DENVER – The [10/8] University of Denver men's soccer team broke a 2-2 halftime score with a pair of second-half tallies to defeat Western Illinois 4-2 on Saturday afternoon in both teams' regular season finale at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
SIGNIFICANT STATS:
· Denver is now 46-7-8 in Summit League regular season play since joining the league in 2013.
· Griffin Meyer's first-half tally was his second goal of the season and the 13th of his collegiate career.
· Holger Olsson kept his goal-scoring streak alive, scoring for the third match on the trot, netting his fifth goal in that span.
· Denver had a 7-5 edge in shots in the opening 45 minutes, and a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.
· Lukas Fisher's goal to start the second half was his third of the season and the seventh of his three-year Pioneer career.
· Jason Belloli's goal was his third of the season and of his career.
· With the win Saturday, Denver ended the regular season with a 10-match unbeaten run.
KEY MOMENTS:
8' David Biggers had the first chance of the match, getting a cross on the floor from Ian Smith, but Biggers shot rose over the bar.
15' Griffin Meyer, who made the start at center forward this afternoon, scored his second goal of the season turning his defender in the box and finishing inside the far post. Ronan Wynne picked out Sam Bassett in the build-up that led to the Meyer goal.
22' Western Illinois earned a free kick at the top of the box, but Sofian Maghouz shot was blocked as the Denver wall did its job to block the shot.
23' Denver was unable to clear its lines from the free kick, and a Maghouz cross from the corner of the area was back-heeled by Ryan DeBois to beat Isaac Nehme for the leveler.
26' The Pioneers didn't waste any time getting their lead back. Right after they both came on as subs, Kengo Ohira found the hot boot of Holger Olsson who beat the keeper across the face of goal and into the far side post netting.
35' Western Illinois knotted things up at 2-2 nine minutes later. Denver's defense couldn't deal with the cross into the box, and Adam Miller got on the end of the bouncing ball and put it inside Nehme's post.
Halftime
58' Lukas Fisher gave Denver its lead back just shy of the hour mark, dribbling from midfield to within 35-yards before unleashing a rocket from well outside the penalty area and finding the upper-90.
79' Jason Belloli had Denver's best chance to make it a two-goal lead on the Pioneers fifth corner after the intermission. Bassett's ball to the back post was headed by Wright back to the center of the box to Belloli. Belloli's header was just outside the post and out for a goal kick.
83' Maghouz got a pair of corners for the Leathernecks looking for an equalizer, but the Pios were able to clear their lines this time to keep the one-goal advantage.
86' Belloli eventually was the one to get Denver's fourth goal. Bassett's dead ball service from the right flank found the forehead of the sophomore centerback to double Denver's lead.
Fulltime
WHAT'S NEXT:
Denver will host the 2022 Summit League Men's Soccer Championship at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium, beginning with the semifinal round on Thursday. Matches, which will be announced by the league later tonight, will kickoff at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. MT.
TICKETS:
Single-game tickets are on sale now for all men's soccer matches for the 2022 season. Click here to purchase today.
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