DENVER – The [11/12] University of Denver men's soccer program got off to a good start in the Summit League slate, defeating Oral Roberts 1-0 on Saturday night at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.

JACK AND SHEILA WEINBERG HEAD MEN'S SOCCER COACH JAMIE FRANKS:
"We've found a lot of adversity recently as a group. We go on the road and play all these tough teams in the non-conference so we're prepared for Summit League play. We're very much focused that our Summit League matches are our biggest games of the week. This was the biggest game of the season. To limit our opponents chances the way we did, it was a professional performance. I wish we made it a little bit easier on ourselves and finished the game off, but that's football sometimes. As long as we keep putting ourselves in position to score, our luck will turn." 

SIGNIFICANT STATS:
-          With the win, Denver improved to 9-0-1 in Summit League openers and 8-0-2 in Summit League home openers.
-          Denver had 64-percent possession in the opening 45 minutes, outshooting the visitors 9-1.
-          Oje Ofunrein joined Ian Smith and Sam Bassett as the third Pioneer this season to score their first career goal in one match, and score their second goal in the following match.
-          Ronan Wynne's second assist in as many matches was Wynne's third of the season and the fourth of his career.
-          Denver has now held an opponent to two shots or less 12 times in its Division I history.
-          The Pioneers have held an opponent without a shot on target 20 times in its Division I history.

KEY MOMENTS:

3' Denver had a cluster of three shots in a 36 second span looking for the early breakthrough. Jake Mecham and Ben Smith both had their shots blocked, and on the ensuing corner, Trevor Wright's header was over the bar.

9' The Pioneers had a shout for an Oral Roberts back pass, but Schinieder Mimy's ball back to his own keeper was deemed not a pass.

27' Aidan O'Toole got on the end of a dangerous cross from the Denver left. The pullback was struck well, but straight at the keeper.  

44' Kengo Ohira got a late look at a first-half opener, but his attempt from just outside the area sailed over the crossbar.

Halftime

52' After getting off the mark for his collegiate career on Tuesday night against Oregon State, Oje Ofunrein got his second in as many games to give the Pioneers the much-deserved breakthrough. Ronan Wynne, who setup the goal Tuesday as well, earned the helper on his cross from the Denver right.

69' Ian Smith was sent off for his second yellow for breaking up play down the Oral Roberts right.

71' Minutes later, Logan Bellone received his marching orders for the Golden Eagles to reduce the game to 10-men a side with under 20 minutes to play.

75' Oral Roberts went down to nine men when Eugene Quaynor was whistled for his sixth foul of the night and his second caution.

90' Denver's defense kept chances to a minimum, giving up a pair of corners late, but clearing their lines to see out the 1-0 win.

Fulltime

WHAT'S NEXT:

Denver will continue its difficult start to Summit League play when the Pioneers travel to league-rivals Omaha SAturday. Kickoff at Caniglia is set for 2 p.m. MT. Oral Roberts (second) and Omaha (third) were picked just behind Denver in the preseason poll. Following the match in Omaha, Denver will stay on the road and travel to Virginia for a Tuesday evening clash in Charlottesville (4 p.m. MT).

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.

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