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University of Denver Athletics

University of Denver
Ian Smith
1
Gonzaga ZAGA (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
3
Winner Denver DEN (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Gonzaga ZAGA
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
1
Final
3
Denver DEN
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gonzaga ZAGA 1 0 1
Denver DEN 1 2 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Denver Opens Season with 3-1 win over Gonzaga

DENVER – The [-/28] University of Denver men's soccer program got two goals in the second half to defeat Gonzaga 3-1 in both teams' season opener on Thursday night at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.

SIGNIFICANT STATS:

  • Denver outshot Gonzaga 15-10, including 7-1 on-target.
  • Aidan O'Toole was involved in all three Denver goals, finishing the night with a career-high four points.
  • Denver limited Gonzaga to just the one shot on goal for the second-straight meeting between the two teams.
  • The Pioneers' second and third goals were scored exactly two minutes apart to improve Denver's Division I record to 61-0-1 when scoring consecutive goals less than five minutes apart from each other.
  • Denver's three goals was its most in a season opener since Andre Shinyashiki netted a hat trick on opening night in Denver's 4-0 win over Monmouth in 2018.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Denver broke the scoreless tie when Sam Bassett opened his collegiate account in the 15th minute, assisted by Aidan O'Toole and Ronan Wynne.

The Bulldogs evened the match on a goal from Frankie Ljucovic in the 28th minute, assisted by Demitrius Kigeya.

Denver then broke the 1-1 tie on O'Toole's 70th-minute goal, his first of the season. Ian Smith assisted the goal.

The Pioneers made it a 3-1 lead with a 72nd-minute goal from Ian Smith on his collegiate debut. O'Toole's second assist of the game setup the Smith strike.   

WHAT'S NEXT:
Denver will begin a five-match stretch away from home on Sunday when the Pioneers visit Grand Canyon in a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament First Round match the Pioneers won 1-0. Kickoff is set 8:30 p.m. MT on ESPN+.

TICKETS:
Single-game tickets are on sale now for all men's and women's soccer matches for the 2022 season. Click here to purchase today.

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.
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This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
 

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