DENVER – The [17/19] University of Denver men's soccer team got a goal on either side of halftime in a 2-0 win over Central Arkansas on Sunday afternoon at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
Significant Stats:
- Oje Ofunrein scored his seventh goal of the season and the ninth of his career on Sunday afternoon. Ofunrein scored in four of the last five games of the homestand.
- Ian Smith earned a helper on the Ofunrein opener, his third assist of the season and the sixth of his career. Smith has an assist in three of Denver's last four matches.
- Ben Smith also earned an assist on the Ofunrein breakthrough, his second in as many matches and the fourth of his career.
- Aidan O'Toole scored his first goal of the season and the third of his five-year career to double Denver's lead in the second half.
- Holger Olsson had his first assist of the season and the third of his career on the O'Toole goal.
Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men's Soccer Coach Jamie Franks:
"I thought we were a little bit sloppy in possession and forced some of our decisions, and at times made the game look a little more frantic than it needed to. I was really proud of the effort from the guys in the second half to make it more of a collective performance. I thought our starting positions were better in the second half which gave us the opportunity to make quicker decisions."
First Half:
6' Olsson got free for Denver's first shot of the afternoon, but his strike from just inside the D was outside the keeper's right post and out for a goalkick.
10' Bassett got the first shot on target of the matinee, hitting it low and hard across the goal, but the UCA keeper kept it in-front of him to complete his first save of the day.
19' Central Arkansas' first threat on Isaac Nehme's goal came in the 19th minute. The Bears turned over the Pioneers in their own half to setup Devonte Richards' attempt from outside the box, but Nehme saved it comfortably.
25' Denver got its well-deserved first half tally off the chest of Ofunrein shy of the half hour mark. Ben Smith and Ian Smith connected down the left flank before Ian burned the turf with a cross at the top of the six-yard box. The keeper came out, got a finger tip to it, but Ofunrein was the first on the spot to chest it home for the breakthrough.
Second Half:
55' Sohma Ichikawa forced Nehme into a dangerous spot, making the sophomore keeper make a low save that he initially spilled but quickly covered up to put an end to the threat.
65' Dylan Akau had a hit from outside the box that nearly caught the Bears' keeper off his line, but he was able to retreat back and tip it over the bar for a corner.
71' Olsson got free down the Denver right to setup the Pioneers' second of the afternoon. The Denver sophomore played it back outside the box in the center of the park to O'Toole who curled it into the top corner across the frame to double the Denver lead.
80' Bryce Willoughby appeared for a moment to have a third for the Pioneers, finishing a feed from Olsson on top of the six-yard box, but the forward's run was slightly early and he was flagged for offside.
Up Next:
Denver will get on a plane for the first time during the 2023 regular season when the Pioneers head to nationally-ranked Portland for a Friday night kickoff. The match will begin at 8 p.m. MT.
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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