MACOMB, Ill. – The University of Denver men's soccer team advanced to its eighth-consecutive Summit League Final after a 0-0 draw played out to a 4-3 penalty shootout against Kansas City in the first of two Summit League Semifinals on Thursday at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.
Denver will take on the winner of No. 2 Oral Roberts and No. 3 Omaha in the Summit League Final on Saturday at 12 p.m. MT.
Quotable – Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men's Soccer Coach Jamie Franks:
"To win a final, you have to be in the final. With 20+ mile per hour winds blowing across the field, the conditions were tough, but I'm proud of the way the guys dug out a performance today. We were very solid defensively, only giving up one shot on target, and four overall in the 110 minutes. That's going to win you games. We have to be more clinical in the final third, but we did create a lot of chances today. I was proud of Kobe for stepping up the way he did in the shootout. He's been waiting for that moment. He's a really good keeper, and to watch our student-athletes celebrate the way they did with him is what our sport is all about."
Inside the Box Score:
Denver controlled the play in the 110 minutes before the penalty shootout, out-shooting Kansas City 14-6, including 12-4 in regulation. The Pioneers forced Kansas City goalkeeper Cooper Clark into five saves, including four shots on target after halftime.
DU also took seven of the match's 11 corner kicks.
First Half:
Denver got out to a strong start in the opening 45 minutes but wasn't able to find the breakthrough, outshooting KC 6-1 in the frame, but just one shot on target.
Liam Johnson had Denver's shot on target and led the Pios with two attempts towards Denver's goal in the first half.
Kansas City took the only two corner kicks of the first half on a windy day in Macomb.
Second Half:
The Pioneers continued to put the pressure on to start the second half.
Kengo Ohira had the best look of the early stages of the second, toe-poking a bouncing ball in the box from 10-yards out, but it was blocked in-front and out for a corner.
On the ensuing corner kick, the ball cleared everyone, and
Ronan Wynne was the first to the ball, but he was tripped up from behind by a Kansas City defender and the Roos were able to clear their lines.
Denver extended its shot advantage to 12-4, including 4-1 on target through regulation, but for the second-consecutive match between the two programs in five days, Thursday's Summit League Semifinal went to extra time.
Extra Time:
Denver took the only two shots of the first period of extra time. Ohira had the best look from just outside the box, but it rose over the bar and out for a 100
th minute goal kick.
The Pioneers best chance of the match came off a set piece in the 103
rd minute.
Lucas Russo was the first to the corner kick at the top of the box. His shot was blocked in-front and it bounced right to the feet of
Trevor Wright. Wright couldn't get his shoulders all the way around to pull the shot on target, and the attempt from just outside the six-yard box was out top and wide of the frame.
Shootout:
As they did in their last shootout in Omaha, the Pioneers made a change in goal for the penalty shootout, bringing on redshirt-senior goalkeeper
Kobe Gray for the spot kicks. Gray, who last played on September 20 at Gonzaga, stopped two in the penalty shootout to lead the Pioneers back to the Summit League Final.
With Kansas City 2-1 up, Ohira had his penalty stopped by KC goalkeeper Cooper Clark to give the Roos the early advantage in the shootout. Gray held his ground on a penalty down the middle for his first save to stop Kotaro Hirokawa's spot kick and then
Sam Bassett converted his penalty to get Denver back on level terms at 2-2 after three rounds. Both shooters scored in the fourth round, including a well-taken penalty from
Aidan O'Toole. Gray made a huge diving save out-stretched to his right to give Denver the advantage, and then Russo banked the winner off the right post and into the back of the net to send Denver through to the final.
N
otes:
- Denver has made its eighth consecutive Summit League final since joining the league in 2013.
- The Pioneers are 13-0-2 all-time in the Summit League Tournament (6 tournament titles, fell in penalty kicks at Omaha in 2017).
DONATE:
Fans interested in making a donation to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom, in competition and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Men's Soccer on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_MSoccer on Twitter
Follow @denverpioneers and @denversoccer on Instagram
