ST. PAUL – The [19/17] University of Denver men's soccer team got a pair of second-half tallies from junior midfielder Sam Bassett to carry the Pioneers pas St. Thomas on Saturday afternoon at South Field. 

Significant Stats:

• Sam Bassett finished with his second brace in the last three matches for goals five and six of the season and 10 and 11 of his career.  
• Bassett now has 36 points in his career, to tie him with 2017 alum Alex Underwood for the 14^th-most in Denver's Division I history.
• Dylan Akau's assist on the Bassett opener was his second of the season and the fourth of his two-year career.
• Oje Ofunrein earned his second assist of the season on the Bassett 89^th-minute second.
• Denver improved to 125-10-15 when scoring the first goal of the match since Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men's Soccer Coach Jamie Franks took over in 2015.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Isaac Nehme earned his 19th career win to move him into sixth in that category, and his 15th career cleansheet, which ties will 2010 alum Joe Willis and 2020 alum Will Palmquist for the fourth-most shutouts in a career in Denver's Division I era. 

First Half:

9' Lukas Fisher took the first shot of the game after some build up play from Denver's forwards down the Pioneers right side, but Fisher's attempt was blocked in-front by the UST defense and cleared out of danger.

15' The first St. Thomas shot came just shy of the quarter hour after UST turned over Denver in its defensive half. Dennis Mensah got free just outside the area, but his shot was wide.

27' Bassett had the best crack at the opener in the opening half hour, but UST keeper Tucker Mann showed quick reflexes and was able to kick-save it away to the Denver right. Akau recycled it back in the box, but the Tommies cleared it from danger.

45' Coming on as a late-first half substitute, Kyle McGowan got Denver's third and final shot on target in the opening half, but it was pushed wide of the target by Mann to send the two teams into the locker room scoreless.

Second Half:

50' Nehme was called on to make his first save of the afternoon on a shot from Oliver Bieleveldt taken from 25 yards out, but Nehme took a couple steps to his left and saved it comfortably.

57' Faris Colic got free for the home side minutes shy of the hour mark. His shot from the top of the box was low, but down the middle and Nehme was able to smother it for his second save of the day.

62' Bassett finally found the Denver breakthrough in the 62^nd minute, heading home a cross from the right back Akau from just outside the six-yard box.

67' Ian Smith nearly doubled the advantage, getting in behind the St. Thomas backline in the middle of the pitch, but Smith's attempt to chip the keeper was pushed over the top by Mann and out for a corner kick.

80' Bassett had eyes on a second brace in three matches from a sharp angle just off the endline, but it was cleared off the line by a UST defender and out for a throw.

88' Bryce Willoughby looked for his second goal in as many matches, but he wasn't able to make his mind up between passing and shooting, and his cross split the difference and went out for a goal kick.

89' Bassett's second came with just over a minute to play in Minnesota. Ofunrein setup the Denver junior for his fourth goal in the last three matches.

Up Next:
Denver will close out its four-match road swing on Monday when the Pioneers visit Pittsburgh. Kickoff on the ACC Network is set for 7 p.m. ET/5 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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