game-winner in regulation since Alex Tarnoczi scored a 90th minute leveler (89:33) in Denver's 5-4 extra time win at UNLV on Oct. 16, 2011.
•
Blake Elder scored an 87th minute winner on Sept. 17 vs. North Florida to break a nil-nil deadlock and send Denver to its seventh-straight win.
• Underwood's breakthrough (1:38) at No. 25 Rutgers (8/28) was Denver's second-fastest goal since 2004, behind a
Scott DeVoss opener against Western Illinois in the 2015 Summit League Semifinals (1:20).
DENVER'S UNBEATEN STRETCHES • Denver is currently on a 26-match regular season unbeaten streak dating back to Halloween Night, 2014.
• The Pioneers went unbeaten through the first 18 matches in 2015 for the first time since the 1989 season when the Pioneers started 20 matches unbeaten (19-0-1)...2015 marked the first time the Pioneers finished a Division I regular season unbeaten.
• DU had its 29-match home unbeaten streak snapped in the NCAA Tournament Second Round on November 22 vs. SMU (1-0/a.e.t).
CIBER FIELD • CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium opened in 2009.
• The 2,000 seat stadium hosts both the men's and women's soccer programs, and sits above the 10,000 square-foot Pat Bowlen Strength and Conditioning Complex.
• The stadium has hosted the 2009 MPSF Men's Soccer Tournament, 2014 Summit League Men's and Women's Championships and 2015 Summit League Men's Championship.
• CIBER Field has also hosted the 2012 NCAA Women's Soccer First Round and 2015 NCAA Men's Soccer Second Round.
• Denver's men's program is 38-3-4 at home since
Jamie Franks joined the staff as an assistant in 2012 and 48-14-10 since CIBER Field opened.
FRANKS SET FOR SECOND SEASON IN CHARGE • Former DU assistant and Wake Forest alum
Jamie Franks took over the reins, offi- cially inking his name as Denver's 10th head coach on Aug. 29, 2015.
• The Pioneers are 57-18-13 since Franks' arrival as an assistant coach prior to the start of the 2012 season.
• Combined as a college player and coach, Franks is 155-45-30, reaching four college cups and winning a National Championship in that span.
• Franks picked up his 150th collegiate win as a player/assistant/head coach on August 30, doing so prior to his 30th birthday (Sept. 25).
• According to information submitted to the NCAA in 2015, Franks was the youngest DI head coach (29) a season ago.
2015 SHUTOUT STREAK • Prior to conceding the goal vs. SMU in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, Denver had a shutout streak of 795:58 and kept seven-straight clean sheets in that span.
• The shutout streak was the longest in Denver's Division I history (since 1998).
• DU's longest match stretch without allowing a goal is eight, a feat the Pioneers accomplished in the 1988 campaign.
COLORADO PROUD • Denver has 11 players from the state of Colorado, including five that started games for Denver a year ago...DU's Colorado players have combined for 305 CAPS (7 players).
GET ON THE BOARD FIRST • The Pioneers were 11-1-1 in 2014 and 14-0-1 in 2015 when scoring the first goal of the match.
• Since Franks' arrival in 2012, the Pioneers are 53-2-6 when scoring the first goal.
MLS ACADEMY TEAMMATES • Denver's 2015 roster has 10 players from five different MLS academies, including four from the local Colorado Rapids in
Kortne Ford,
Karsten Hanlin,
Eric Kronenberg and
Blake Moncur.
• The Pioneers also have three Seattle Sounders Academy products, and players from Chicago, Columbus and FC Dallas' academies.
FOUR SENIORS READY TO TAKE DENVER TO NEXT STEP • Denver has four senior midfielders on its 2016 roster: Captain
Sam Hamilton, and three fifth-year seniors in
Chandler Crosswait,
Karsten Hanlin and All-American
Reagan Dunk.
• The four players have combined for 258 CAPS, 21 goals, 42 assists (84 points).
FOUR-STRAIGHT 10-WIN SEASONS
• The Pioneers have recorded double-digit wins in each of the four seasons since Franks' arrival as an assistant, averaging 12.5 a season from 2012-15.
• Denver last recorded 4+-consecutive double digit win seasons from 1986-1990, producing a five-season record of 78-15-8 in that span. In the prior four years, Denver has gone 50-18-11.
• DU has tallied 10 wins in three-straight seasons five times since the program's inception in 1961.
PIONEERS FROM ALL OVER • DU's 2015 roster has student-athletes from nine different states, Brazil and Japan
• Both of Denver's international players are entering their sophomore seasons in 2016 (Akamatsu and Shinyashiki).
• The Pioneers have 11 players on the roster from Colorado and five from the state of Texas.
PLAYER NOTES • 26
Kenny Akamatsu - 2016: Netted his first goal of the season in a 4-1 home win against UC Riverside (9/9). 2015: Scored a goal and tallied an assist in 674 minutes and 17 CAPS...Invited to the U-16 Japan National Team camp in 2010.
• 14
Ryan Barlow - Redshirted in 2015...No. 75 ranked player in 2015 class according to College Soccer News...Played for the U-14 National Team in 2011.
• 00
James Bannon-Schneebeck - Played two seasons at New Mexico before transferring ahead of the 2016 season...Redshirted in 2013...Graduated a year early by taking classes this summer and will attend DU for graduate school.
• 15
Jared Cochran - 12 career appearances...2012 All-Colorado honoree.
• 20
Chandler Crosswait - 2015: Scored three goals including two game winners against San Diego (9/6) and St. John's (9/12)…Tallied three assists, including two on game-winners and one on a game-tying goal...Did not play in 2014 due to injury.
• 5
Scott DeVoss - 2016: Scored his first goal of the campaign in Denver's 4-1 win over Riverside (9/9)...2015: All-Summit League 2nd Team...Scored two goals including a game winner against Western Illinois (11/12) and a 47th minute equalizer against Santa Barbara (9/14).
• 4
Reagan Dunk - 2016: MAC Hermann Watch List...Summit League Player of the Week (8/29) recording assists on both of Denver's goals at Monmouth and Rutgers...2015: NSCAA Second Team All-America, MAC Hermann Semifinalist, Summit League Defender of the Year...30th in the NCAA in assists with a team-high eight...Scored game-winning goal against Oral Roberts (10/10/15).
• 6
Blake Elder - 2016: Top Drawer Soccer and College News National Team of the Week (Sept. 19)...Netted goals in four-consecutive games on Denver's first homestand of the season, his first four goals in a Denver kit... Redshirted in 2015...Transfer from Air Force...Played and started in all 18 matches for the Falcons in 2014, scoring a goal and tallying 2 assists out of the Falcons back line.
• 21
Kortne Ford - 2016: NSCAA National Player of the Week (Sept. 19)...Had a span of three goals in four games, all off set pieces, stretching from 9/4-9/15 Summit League Defensive Player of the Week (9/12 and 9/19)...Goals in consecutive matches against UIC and UC Riverside...2015: First Team All-Summit League...Played all 1795 minutes, the only field player to do so...2014 Second Team All-Summit League and Summit League All-Newcomer Team...Has not played just 23 minutes in his two-year career.
• 19
AJ Fuller - 2015: Started eight of Denver's final nine games at left back, eight of 12 starts made overall.
• 0
Nick Gardner - Redshirted in 2015...2014: Started in 5 matches, allowing 3 goals, making 11 saves and recording a 3-2 record (2 cleansheets).
• 8
Sam Hamilton - 2016: Captain...Tied for the team lead with five assists through Denver's first homestand of the season...Has three assists in Denver's last five games...2015: Co-Captain...All-Summit League First Team... CoSIDA Academic All-District...College Soccer News National Team of the Week (9/7/15)... Scored two goals against UC Santa Barbara (9/4) and San Diego (9/6), both of which were a part of the 2015 New Mexico Invitational...Picked up 2 assists in the 2014 Summit League Championship match against WIU.
• 17
Karsten Hanlin - 2016: Denver's primary set-piece taker...2015: 24th in the country in game-winning goals (four)...Tied for the team leader in goals with five, led the team in points with 14 and led the team with four game winning goals... Scored game winning goals against South Florida (9/29), Gonzaga (10/5), Omaha (10/17), and Oral Roberts (11/14)...Netted free kicks against Utah Valley (9.20), South Florida (9/29) and Oral Roberts (11/14), and a penalty kick against Gonzaga (10/5).
• 25
Dylan Keeney - High School: 2015 Continental Player of the Year...First Team All-Colorado selection...Helped Heritage to an 18-2-1 record and a 0.80 mark in 2015...Played his club soccer for Real Colorado Academy.
• 11
Eric Kronenberg - 2016: Will miss entire season for second-consecutive season with a knee injury...Redshirted in 2015...Appeared in all 20 matches off the bench in 2014, playing 818 minutes and leading the Pioneers with seven goals...Three game-winning goals...Summit League Player of the Month for August/September, 2014.
• 13
Nick Marcin - High School: Played eight seasons for Lonestar Soccer Club, ending his club career as the team's captain.
• 22
Blake Moncur - High School: Colorado Rapids Academy product...Made frequent starts as a midfield during his three seasons with the development academy...Also played four seasons of club soccer for Arsenal Colorado (2010-12, 2015).
• 27
Dan Mooney - Redshirted in 2015...Scored 15 goals in high school in 2014, earning him Second Team All-Indiana honors.
• 18
Kyle Morlack - Missed entire 2014 campaign with an injury...Played in 18 of 20 matches in 2013, recording 7 points on 3 goals and an assist.
• 30
Will Palmquist - High School: Colorado Rush Development Academy goalkeeper...2014 First Team All-Colorado as goalie for Denver East.
• 16
Tosh Samkange - 2015: One of three players to start at left back for Denver, making five starts and 13 appearances... Tallied first career point with a helper in Denver's extra time win over Utah Valley (9/20/15)...Seattle Sounders Academy player, seeing time in four seasons at CB...No. 110 ranked player in 2015 class according to College Soccer News.
• 25
Ryan Schaefer - Redshirted in 2015...Played two seasons for Seattle Sounders Academy, scoring 11 goals in all competitions...Played in USSDA Playoffs, and finished fifth place at Generation adidas.
• 9
Andre Shinyashiki - 2016: Tied for third on Denver's squad in points with a goal and five assists...Four assists in the last six games, including both assists in Denver's 2-0 win over Bryant...2015: Summit League Newcomer of the Year...All-Summit League First Team... Led the team with 48 shots and tied as the team leader in goals with five…Scored the game winning goal against Bakersfield (8/29), his first of two in the match...Also scored in Denver's league opener against Western Illinois (9/26), in Denver's 1-1 draw against IUPUI (10/2) and the opener in Denver's 2-1 win over Gonzaga (10/5). High School: No. 79 ranked player in Class of 2015 according to College Soccer News...Top Drawer Soccer All-American Watch List in 2014.
• 3
Shae Smalley - 2015: One of three players to start at left back, making two starts...Started the Summit League Semifinal vs. Western Illinois...High School: Played four seasons and captained the Columbus Crew's Academy Team.
• 12
Graham Smith - Transferred from Oregon State following 2015 season...2016: Scored his first career goal on his 39th career CAP...Assisted
Blake Elder's goal in Denver's 2-0 win over Saint Louis...2015: Started 18 matches at defensive midfield for the Beavers...38 CAPS in two seasons at Oregon State, recording three assists...Recorded an assist on Jordan Jones' game-winning goal against Denver in the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 20.
• 23
Alex Underwood - 2016: Has scored three of Denver's game-winning goals this season (five in his career)...2015: Scored three goals including two game-winners against Army (8/31/15) and Utah Valley (9/20/15).
