PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The University of Denver men's soccer team dropped a 3-2 extra time result to Pittsburgh on Monday night at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
 
"I'm really proud of my group. That was the first time we showed our identity of fighting football," head coach Jamie Franks said. "It's about playing as a collective, and playing every play. I was proud of the mentality and the spirit of the group tonight."
 
Denver's first chance came off a set-piece in the attacking half in the 31^st minute. Senior captain Jacob Stensson (Stockholm, Sweden) played the free kick service 10 yards inside the midline to the head of Liam Johnson (Golden, Colo.), but the sophomore's header was kept out by Arie Ammann to keep things scoreless just after the half hour mark.
 
The Pioneers got on the board in the 42^nd minute on the first career goal for freshman winger Kengo Ohira (Tokyo, Japan). Redshirt-junior Dylan Keeney (Littleton, Colo.) started the sequence, picking out the overlapping run of outside back Destan Norman (Fort Collins, Colo.) down the right channel. Norman's service across the six-yard box was deflected by Ammann, but Ohira put himself in a dangerous position to finish the deflected cross into an empty net.
 
Pitt evened the scoring in the 53^rd minute on Valentin Noel's first career goal. The Pioneers stopped the initial rush in the buildup, but on a recycled play, Sito Sena played his cross just past the penalty spot and Noel finished it on a one-time volley to level the score at 1-1.
 
The Panthers got their second goal in a span of 4:10 in the opening 15 minutes of the second half with Sito Sena's third of the season. Nyk Sessock played a short corner to Edward Kizza to start the sequence. Kizza turned and played a line-drive cross on the ground to the top of the box to Sena, who sent his strike into the roof of the net.
 
Denver knotted it back up at 2-2 in the 70^th minute through sophomore Stefan DeLeone's (Fort Collins, Colo.) first of the season. Freshman outside back Lucas Russo (Sao Paulo, Brazil) played DeLeone in behind the Pitt defense with a ball from his defensive half. DeLeone won the foot race to the ball and beat Ammann to his near post for his fourth career goal.

Despite Denver controlling a good portion of extra time, Edward Kizza netted the winner in the 108^th minute with his fifth of the season.
 
"My guys need to be better," Franks said. "Right now we are beating ourselves. We need to clear the ball better. There are moments that we need to take better advantage of and deal with better on both sides of the field."

Monday night marked Denver's first multi-goal match of the season.
 
"For me it's a bitter sweet moment," Franks said. "It's a moment in my career that I'll always cherish. To be able to coach against my mentor, who taught me winning people make winning players that combine to make winning teams. He made me believe that every day I could give more and be the best version of myself. I took a lot from that, and I thank him for everything he has done for me in my life."
 
UP NEXT:
Denver will return home on Sunday afternoon when it hosts Pacific in the first meeting between the two programs. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. MT, a match that will be streamed live on Pioneer Vision.
 
DENVER TICKET OFFICE:
Tickets for the 2019 Denver men's and women's soccer season are on sale now and can be purchased here.
 
SHOP PIONEERS:
Get dressed for Game Day! Get your Pioneers gear at ShopPioneers.com, the official online store of University of Denver Athletics. 
 
OUTSIDE FOOD/DRINK/PETS:
The University of Denver does not allow fans to bring outside food, drink or pets (with the exception of Bark in the Park Days) to the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
 
Fans interested in making a donation to the men's soccer program can do so by clicking here. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.  

- Our Journey, Our Time  –
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