KANSAS CITY – The University of Denver men's soccer team earned its third win of the Summit League campaign, a decisive 4-1 victory at Kansas City on Thursday night at Durwood Soccer Stadium.

Inside the Box Score:

Jacob Stensson's starting position was moved up the field from outside back to the Denver midfield in head coach Jamie Franks' Starting XI on Thursday, and the change paid dividends instantly. Stensson found the back of the net inside the opening 90 seconds to give the Pioneers an early lead.

Lucas Russo's first career goal proved to be the game-winner, and Denver also got second-half goals from Brooks Crawford and a second from Stensson.

Will Palmquist's five saves were his most in a match since September of last season in a 1-0 win at Cal.

First Half:
Kengo Ohira got a ball in the box that was partially deflected by a Kansas City defender. Aidan O'Toole was the first to the ball, heading it back to Stensson on top of the six-yard box. Stensson trapped it with his chest and turned to shoot in one motion, ripping his volley into the side netting. Stensson's goal is his second of the season and the fourth of his career.

O'Toole's assist was the second of his career, while Ohira earned the first of his time in Crimson and Gold. O'Toole nearly made it 2-0 in the ninth minute as Denver continued to put the early pressure on the Roos' defense in the opening 10 minutes. His first shot was saved nicely by Cooper Clark, and then O'Toole was the first to the rebound, but his follow-up was also stopped to keep the match at 1-0. 

Kansas City leveled the score in the 20^th minute from the penalty spot through a goal from Jony Munoz.

Both teams created chances to take the lead in the final 25 minutes of the half, but it was the goalkeepers in the latter stages of the half that kept things level heading into the intermission.

Shots were 9-8 Denver in the first half, while Denver also held an edge in corner kicks (6-5) and shots on goal (7-5).

Second Half:
Denver reclaimed the lead in the 56^th minute off a set-piece header from Russo that banked off the right post and into the back of the net. Stensson took Denver's seventh corner kick of the night from Denver's attacking left side. Russo made his run into the center of the penalty area at the top of the six-yard box, and his glancing header beat the Roos' goalkeeper to put Denver back in-front.

Crawford doubled Denver's advantage in the 64^th minute, the second goal of his Denver career. Russo navigated around the Roos' press on the left side touch line and picked out the run of Crawford with a ball over the top of the Kansas City back-four. Crawford took a few touches, and slid it past the sliding Roos' keeper for Denver's third of the night. Russo's assist was the third of his career.

Stensson's second of the night came 1:44 after Crawford's strike to put Denver 4-1 ahead. O'Toole laid the ball off to Ohira on the left side of the penalty area, and Ohira calmly chipped it in to the run of Stensson, who headed home the fifth goal of his career.

Significant Stats:
Stensson's opener came 90 seconds in, the sixth-fastest goal to start a match in Denver's Division I history, and Denver's fastest in a Summit League match.

Stensson's assist on the Russo goal was the 15^th of his career to move him into a tie for sixth in Denver's Division I record book, six off Zach Bolden's program record.

The 1:44 between Denver's third and fourth goals was the 16^th fastest consecutive Denver goals in the Pioneers DI history.

Up Next:
Denver will wrap-up its two-match set with Kansas City on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. MT.

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