SPOKANE – The [RV] University of Denver men's soccer team dropped a 1-0 road match at Gonzaga on Monday night at Luger Field.
Scoring Summary:
DEN:
ZAGA: Kiner 76'
Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men's Soccer Coach Jamie Franks:
"It's a disappointing result for us tonight. When you have that much of the ball and have that many good chances, the game has to be put away. Instead, they score off a restart, and we're left chasing the game. When we were chasing the game the last 15 minutes, that's the kind of attacking intensity that we need to bring all the time. In the end, our best players didn't have their best night, and our intensity and focus just wasn't there."
Inside the Box Score:
Denver outshot Gonzaga 13-4, 6-1 on goal and held a 7-2 edge in corners.
First Half:
Denver got off on the front foot once again on Monday night, controlling the pace of the match in a scoreless opening 45 minutes.
Destan Norman had the best look at goal for Denver in the 15th minute, but wasn't able to keep his attempt inside the far post.
The Pioneers outshot the home side 5-1 and held a 3-1 edge in corners taken. Gonzaga's only shot and corner kick came in the 42nd minute or later.
Second Half:
With both teams looking for the equalizer to start the second half, Eli Mereness had the best chance in the first 25 minutes of the second half. Mereness made a run in the center of the area just inside the top of the box, but his first-time effort rose over the bar and out for a goal kick.
Griffin Meyer got the first shot on goal of the second half, turning his defender just outside the box, but his shot ended up in the chest of the Gonzaga goalkeeper.
Denver continued to pile on the pressure looking for the breakthrough in the 75th minute when Kengo Ohira took two cracks at it. The first was saved and the second rose over the bar.
Against the run of play, Gonzaga opened the scoring in the 76th minute courtesy of a header from Caleb Kiner. The Zags second corner of the night was partially cleared to the opposite corner. Loic Baures was the first to the ball and crossed it back into the box just to the left of the penalty spot. Kiner rose to meet the cross and finished his first career goal.
Norman had the best chance at the leveler in the 82nd minute, but his shot rattled the woodwork and went out for a corner.
Up Next:
The Pioneers will open Summit League play on Saturday when Denver heads to Western Illinois. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. MT.
Tickets:
Denver men's and women's soccer single game tickets for the 2021 campaign are on sale now, and can be purchased here.
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