SEATTLE – Oje Ofunrein found the back of the net in the 89th minute to earn the [14/17] University of Denver men's soccer team a 2-2 draw at Seattle on Monday night at Championship Field.
Significant Stats:
- Seattle's breakthrough was the first goal Denver has allowed in the opening quarter hour this season. Denver has outscored opponents 48-12 in the opening quarter hour since Jamie Franks joined the staff in 2012.
- Bryce Willoughby's first-half equalizer was the first goal of his Pioneer career.
- Following Monday night's match, Denver is now 2-1-3 this season against programs that finished last season in the top-100 of the national RPI.
- Oje Ofunrein, who entered the night tied with seven other players for the country's lead in the category, scored his eighth goal of the season to tie things up at 2-2 in the 89th minute.
- Ofunrein's goal was the 18th latest goal in regulation in the program's Division I history, including the 10th latest that changed the result of the match.
- Sam Bassett provided the assist on Ofunrein's late equalizer, his fourth assist of the season and the 10th of his Pioneer career.
First Half:
8' Following his first career brace on Friday night at Portland, Bassett took the first shot of the cool evening in the PNW, but he got under his attempt and took it over the bar.
14' Seattle got on the board on its first shot on goal of the day, playing a long ball over the top of the Denver defense to the foot of James Morris. Morris took a couple of touches before getting to right foot and beating Isaac Nehme to his near post for the breakthrough.
37' In just Willoughby's seventh career match, the redshirt-freshman got on the scoresheet for the first time. The target forward got on the end of Bassett's free kick from the left flank. Willoughby's initial header was saved by the keeper, but he stayed with the play and headed home the leveler.
42' Denver had the best two chances at the third goal of the match when Dylan Akau pulled it back to Bassett at the top of the box, but the in-form midfielder sailed his shot over the crossbar.
44' Fisher was also on the other end of an Akau ball into the box a couple of minutes later, but Fisher's shot was saved by the keeper down and to his left.
Second Half:
51' Morris gave Seattle the first chance of the early stages of the second half, but Denver's defense closed down the angle and Nehme made his first save of the night off of it to keep things even.
53' Holger Olsson, who came on in the second half for Franks' side was the first to a bouncing ball off the Seattle backline in the box, but his shot was deflected in-front and out for Denver's third corner of the night.
64' Jason Belloli earned a chance off a Lukas Fisher set piece. Fisher's corner to the back post was headed by Ofunrein to the middle of the area to Belloli. Belloli turned and hit the volley first time, but it was over the bar.
75' Ofunrein turned his defender 10 yards out, but as he was falling away from the goal, he got under his shot and also took it over the crossbar.
81' Morris got his second of the match in the final 10 minutes, taking advantage of a mis-played ball in the Denver defense, taking a couple touches and then burying it past Nehme to give the home side the lead once more.
89' Denver left it late to get to the 2-2 scoreline to secure a draw away from home on Monday night. Bassett put a cross from the left flank on a platter in the six-yard box to the well-timed run of Ofunrein, who got a free-header and made no mistake with it, burying his eighth goal of the season.
Up Next:
Denver will open Summit League play with the third game of a four-match road swing next Saturday when the Pioneers travel to St. Thomas. Kick is set for 12 p.m. CT/11 a.m. MT, and will be broadcast on the Summit League Network.
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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