KANSAS CITY – The [RV/RV] University of Denver men's soccer team got a top-class performance in goal from Isaac Nehme to make Sam Bassett's early penalty kick hold up in a 1-0 Pioneer win at Kansas City on Saturday night at Durwood Soccer Stadium.
Significant Stats:
- Bassett opened the scoring from the penalty spot for the Pioneers with his seventh goal of the season and the 14th of his Pioneer career. The goal tied his career-high and brought him within one in his career high in points at 19. Bassett's goal was his second game-winner of the season and the fourth of his Pioneer career.
- The penalty kick extended Bassett to 4-for-4 from the penalty stripe in his career, tying for the most career penalty kicks converted in the program's Division I history.
- Bassett moved to 11th in Denver's Division I points chart with the 39th point of his career.
- With the win, Denver improved to 3-2-4 against teams that finished last year in the NCAA RPI Top-100.
- Nehme made six saves, including four key stops in the second half. Nehme's shutout was his sixth of the season, tying for the seventh-most in a single season in Denver's DI history.
- Nehme's 16th career shutout moved him into fourth in Denver's DI career record book.
- Nehme became the sixth keeper in Denver history to record 20 career wins.
- Denver is now 127-10-16 when scoring first since Jack and Sheila Weinberg head men's soccer coach Jamie Franks joined the staff in 2012, including 6-1-2 this season.
- Aidan O'Toole played in his 79th career match on Saturday, moving into a tie with Liam Johnson for seventh on Denver's DI list.
- O'Toole's 72nd start, tied Liam Girard for ninth in DU's DI history.
- Oral Roberts defeated Omaha on Saturday night, so through three matches, the Pioneers and Golden Eagles are tied with seven points atop the Summit League table.
First Half:
11' Denver struck first from the penalty spot after buildup down the Denver left. Olsson connected with Ian Smith down the channel. Smith played it right back to Olsson who took a touch around his defender before being taken out in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Bassett stepped up and converted the penalty kick to put Denver ahead.
15' Smith got Denver's first shot on target in the run of play, but Kansas City's keeper did well to keep it out and prevent the Pioneers from doubling their lead in the opening quarter hour.
34' Kansas City's first shot of the match came on a 25-yard free kick from Julien Bourdoulous that Isaac Nehme picked out of the top corner to keep the Pios in-front.
37' The free kick started a stretch of six Kansas City shots in a three-minute span. Denver's defense blocked four-consecutive attempts, and Nehme casually caught the sixth attempt of the half for the Roos.
44' Tyler Schommer had Denver's best look since the opening 15 minutes after receiving a ball in from Ian Smith, but his curling effort from outside the box landed on top of the Kansas City net.
Second Half:
48' Brice Middleton got the first clean look of the second half, but his shot hit outside the frame of the goal and was out for a goal kick.
51' Oje Ofunrein got in-behind the Kansas City backline looking to double up the Pioneers lead. Ofunrein's attempt beat the keeper, but was wide of the post.
56' Smith had another crack at a Denver second, but he didn't get all of the attempt, and the keeper made the save on the bouncing shot.
76' Christian Koffi forced Nehme into another big-time save with under 15 minutes to play. Nehme dove to his left and knocked it wide and out behind for a KC corner.
80' Nehme made his third big save of the night, tipping a header over his crossbar that came off Cade Martin.
Up Next:
Denver will return home before heading right back on the road next weekend when the Pioneers take on Western Illinois. Kick is set for 12 p.m. MT next Saturday in Macomb.
Tickets:
Season and single game tickets for Denver men's and women's soccer are on-sale now and can be purchased here.
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