CORVALLIS, Ore. – The [RV/RV] University of Denver men's soccer team dropped its 2021 season opener 3-0 at [16/20] Oregon State on Friday night at Lorenz Field.
Scoring Summary:
OSU: Djeffal (pen) 28', Molina-Diaz 33' (Mondi, Ntsabeleng), Mondi 66' (Lund, Crespo)
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For the 2021 season, the University of Denver announced the creation of a new DU soccer fan club called "Denver FC". Fans that purchase the Denver FC package will get season tickets to all Denver men's and women's soccer home games, a Denver FC scarf and a season parking pass for all Denver Soccer home events.
Quotable – Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men's Soccer Coach Jamie Franks:
"Soccer is a cruel game. To give them the first two goals of the game, in a match against a good program on the road, it's hard to regroup from that. I was proud of the way we started the second half. I thought we dominated the first 20 minutes or so of the half, but their first chance, they make us pay for a ball we head the wrong way. That performance wasn't good enough to beat the quality of competition we are going to face this season. We have to look internally and grow from the mistakes we made tonight. I like this group's character and their fight, and I look forward to getting back out there in Portland on Monday."
First Half:
Denver defended well in the opening 25 minutes, limiting Oregon State to just one shot, and creating a couple dangerous opportunities on the counter, but just missing a connected pass in the final third.
Trevor Wright was whistled for a penalty in the 28th minute when he appeared to kick the ball off the feet of an Oregon State attacker to trip him up just inside the right boundary of the penalty area, and the referee pointed to the spot. Sofiane Djeffal converted the penalty to give the Beavers a first-half advantage.
Less than five minutes later, William DeSantis made two saves in quick succession, but OSU's Adrian Molina-Diaz was the first to the rebound and drilled it into the roof of the net to double the home side's advantage in the 33rd minute.
Aidan O'Toole got on the end of a rolling ball in the box in the final 15 seconds of the half, just getting his shot off before getting cleaned out in the area, but his shot was wide to the right of the target, and the Pioneers went into the intermission down 2-0.
Second Half:
The Pioneers controlled the first 20 minutes of the second half as they looked to get a foothold back into the game. O'Toole had Denver's best opportunity of the night in the 54th minute, but AJ Francois' cross to the penalty spot bounced up O'Toole's shin and his attempt at goal went over the crossbar.
Oregon State got the first goal of the second 45 to push its advantage to 3-0 in the 66th minute. Adrian Crespo played a long ball in from the midfield line and Nicklas Lund beat a charging DeSantis to the ball. Lund's header didn't make it all the way to the goal line, but Tyrone Mondi was the first to the ball in the air and headed home the Beavers third of the day.
Denver created a few half chances late, but dropped the season opener in the Pacific Northwest.
Up Next:
Denver will continue its three-match road swing to open the season on Monday when the Pioneers head to Portland. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. MT/ 7 p.m. PT.
Tickets:
Denver men's and women's soccer season tickets and single game tickets for the 2021 campaign are on sale now, and can be purchased here.
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