DENVER – The [-/RV] University of Denver men's soccer team got another first-half lead and kept its third-straight cleansheet in Denver's 1-0 win over Omaha on Wednesday night at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
Significant Stats:
- Holger Olsson opened the scoring with his third goal of the season and the ninth of his career. The game-winner was the second of his career, and was his first goal overall since September 4 against Creighton.
- Isaac Nehme made six saves for the second time in three matches to earn his third-straight shutout, his eighth of the season and the 18th cleansheet of his career.
- Nehme's eighth shutouts this season are the fifth-most in a single season by a Division I Pioneer keeper.
- Nehme became the 10th Division I goalkeeper to make at least 80 career saves.
- Nehme's 18th cleansheet puts him third in Denver's DI history.
- Aaron Kronenberg earned the first assist of his career on the Olsson game-winner.
- Aidan O'Toole made his 81st career appearance on Wednesday night, tying with Destan Norman for the fifth-most in Denver's Division I history.
- O'Toole's 74th career start on Wednesday ties him with four other Pioneers for fourth on the career starts list.
Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men's Soccer Coach Jamie Franks:
"To win knockout games, there are certain Pioneer plays that we've had to get better at this season.Through adversity, we're starting to find ourselves, and those cleansheets are a testament to all of the players, especially the back line and Isaac -- they've just been fantastic. For us to win championships, we knew that we needed to get better defensively, so I'm really pleased. The things that we're working on have really been making us a more effective and reliable team."
First Half:
4' Kyle Reese got the first chance of the game, after a corner to the far post fell to him. Reese's shot from 10-yards out was blocked in-front by a diving Ian Smith and out for a third Omaha corner in quick succession.
6' Olsson got the first shot on target of the night, after Oje Ofunrein slipped him in behind the Omaha defense. Olsson's shot was saved and out for a Denver throw.
21' Ede Gramberg forced Nehme into a spectacular save after an errant Omaha shot fell right to the feet of Gramberg. Nehme punched it wide and out for a corner.
43' Aidan O'Toole started a Denver counter-attack and was taken out by his opposite number. Denver turned that counter into its first corner of the night. Lukas Fisher played the corner to the top of the six-yard box near the far post. Aaron Kronenberg's head was the first to it, smashing the woodwork with his attempt. Olsson was the first to the rebound off the post, and knocked it into the open net to give the Pioneers the advantage late in the first half.
Second Half:
53' Nehme made a triple save to keep the Pioneers ahead in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. The first attempt from inside the box was kicked away, the second was taken a foot in-front of him, and also kicked away. The third attempt required a strong right arm to keep it out and was cleared out by Smith to maintain the 1-0 scoreline.
60' Bassett got on the end of a left sided cross from Fisher, but it was wide of the near post.
72' Bassett stood on top of a free kick from just outside the box, bent it around the wall, but couldn't beat the near post and found the wrong side of the side-netting.
88' Ymeraj had an opportunity for Omaha in the late stages of the game, but his attempt was denied by the woodwork, and Denver managed to clear its lines.
Up Next:
Denver will welcome St. Thomas to the University of Denver Soccer Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff on the Summit League Network is set for 7 p.m. MT.
Tickets:
Single game tickets for Denver men's and women's soccer are on-sale now and can be purchased here.
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