WASHINGTON D.C. – The [20/23] University of Denver men's soccer program needed just 11 minutes to erase a [19/9] Georgetown lead and earn a 1-1 draw on Monday afternoon at Shaw Field.
QUOTABLE – JACK AND SHEILA WEINBERG HEAD MEN'S SOCCER COACH JAMIE FRANKS
"I'm really proud of the effort from the group today. They had the better first half and I thought we had the better second half. A lot of teams would be content with coming out here and getting four points on the weekend, but there are a lot of players with a sour taste in their mouth because we know we could have got more. That's a good sign for the ambition of the group, and a good sign that there's a little bit more. If each student-athlete can get one percent better, the system will improve for us as a collective. This was a great learning lesson for the guys, and I'm excited to go watch them compete again on Friday.
"I'd like to thank the University of Denver administration for providing a world class experience out here in our nation's capital this week. We've given our student-athletes the opportunity to see national museums and monuments and have an experience they'll remember. I feel fortunate that DU supports us to provide them that experience."
SIGNIFICANT STATS:
- Denver has scored at least one goal in each of its first four games for the first time since the 2018 season.
- Jason Belloli's first-half header was the first goal of his career. Kengo Ohira's assist on the first half tally was his first of the season and the fifth in his four years with the Crimson and Gold.
- The Pioneers defense held Georgetown to just two shots on target, holding a 5-2 edge in the category that included 3-0 in the second half.
- Monday's draw is Denver's first point from a losing position since October 16, 2021 when the Pioneers got a goal back in a 1-1 draw with Stanford.
KEY MOMENTS:
20' | Denver earned the first corner kick of the afternoon inside the opening half hour, but Jason Belloli's header off a recycled run rose over the bar.
28' | Georgetown turned Denver over in the press, but a couple of blocked shots from the Pios centerbacks kept things scoreless.
29' | A little more than a minute later, Marion Tabora had a hit front outside the '18, banking it off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net to take the first-half advantage.
Georgetown 1-0 Denver
32' | Aidan Rocha nearly doubled Georgetown's lead, but freshman Isaac Nehme's only save of the first half was a good one, diving to his left to make an impressive stop.
40' | Denver's third dead ball goal of the weekend saw a Kengo Ohira free kick from the left flank 30 yards off the goal line bounce once in the area before it was headed home by Belloli, his first career goal.
Georgetown 1-1 Denver
Halftime
50' | Holger Olsson had the best chance of the opening 10 minutes of the second half, but his shot rolled just wide of the far post.
70' | AJ Francois provided a spark off the bench, getting a couple balls into the area, and taking a shot from outside the box that rose over the bar, but the Pioneers controlled the better of the play in the 10 minutes after the hour mark.
77' | Griffin Meyer, who made his first start of the season on Monday, chipped in Jake Mecham behind the Georgetown defense. Mecham headed it to himself, but couldn't get his attempted chip over the Georgetown keeper high enough quick enough and the game remained level with under 15 minutes to play.
84' | Ian Smith got a chance at the Denver winner after Olsson had his shot blocked on the counter, but after taking a couple touches to his left, Smith's shot sailed over the bar.
Fulltime
WHAT'S NEXT:
Denver will wrap-up its five-match road swing next weekend when the Pioneers head to UC San Diego (Friday) and San Diego State (Sunday). Both kickoffs are set for 8 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.
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Men's Soccer on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_MSoccer on Twitter
Follow @denverpioneers and @denversoccer on Instagram
